The UNMC Department of Anesthesiology’s Rebecca Aron, MD, and Kaitlyn Pellegrino, MD, were among the 32 UNMC faculty members who graduated from the Interprofessional Leadership for Excellence and Academic Development (iLEAD) program on June 8.
Participants explore leadership topics and learn how to strengthen their own leadership skills throughout the nine-month program, ending with presentations on a wide variety of topics during graduation.
Dr. Aron said the skills and knowledge gained during the program helped her understand how to be a more effective and empathetic leader.
“Throughout the process, I learned new strengths and weaknesses and how I could lean into those to help the people I may influence and also the organization as a whole,” Dr. Aron said.
Dr. Aron’s presentation, titled “Peer Support Pathway After Adverse Event,” covered how she has refined a peer support pathway to help physicians and clinicians in anesthesia after an adverse event. The process would identify people and teams that may need support after an unexpected outcome. She said communication among team members was key in identifying the need to improve and update the pathway.
Dr. Pellegrino said the program helped improve her leadership skills, which not only helped her become more confident as a leader and clinician educator but allowed her to meet new people and build relationships with other UNMC leaders.
“I see myself continuing to educate and guide future generations of young physicians on the stylistic aspects of medical practice,” Dr. Pellegrino said. “I also wish to help lead from within my clinical division through positivity and fostering a sense of comradery and community.”
Dr. Pellegrino’s presentation, titled “Disclosure: More Than a Conversation. Educating Tomorrow’s Physicians on the Art and Importance of Disclosure,” detailed how having tough conversations about adverse events requires compassion, thoughtfulness and emotional resilience. She said sharing her experiences will help her guide young physicians.