“The leadership program led by Pam Alfrey Hernandez exceeded my expectations. The hands-on training and interactive sessions were instrumental in developing my leadership capabilities. The program’s comprehensive curriculum, along with Pam’s amazing mentorship equipped me with essential skills to lead effectively. The blend of practical lectures and small group sessions provided invaluable insights into leadership and team dynamics. I emerged with a stronger ability to influence positive change within my organization.”
Victoria Hall, MD
“Working with Pam was a life-changing experience. I found Pam when I was overwhelmed and helpless in every arena of my life. Working with Pam helped me realize that I had the answers to my problems. Pam asked pointed questions with curiosity and
non-judgment. She helped me understand myself and hold myself accountable for the person I want to be and how I want to show up for others. Since working with Pam, I more readily start with curiosi ty, gain clarity faster, and have greater confidence in having the most difficult conversations I have faced in life – both at work and at home.”
Melissa Teply, MD
“This leadership program was exactly the right program at the right time for me and my professional career. The self-assessments were excellent and revealed to me things that were not necessarily surprising. What stood out, however, was Pam’s coaching to help me reflect upon those assessments and put them together to help guide me in a new career direction that is focused more on my personal engagement and growth and less on checking boxes and ensuring that others are satisfied. As a result of this leadership course, I am more engaged in my advocacy efforts and have achieved a balance that is sustainable for the long run.”
Kelly Caverzagie, MD
“Great opportunity to develop and foster leadership skills by realizing your strengths and weaknesses to benefit your practice and patients. I didn’t realize that by not addressing my daily angst I was in turn condoning their existence. This has lead to a healthier more efficient work environment! Camaraderie of like-minded physicians helped me realize common issues with unique answers aided by Pam and my cohorts.”
Edward Discoe, MD
“I was not sure what to expect when I signed up for the NMA Physician Leadership Academy, but in looking back I am amazed at the personal insight and self-awareness I gained by being open to participate in it. As physicians, we are looked upon to be leaders of our patients, our staff, our colleagues, our communities. This has to start with leadership of self, and that is what this course is about. Our instructor Pam was fantastic, and utilized surveys, books, and individual coaching sessions to bring us along our individual journeys. A common theme of our cohort in our final session was that not only did we have professional growth, but our personal relationships were positively impacted as well. Overall, this experience was well worth my investment of personal time.”
Lynette Kramer, MD
Family Medicine/CMO
Boone County Health Center
“This has been a wonderful journey of self-reflection. It has given me a scheduled time to look at myself in my current practice and truly assess how I can become a better leader, physician, and partner (at work and at home). Without this schedule, I would have been much less likely to give myself this time. It has also been a wonderful opportunity to meet new physicians at a variety of stages in their professional careers and to learn from their trials, tribulations, and successes. It is important to remember that you will only get out of this class what you are willing to put into it!”
Kendra Lesiak, MD
Dermatology Specialists of Omaha
“The Nebraska Medical Association’s Physician Leadership Academy has been a formative experience for me coming out of training. Time-after-time older, more experienced physicians would tell me how applicable the skills we learned were to their everyday practice. Essential skills such as active listening, clear communication, and taking feedback were only a few of the topics we touched on. I highly recommend this program to any early in-practice physician looking to elevate their ability to lead others.”
Tyler Teichmeier, MD, MLS (ASCP)
Pathology Medical Services, PC
“The Physician Leadership Program provided me with a comprehensive understanding of myself, quality leadership, and the steps I can take to use my strengths to become the best version of myself. Not only did the program give me the leadership skills I was looking for to be a more effective leader and take the local medical society I founded in a more productive direction, but Pam’s coaching gave me the courage and confidence to open my own private practice. I can say with all sincerity that Pam and her course changed the trajectory of my career.”
Sherri Thomas, DO
“Pam’s program has transformed my life and how I show up to the world. I have grown into another level of adulthood I didn’t previously know existed. I can better recognize, accept, value, and harness my unique personal qualities and also those of others to better work towards achieving goals. My worldview is shifting to allow interpersonal interactions to be healthier, more fulfilling, and less stressful.
It’s one thing to read books on leadership, mindset, and personal growth, but working through them together with Pam over the course of time cements the concepts into new habits and thought patterns.“
Natalie Manley, MD, MPH, HMDCB
“This program provided me with the tools to understand my own inner-self, why I react to situations in certain ways, and how I can improve it so I can become a creative and productive team member, colleague, and leader. The program design enabled me to apply what I learned in real life situations as I progressed along with the course. I have taken a few leadership and professional develop ment courses but none have done what this course has. It truly changed the way I think as well as interacting with my environment and people to create a more productive workplace.”
Daphne Ly, MD
“Healthcare is becoming increasingly complex, with changes happening at an exponential rate. In order for healthcare organizations to survive and for healthcare providers to thrive, we need strong physician leaders at all levels of our organizations. Yes – we also need exceptionally skilled and dedicated business, finance, IT and other leaders, but ultimately it is the patient-centered clinical perspective physician leaders provide that will guide organizations of all sizes and structures through the ever-evolving environment. Strong physicians leaders are best positioned to direct decisions to make their organizations ideal places to both deliver and receive healthcare.
Unfortunately, the skills that make us good clinicians often make us poor leaders – quickly narrowing a conversation down to a limited differential diagnosis and then single-handedly prescribing a solution. I don’t remember spending any time in medical school or residency learning medical leadership basics, such as communication and meeting facilitation skills, teamwork and team leadership skills, understanding financial reports, stress management and burnout prevention skills.
Since residency, I have attended many leadership classes and programs and read many articles and books that aimed to teach me and other physicians how to lead – how to look like a leader, talk like a leader, and run a meeting like a leader. But the Physician Leadership Academy sponsored by the Nebraska Medical Association is one of the very few opportunities I have had to help me become a leader. Through this adventure I learned so much about myself – my strengths, my tendencies, my worries, my fears, my misperceptions, and how I am seen by those I work with. Armed with that understanding and through the blessing of working with Pam and my fellow course participants over many months, I have been able to become more of the person those in my stewardship deserve as their leader. Like all true adventures, it has not been easy, but it has definitely been worth it.
Now more than ever, we need more and more physicians who not only act like leaders, but who truly are leaders. Our organizations need it. Our healthcare teams, our patients, and our communities deserve nothing less.”
Michael Schooff, MD, FAAFP
Primary Care Medical Director
