American Psychiatric Association’s Leadership Fellowship Program: Short-term and Longer-term Outcomes

Objective This study assessed the impact of a Leadership Fellowship, sponsored by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and APA Foundation, on the careers of psychiatry residents and examined the influence of gender and year of Fellowship completion. This 2-year program for residents offered multiple opportunities to interact with professional leaders at various levels. Methods A retrospective online survey of alumni of the APA Leadership Fellowship, who had completed this Fellowship between 2003 and 2019, was conducted. Results Out of the 93 psychiatrists who were sent the survey, 59 alumni responded (60.8% response rate). Most respondents had remained involved with organized psychiatry groups and 80% held leadership positions. Respondents reported high levels of satisfaction with the APA Fellowship experience, noting the importance of peer networking. Overall, male and female respondents were similar in their subsequent leadership positions and satisfaction with the survey. Similarly, Fellows who completed the Fellowship in 2003–2015 had responses about the experience that were largely similar to those in the 2016–2019 cohort that had not yet completed their residency. Conclusion A vast majority of alumni of the APA Leadership Fellowship had become leaders in their workplace or organized psychiatry groups. The leadership-focused career development programs for psychiatry trainees are important avenues to develop a diverse cohort of future leaders in psychiatry.