iLEAD Program
Deepen Your Roots for an Unshakable Future
In the past, leadership meant maintaining stability. It meant keeping a steady course. The job of a leader is not so simple today! Society faces more frequent world-reshaping disruptions, persistent financial uncertainty, and complex human socio-cultural challenges. Today’s leaders must be uniquely equipped with a sturdy foundation.
What is iLEAD?
Faculty Development’s iLEAD (Interprofessional Leadership for Excellence and Academic
Development) certificate program provides the tools to become an agile, creative, and confident leader. It will help clarify your deep-rooted sense of purpose. When bandwidth is limited, you’ll be sustained knowing why you wish to lead. You will grow far beyond the status quo as a capable, collaborative, and courageous leader, discovering new and exciting possibilities in healthcare.
iLEAD is a one-year, applied-learning experience. It is designed for individuals who are committed to advancing their leadership skills and performance within and outside the organization. The program typically runs in alternating academic years.
How Does It Work?
Learning is reinforced by an interprofessional leadership community, which removes departmental silos to expand networks and gain insights from a broad cross-section of colleagues. One-on-one and small group peer coaching enrich the experience by offering diverse perspectives, a robust accountability system and an enduring support network.
Our iLEAD graduates become flexible, visionary and reflective leaders with the skills necessary to improve and sustain positive change in their career trajectory.
Investment
There is a cost associated with iLEAD. Speak with your supervisor to secure funding for this opportunity.
Payment is required only after acceptance to the iLEAD program; no scholarships are available. Once the program has started, there are no refunds for participants.
Planning Committee
An interprofessional planning committee of passionate, experienced educators from across campus collaborate to develop the iLEAD learning experiences.
Questions?
Email Faculty Development.
Joining iLEAD
2025-2026 Program Details
You are not born a leader. You become one through continual practice and honing your skills.
iLEAD is a one-year, certificate program of intensive professional development. You will engage in personal and professional assessments and skill-building, and leverage coaching and networking opportunities. All learning is targeted for application and expression within professional roles, both inside and outside of UNMC.
iLEAD is a one-year commitment. Because of its progressive design, you are required to attend all of the scheduled meetings (including the leadership summit) without interruption by traditional work duties. The schedule for iLEAD sessions includes:
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July - August 2025 — ~10 hours independent learning activities
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Sept. 17-19, 2025 — immersive retreat at Lied Lodge in Nebraska City (two-night stay)
- Oct. 16, 2025 — monthly meeting with entire cohort
- Nov. 20, 2025 — monthly meeting with entire cohort
- Dec. 18, 2025 — monthly meeting with entire cohort
- Jan. 15, 2026 — monthly meeting with entire cohort
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Feb. 19, 2026 — monthly meeting with entire cohort
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March 19, 2026 — monthly meeting with entire cohort
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April 16-17, 2026 — immersive retreat at Lied Lodge (one-night stay)
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May 2026 — independent work on your final leadership project; recording at UNMC studio
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June 4, 2026 — leadership summit, iLEAD graduation
This yearlong, intensive professional development experience has a program cost of $3,500, which includes:
- Continuing Education Credit (see details below)
- Immersive off-site sessions at Lied Lodge occurring at the beginning and end of iLEAD (each session includes hotel accommodations and food)
- A selection of personal development tools including Skillscope 360 Feedback, CliftonStrengths, and Emotional Quotient Inventory
- Monthly facilitated small group peer coaching sessions
- All course materials and books
Note: Payment is required only after acceptance to the iLEAD program; no scholarships are available. Once the program has started, there are no refunds for participants.
Assessment Tools
Receive leadership-focused development tools, including Skillscope 360 Feedback™, CliftonStrengths, Influence Style Indicator, and Working Genius.
Immersive Learning
Learning takes place on and off-campus, including two cohort retreats at Lied Lodge in Nebraska City.
Leadership Project
Implement an organizationally aligned improvement project to showcase your skills.
Learning Schedule
Because of the progressive design, you are required to attend all of iLEAD's events without interruption by traditional work duties. (See calendar of important dates.)
Mentoring & Coaching
Get insights and success strategies from top UNMC and industry leaders, plus small group peer coaching sessions.
Skill-Building Workshops
Practice skills through small group learning, simulations, and other exercises.
iLEAD focuses on the practical expertise and competencies you need to accelerate your career.
Here are some of the skills you'll build:
- The art of negotiation
- Building and leading teams
- Conflict resolution
- Developing your personal leadership style
- Financial accountability
- Inclusive leadership
- Innovative thinking and leveraging social media
- Leading change and evaluating risk
- Leadership communication in an age of information and disinformation
- Managing personal and organizational performance
- Strengths analysis
At the conclusion of this activity, the participant should be able to:
- Analyze effective communication to align mission, vision, and values in change situations
- Appraise the contribution of both formal and informal power to organizational success
- Assess how successful organizations function, and the impact of organizational culture on outcomes
- Create an inventory of leadership competencies to use in the workplace
- Design strategies to analyze, project, and communicate financial realities and goals
- Evaluate conflict management techniques for interpersonal and workplace situations
- Practice habits that promote personal and organizational influence
- Utilize effective decision making and communication skills to build high performing teams
- Utilize strategies for leading based on awareness of strengths, challenges, personality, and experiences
In support of improving patient care, University of Nebraska Medical Center is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education
for the healthcare team.
The University of Nebraska Medical Center designates this live activity for a maximum of 48.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
The University of Nebraska Medical Center designates this activity for 48.0 ANCC contact hour(s). Nurses should only claim credit for the actual time spent participating in the activity.
The University of Nebraska Medical Center designates this activity for 48.0 ACPE contact hours. Pharmacists should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
iLEAD 2025-2026 Brochure
iLEAD 2025-2026: Rooted & Ready Learn more about how the iLEAD program can deepen your leadership roots for an unshakable future. Download the iLEAD digital brochure.
Planning Committee
Online Application