Experiences from the ACCP Leadership and Management Academy

Written by Kathryn P. (Litten) Lin, PharmD, BCACP

As an ambulatory care pharmacist and faculty member, I wear many hats—clinician, educator, preceptor, research project manager, and service leader. As a mentor to students and as I stepped into a new leadership role within a professional organization, I recognized I had never had formal leadership training. I knew there were opportunities to hone skills that could aid in several of my professional roles, particularly in financial management, instilling inspiration for innovation, and general leadership development. So, I enrolled in the ACCP Leadership and Management Certificate Program, graciously sponsored by the Ambulatory Care PRN.  I hope to share my experience to encourage you to consider the program if you are interested in expanding your leadership skills.

1. Finding your MissionSome of the most powerful exercises in the program were reflections about our views about ourselves as a leader. Crafting a personal mission statement challenged me to think deeply about who I am, where I’m headed, and the legacy I want to leave across the many roles I hold. Defining my own leadership philosophy helped me articulate the kind of leader I strive to be—authentic, strategic, and growth-oriented. We were asked to find a mentor and this added another layer of value. I was able to gain insights into a different leadership path and perspective. Providing this protected time and direction to reflect on these things was something I may not have done on my own.

2. Building and Managing Effective Teams

Sessions on high-performing teams, CliftonStrengths®, and understanding team member dynamics were especially applicable to my day-to-day work. When starting projects, I have more intentionally included new and diverse team members to allow for more broad perspectives and implementation. I feel I have been better at delegating tasks based on strengths. I hope for students at my site to see this collaboration and learn how to best work as and lead a team as they matriculate to pharmacists and managers themselves.

3. Influencing Change

I have also implemented skills learned in modules about influencing change. As I stepped into a leadership role guiding a strategic overhaul of our experiential education curriculum, I applied what I learned to gain stakeholder buy-in, create task forces with champions for effective team building, address concerns collaboratively, and align our work with the college’s strategic plan and national standard requirements—skills I had not been formally trained in prior to this program.

Reflections and Forward Momentum

Completing this program has helped me to lead more intentionally, think strategically, and hopefully to be able to foster leadership in others—especially my students. It allowed time for personal reflection and goal-setting and was a great opportunity to learn from others. I encourage fellow ambulatory care pharmacists to pursue similar growth opportunities. Whether you’re new to leadership or looking to deepen your skills, the ACCP Leadership and Management Academy offers a great experience.

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Kathryn P. (Litten) Lin, PharmD, BCACP

Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacist

CommUnityCare Health Centers

Clinical Associate Professor

The University of Texas at Austin, College of Pharmacy

Austin, TX