Physician Leadership

illustration of education

Physician Leadership

There are many leadership training opportunities for physicians, including two/three-day Physician Leadership Institute (PLI) courses. Physicians interested in more in-depth training may apply to participate in the longer-term Physician Leadership Development Program (PLDP). 


Physician Leadership Institute

Doctors Nova Scotia has collaborated with CMA PLI to offer two-day courses. Doctors Nova Scotia members are able to participate at a reduced rate because DNS is subsidizing 60 percent of the program costs for physicians.

The association is pleased to offer $200/weekend to cover expenses related to childcare. Review the Childcare Policy here.

Physician Leadership Institute courses are designed especially for physicians. They have been delivered for 35 years and have a 98% participant satisfaction rate. The courses are also accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

Upcoming courses:

Inclusive leadership

Date: Sept. 13 and 14, 2024 (accredited for 11.5 hours) 
Cost: $1,000 per participant  
Location: Doctors Nova Scotia office, 25 Spectacle Lake Drive, Dartmouth, N.S.  
Capacity: 20 participants (first come, first served)

Inclusive leaders recognize and embrace diversity, build trust and foster a sense of belonging where team members feel respected and empowered to speak up and contribute to improving organizational well-being and patient care. Inclusive leaders are curious, aware of their own biases and blind spots, demonstrate cultural humility and actively seek out different perspectives to inform their decision-making. Inclusive leadership is a critical capability to increase engagement and well-being, develop a positive organizational culture and improve patient outcomes.

Participants can expect to learn how to:  

  • describe how psychological and cultural safety connects to improving engagement, well-being, organizational culture and patient outcomes.
  • explore the importance and impact of advocating for increased psychological and cultural safety practices as well as representation of historically marginalized groups on health care teams.
  • examine your own biases and power that may be hindering safe experiences for people in health care.
  • establish individual and team communication practices and commitments to foster psychological and cultural safety and allyship through meaningful team engagement and collaboration.
  • practise skills to address psychological and cultural safety challenges, microaggressions and/or conflict within your team or organization.
  • apply trauma-informed approaches to your leadership.
  • apply practical approaches to create inclusivity and bring others along to effect positive system-level changes in your organizational culture.

Click here to register.


Strengths-Based Leadership

Date: Nov. 1 and 2, 2024 (accredited for 13 hours) 
Cost: $450 per participant  
Location: Virtual

The culture of health care tends to view leadership as “solving problems,” but the conventional wisdom of fixing weaknesses (i.e., find what’s wrong and try to correct it) has been shown to be limiting and ineffective in the long term. It can lead to uninspired individual and organizational performance and contribute to decreased motivation and stress. Focusing on what works and paying more attention to what intrinsically energizes people is a much more effective approach.

Participants can expect to learn how to:  

  • recognize the value of a strengths-based approach to leadership
  • complete a strength-based assessment to uncover your unique strengths, talents and gifts and those of your team
  • describe how strengths-based approaches can facilitate improved engagement of health care professionals, reduce burnout and lead to better team and patient outcomes
  • examine strategies to build a strengths-based culture that values the unique gifts that everyone brings to the team and fosters a culture of engagement, diversity and inclusion
  • create a development plan to build on your strengths, while managing around your blind spots.
  • identify and encourage strengths-based approaches in peers and teams

Click here to register. 


If you have any questions or are looking for more information, please contact Samantha Graham.


Physician Leadership Development Program

Following a comprehensive review, the association’s Physician Leadership Development Program (PLDP) is back and better than ever. The application process for the sixth cohort of the eight-month program will be launching in April 2024. 

Over the past year, DNS has been working with the physician community, the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), educators and the program’s advisory committee to reimagine the PLDP while remaining true to the core leadership values the program has espoused since it launched. The sixth cohort will enjoy a new and refreshed experience that focuses on inclusive leadership, adapting to a constantly changing health-care system, and leading and influencing people, teams and decision-makers in today’s environment.

The PLDP prepares physicians to lead people and teams effectively, with agility and confidence. Participants learn in an accessible, hybrid environment while connecting with peers. We recognize that the last few years have been extremely difficult for physicians and that fatigue and burnout are being felt far and wide. That’s one of the reasons DNS and the CMA have adjusted the program – to ensure the PLDP continues to meet the changing needs of physicians. 

To learn more and apply, visit the PLDP page. 

Other learning opportunities

Our partners offer leadership learning opportunities. Click here for more information.

Contact

Samantha Graham
Policy advisor
902-830-6592
1-800-563-3427