Graduation from the Interprofessional Leadership for Excellence and Academic Development (iLEAD) Program was held on April 20, and 15 College of Medicine faculty were among the 27 graduates of the program.
The iLEAD program graduated its first class in 2000. It is designed to help faculty take their career to the next level by teaching proven leadership techniques for health science education in an interprofessional environment.
The program allows faculty members to evaluate their personal skills, talents and behaviors. Building on this knowledge, they learn to apply these abilities to impact the formal and informal culture at UNMC.
Participation in iLEAD allows participants to connect with forward thinkers from other areas, interact with campus leaders, and expand their center of influence to move forward in their career, said Howard Liu, M.D., assistant vice chancellor, faculty development.
"Investing the time and effort to discover your talents, attributes and capabilities requires participants to make a personal commitment to their success, which, ultimately, gives them the competitive edge they need to establish themselves as leaders," Dr. Liu said. "The leadership skills they master will create opportunities for immediate impact within their area and ensure that they drive long-term change – not just remain at the forefront of it."
To participate in the iLEAD program, you may be nominated by your supervisor or submit your application independently. Enrollment is limited to support a highly interactive program format. For UNMC faculty, there is no fee to participate.
Because the iLEAD program takes place every two academic years, the next enrollment period starts during the spring of 2018. After enrollment is opened, applications must be submitted by mid-August 2018. More details will be available closer to the deadline date.
Participation in iLEAD is a one-year commitment. At the beginning of the program, participants evaluate their personal skills, talents and behaviors. Then, building on this knowledge, they attend didactic sessions and practice in simulations and small group exercises. Finally, they apply their newly learned abilities in UNMC-focused projects.
Because of iLEAD's progressive design, participants are required to attend all of the scheduled meetings (including the graduation event) without interruption by traditional work duties.
Dr. Liu recognized members of the Planning Committee for all their work on iLEAD over the years. Committtee members include Linda M. Love, Ph.D., academic affairs, Sheila Ellis, M.D., anesthesiology, Karen Grigsby, Ph.D., College of Nursing, Nizar Wehbi, M.D., College of Public Health, Teresa Hartman, McGoogan Library of Medicine, and Tim Durham, D.D.S., College of Dentistry.
College of Medicine faculty who graduated from iLEAD this year included:
Thomas Brooks, M.D., associate professor, anesthesiology
Siddappa Byrareddy, Ph.D., associate professor, pharmacology and experimental neuroscience
Martina Clarke, Ph.D., assistant professor, internal medicine-cardiology
Christopher Gillis, M.D., assistant professor, surgery-neurosurgery
Babu Guda, Ph.D., professor, genetics, cell biology and anatomy
Faye Haggar, Ed.S., instructor, anesthesiology
Tanvir Hussain, M.D., assistant professor, internal medicine-general medicine
Perry Johnson, M.D., professor, surgery-plastic & reconstructive
Susan Kelly, M.D., assistant professor, pediatrics-emergency medicine
Shelby Kutty, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor, pediatrics-cardiology
Arwa Nasir, M.B.B.S., associate professor, pediatrics-general
Kyle Ringenberg, M.D., assistant professor, anesthesiology
P.J. Schenarts, M.D., professor, surgery-general surgery
Lisa Schlitzkus, M.D., assistant professor, surgery-general surgery
Daniel Surdell, M.D., associate professor, surgery-neurosurgery