Leadership development for junior doctors: What can we learn from “Darzi” Fellowships in clinical leadership?
International Journal of Leadership in Public Services
ISSN: 1747-9886
Article publication date: 16 November 2011
Abstract
Purpose
An innovative programme of “Darzi” Fellowships in Clinical Leadership provides doctors in postgraduate training with a unique opportunity to engage in improving systems of health care and develop their capability as future clinical leaders. The purpose of this paper is to report an impact evaluation of the programme, highlighting transferable design principles.
Design/methodology/approach
Qualitative and quantitative data were used iteratively and included a review of literature, analysis of background documents and internal evaluation results, face‐to‐face and telephone interviews, observation of educational events, online questionnaires and representative case studies.
Findings
Impact was found at the level of the fellows' learning, their organisations and the wider health system. Identified influencing factors included: clarity of purpose and aims, mutuality of workplace and external learning, learning for transformational change, ambitious but “do‐able” projects, a committed and learning‐oriented sponsor, a supportive organisational culture, high‐quality mentoring, a network of supportive peers, diversity of participants, ongoing monitoring and adaptation, planning for sustainability and the tracking of impact over time.
Research limitations/implications
The extent to which results are generalisable needs to be considered within the constraints of this programme evaluation.
Practical implications
The “Darzi” Fellowship programme is effective and impactful, spawning clinical leadership development throughout a wider system. Whole system engagement of trainee doctors in leadership will require more than a Fellowship programme alone, but it is a start.
Originality/value
The evaluation adds to what we know about leadership development generally and provides a rare study in the medical context generating helpful principles for the design of leadership development programmes, particularly in the clinical setting.
Keywords
Citation
Stoll, L., Swanwick, T., Foster‐Turner, J. and Moss, F. (2011), "Leadership development for junior doctors: What can we learn from “Darzi” Fellowships in clinical leadership?", International Journal of Leadership in Public Services, Vol. 7 No. 4, pp. 273-286. https://doi.org/10.1108/17479881111194161
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited