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FELLOWSHIP AND GME LEADERSHIP TRAINING (FLIGHT) ACADEMY
CERTIFICATE PROGRAM

  The APCCMPD strives to support the career development and academic advancement of training program directors, program faculty, and staff.  

FLIGHT Academy Education Leadership Certificate Program
Fellowship and GME Leadership Training 

The FLIGHT Academy Education Leadership Certificate program is designed to help current and aspiring fellowship and graduate medical education leaders enhance their leadership capabilities, knowledge, and skills through a comprehensive, competency-based curriculum. This innovative three-year modular program provides participants with practical frameworks and evidence-based approaches to leadership that improve their effectiveness, advance their careers, and make a lasting difference in the lives of those they lead.

Program Structure & Philosophy

The FLIGHT Academy employs a flexible, progressive learning model where participants can enter at any year and build competencies cumulatively. Each annual module addresses distinct yet interconnected GME leadership competencies, allowing leaders to customize their learning journey based on their experience level and professional development needs. The program integrates 4 core competency domains that are threaded throughout all three years, ensuring comprehensive leadership development regardless of entry point.

Competency 1: Leadership Development & Personal Mastery

  • Develop self-awareness and personal leadership capacity through structured assessment, reflective practice, and individualized development planning that strengthens your ability to lead effectively from the middle while managing competing priorities and time constraints
  • Apply strategic thinking frameworks and advanced leadership strategies to build high-performing teams, navigate uncertainty and change, and extend your influence across departments and institutions without relying solely on formal authority

Competency 2: Program Excellence & Operations Management

  • Master the operational foundations of fellowship program management including ACGME compliance, strategic recruitment, financial stewardship, and data-driven decision-making that ensures program quality and sustainability
  • Implement continuous quality improvement methodologies and outcomes-oriented training design to evaluate program effectiveness, drive measurable improvements, and build systems that endure beyond individual leadership transitions 

Competency 3: Educational Innovation & Scholarship

  • Design and implement competency-based curricula with innovative assessment strategies, effective feedback systems, and robust procedural training frameworks that prepare trainees for autonomous practice
  • Lead educational innovation and scholarship by conducting meaningful educational research, integrating technology and digital transformation, and driving positive culture change through values alignment and psychological safety

Competency 4: People Development & Team Leadership

  • Support and develop faculty and trainees through effective engagement strategies, evidence-based remediation processes, structured well-being initiatives, and mental health awareness that creates a culture of growth and support
  • Apply advanced coaching, mentoring, and communication techniques to facilitate difficult conversations, resolve conflicts, develop leadership pipelines, and build communities of practice that sustain organizational learning and continuous improvement

Features:

  • ACGME-aligned leadership frameworks
  • Interactive case-based learning integrating real-world GME challenges
  • GME leader networking and peer collaboration
  • Program improvement projects with measurable outcomes
  • Longitudinal peer mentorship opportunities
  • GME-specific resources, tools, and best practices
  • Progressive competency development in trainee remediation, holistic review, and well-being initiatives

Flexible Certification Pathway
Complete any 4 modules = FLIGHT Pilot Leadership Certificate
Complete any 8 modules = FLIGHT Navigator Leadership Certificate
Complete all 12 modules =FLIGHT Captain Leadership Certificate.

Targeted Learners
This program serves fellowship and graduate medical education leaders who are currently serving or aspire to serve in medical education leadership roles, including participation in the administration of fellowship and residency programs. The flexible entry model accommodates:

  • New program directors (within 5-7 years) seeking foundational leadership skills
  • Associate and assistant program directors developing advanced competencies
  • Aspiring education leaders preparing for leadership transitions
  • Experienced leaders seeking executive-level development and institutional impact
  • Multi-program leaders requiring system-wide leadership capabilities

The FLIGHT Academy's modular design ensures that whether participants complete one year for immediate skill development or pursue the full three-year journey for comprehensive leadership mastery, they receive meaningful, applicable learning experiences that directly enhance their effectiveness as GME leaders.

Learn More and Register