Section on Early Career Physicians

Early Career Leadership Alliance (ECLA) Program

2023-2025 Participant Application Form

EXTENDED Deadline: Sunday, November 19, 2023

The Section on Early Career Physicians (SOECP) is pleased to welcome applications for the 2023-2025 class of the Early Career Leadership Alliance (ECLA), a 2-year training program designed to develop leaders and build a leadership community amongst early career physicians. This learning program is intended to increase the capacity of physicians who are early in their career as a means to support their career growth. In alignment with the AAP Equity Agenda, there is a hope to facilitate equity in access to AAP leadership programs especially as those underrepresented in medicine may have less access to leadership training, with an aim to diversify leadership in pediatrics.The program includes intersession webinars, conference calls, optional in-person activities, and individual leadership capstone project with guidance from experienced AAP faculty leaders.

Throughout the program, participants are expected to complete readings and assignments prior to learning sessions and remain actively engaged in all activities. The leadership curriculum will be completed over the 2-year cycle, and graduates of the program will be eligible to apply to become faculty for future iterations of the program.

Applicants must have completed training at least 6 months prior to the start of ECLA matriculation (i.e., graduating trainees may apply). Given the program’s purpose of providing support and education for emerging leaders with immediate leadership needs, ideal candidates will have completed training 2 or more years prior to beginning the program (although 2+ years is not a requirement for application).

Time Commitment:

In the first year:

Three to five, 1-hour educational webinars or pre-recorded sessions
Quarterly, 1-hour calls with faculty leaders and other participants to reflect on webinars

In the second year:

Three to five 1-hour educational webinars or pre-recorded sessions
Bi-monthly, 1-hour calls with faculty leaders and other participants to reflect on webinars

Pre-work/reading for each in-person session and educational webinar
Individual commitment to growth and learning via work on an independent leadership project (see examples here - AAP login required to access)
Optional in-person activities, such as attendance at the AAP Advocacy Conference

Attendance & Participation: The curriculum is designed to allow each participant the opportunity to learn advanced leadership skills over the two-year period. In order to take advantage of the full program. Attendance is required at each ECLA session, webinar, and conference call for the full duration of the program. To ensure accessibility and accommodate the needs of members, webinars will be offered in the evening and will be recorded and shared as enduring material. Active engagement and evidence of progressive work on a leadership project during the program is expected.

Financial Support: Limited financial support may be available for in-person sessions but is not guaranteed.

Qualifications: Applicants must be an active member of the AAP and the SOECP. To renew your membership, visit shop.aap.org.

If interested, please complete and submit the application below.

In alignment with the AAP Equity Agenda, the SOECP is committed to celebrating the work of members from groups underrepresented in medicine. We encourage nominations for diverse candidates in terms of race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, subspecialty, practice location, and/or national origin.

EXTENDED application deadline is Sunday, November 19, 2023.

Recipients will be notified the week of December 12, 2023.

APPLICANT CONTACT INFORMATION

This section is not shared with reviewers (all applications will be blinded prior to review).

* Denotes that the field is required.

First Name *

Last Name *

Degree/Designation (MD, DO, MPH, etc.) *

AAP ID Number *

Preferred Email Address *

Preferred Pronouns

She/Her/Hers

He/Him/His

They/Their/Theirs

Prefer to self-describe Prefer to self-describe

Please enter a mailing address where you may receive a small package, should AAP staff need to mail you materials for a session (Home address is preferred).

Street Address *

Address Line 2

City *

State (abbreviation) *

Zip Code *

Phone Number *

AAP Membership Category: *

Specialty/Subspecialty

Year completed most recent training (residency or fellowship)

Number of years in practice (academic, community-based, hospital-based, locum tenens, etc.)

Have you applied to participate in an AAP leadership program in the past? If so, which one? *

Professional social media accounts (LinkedIn, Doximity, Twitter, etc.)
NOTE: This will only be shared with fellow participants for connecting/networking purposes if you are selected. If you prefer not to share your account handles with other participants, you are welcome to leave this space blank.

LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL & PROGRAM IMPACT

Please answer each of the following in 250 words or less (NOTE: The information in this section will be shared with reviewers). Criteria upon which applicants will be evaluated are highlighted here.

1.) Communicate your leadership potential. You may include your prior leadership experience and accomplishments (AAP or non-AAP),if any. Please note that this is not a requirement but communicate and emphasize what traits or skills you have that demonstrate exceptional leadership potential . Examples are not limited to clinical practice and can be from non-medical efforts including those in the community. *

0/250 words

2.) How would participation in the ECLA program contribute to your professional development as a physician leader? Please provide examples of the knowledge and/or leadership skills that you wish to gain personally from the program. *

0/250 words

3.) How do you plan to apply the new knowledge and skills you obtain from the ECLA? Explain how this might benefit others you work with (e.g. patients, practice, organization, community, etc.)? *

0/250 words

4.) Describe a project/change effort that you would like to develop during the ECLA to meet a need in your community (e.g. patients, practice, organization, community, etc). We are interested in learning about the significance of the problem, how it will help you as a leader and how it will affect your pediatric community in turn. Also, please consider if/what impact this may have from an equity standpoint. *

0/250 words

5.) Do you have an interest and plan to use skills gained through the ECLA to enhance your leadership potential and engagement within the AAP in future? *

0/250 words

6.) We are interested in facilitating equity through recruiting a diverse group for the ECLA. (A) How would your participation in ECLA contribute to the diversity of the group? Diversity can include lived experiences, training, practice background, and any other characteristics. How would you describe the diversity that you bring? (B) How would your participation in ECLA improve or increase equity in your community? (C) Would participation in ECLA help facilitate access to leadership development training that you could not otherwise access? *

0/250 words

7.) Is there any additional information you would like to share about your interest in participation in the ECLA program? What makes you an exceptional, distinctive applicant?

0/250 words

Please upload your biosketch (for a sample/template, click here). PDF format required. *

APPLICANT CHARACTERISTICS

This section is not shared with reviewers. You are not required to answer any of the questions below.

As part of the application process, we are collecting information to understand who our SOECP members are that are applying for leadership positions. This information will be reported back in summary form to the SOECP Executive Committee and AAP Leadership; no individual information will be identified.

In what year were you born? Please use 4-digit format (YYYY).

With what racial or cultural group(s) do you identify yourself? Select all that apply.

Which of the following is your current gender identity? Check all that apply.

Which of the following best represents how you think of yourself? Check all that apply.

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) you have a disability if you have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity. By this definition, do you have a disability?

Yes

No

Do you currently work part-time?

Yes

No

Please describe the community in which your primary practice/position is located.

City

Rural

Suburban

Please indicate your primary employment setting. This is the setting where you spend most of your time.

Where was your medical school located?

Please be sure to submit your application form, including your biosketch by:

11:59pm Central Time on Sunday, November 19, 2023

Questions about the ECLA Program or this application can be directed to

Elisha Ferguson (eferguson@aap.org).

Thank you!