The ABLE program focuses on overall career development of the ABLE scholars. As part of this program, the Leadership Development modules will include topics that focus on aspects of academic leadership conducted in small group, workshop-like sessions.

Goals

At the conclusion of the Leadership Development modules, the ABLE scholars should be able to:

1. Discuss techniques to manage and resolve conflicts to enhance team performance.
2. Describe optimal methods of working collaboratively with and managing diverse teams.
3. Review basic organizational and financial structure in an academic department.

Modules

1. Finance Basics in an Academic Department

Discussion leader: John Borrelli, MBA, Chief Administrator, Duke Anesthesiology

Summary: ABLE scholars will familiarize themselves with basic financial structure in an academic department. Funds flow, revenue sources, reimbursement challenges and limitations, grants funds flow, relationships with other institutional entities will be discussed.

2. Building a National Presence

Discussion leader: Madhav Swaminathan, MD, Vice chair, Faculty Development, Duke Anesthesiology

Summary: The discussion will focus on strategies to build an academic identity that builds on making scholarly work more visible at a national and international level. Tradeoffs and challenges will also be discussed.

3. Managing Conflict

Discussion leader: Allison Ross, MD

Summary: The importance of being able to resolve conflicts amicably to enhance team performance cannot be overstated. Strategies to manage difficult conversations to ensure optimal results will be discussed.

4. Diversity, Inclusion, and Bias

Discussion leader: Jennifer Dominguez, MD, Division of Women’s Anesthesia, Duke Anesthesiology

Summary: Leaders in any field need to have a nuanced understanding of the importance of diversity and inclusion. This discussion will also focus on implicit biases and how we can minimize their impact in executive decisions.

5. Ethics in Leadership

Discussion leader: Michael “Buz” Waitzkin

Summary: Leading healthcare teams in an ethical manner can be more challenging than is apparent. This module will emphasize the importance of recognizing and resolving ethical issues in a just manner for all team members.

6. Managing Multi-Disciplinary Teams

Discussion leader: Svati Shah, MD. Associate Dean of Genomics, Duke University School of Medicine

Summary: Scholarly activity can often require close collaboration between team members of different disciplines. Understanding differences in culture and work dynamics is critical to ensuring successful scholarship. This module will discuss strategies to optimally manage multi-disciplinary teams.

An important aim of the ABLE program is to enhance research management skills among the ABLE scholars. While research itself is not an integral part of all ABLE program domains, management of teams and an understanding of the research infrastructure in the institution is extremely valuable for all domains. The Research Management modules will include topics that focus on aspects of the institution’s research infrastructure and will be conducted in small group, workshop-like sessions.

Goals

At the conclusion of the Research Management modules, the ABLE scholars should be able to:

1. Describe the research infrastructure at Duke.
2. Complete a grant writing workshop with one grant or proposal submission planned for 2022.
3. Review the methods of creating a research budget and delineate reporting requirements.

Modules

1. Grant Writing Workshops

Workshop leader: Kathy Gage, Scientific writing consultant, Duke Anesthesiology

Summary: In a series of 4 workshops through the year, ABLE scholars will familiarize themselves with essential elements of a grant proposal, how to write a convincing proposal that succinctly, yet comprehensively conveys the purpose of the project and justification for funds requested. The format will be modeled around a brief R03-type proposal, which would be useful in several situations. Scholars will identify a funding mechanism prior to the start of the workshops.

Essential: Clinical and translational
Optional: Education and operations

2. Scientific Integrity

Discussion leader: Geeta Swamy, MD, Vice Dean for Scientific Integrity, Duke School of Medicine

Summary: Dr. Geeta Swamy will discuss the institution’s vision for scientific integrity standards and expectations and efforts to ensure the advancement of scientific integrity. ABLE scholars will develop a more nuanced understanding of what constitutes scientific misconduct and methods to uphold the highest standards of scientific integrity in their scholarship.

Essential: All

3. How to Create a Budget

Discussion leader: Bonita Funk, BSN, RN, CCRP. Research Practice Manager, Duke Anesthesiology Clinical Research Unit

Summary: A budget provides justification for expenses in any project proposal. Ms. Funk will discuss what elements should be considered when creating a budget for a research project. ABLE scholars will develop a more thorough understanding of the structure of the factors that require due consideration when creating a budget for any proposal.

Essential: Clinical and translational
Optional: Education and operations

4. Writing a Good Biosketch

Discussion leader: Jamie Privratsky, MD. Assistant Professor, Duke Anesthesiology

Summary: A good biosketch succinctly describes the qualities that make an investigator an attractive investment option for an entity considering funding a grant or project proposal. Dr. Privratsky will discuss the elements that are essential to be included in any biosketch.

Essential: Clinical and translational
Optional: Education and operations

5. Infrastructure 1 – CARE

Discussion leader: Edmund Jooste, MD. Professor & Director, Clinical Anesthesia Research Endeavors, Duke Anesthesiology

Summary: ABLE scholars will be able to better grasp the research infrastructure in the department that helps with clinical research projects, grant management, regulatory requirements and providing resources for clinical research.

Essential: Clinical
Optional: Education, translational and operations

6. Infrastructure 2 – IRB

Discussion leader: Conal Ho, PhD. Duke University Institutional Research Board.

Summary: Dr. Ho will discuss the IRB process from the IRB’s perspective and from the point of view of an expert independent from the researcher. ABLE scholars will get an insight into the ethics of research and protection of research subjects.

Essential: All

7. Infrastructure 3 – DOCR

Discussion leader: Denise Snyder, MS, RD, LN. Associate Dean for Clinical Research, Duke Office of Clinical Research (DOCR).

Summary: ABLE scholars will learn more about the Duke Office of Clinical Research, which provides a wide range of services to the research community that covers the study life cycle from planning and start up to close out.

Essential: Clinical
Optional: Education, translational and operations

8. Infrastructure 4 – Reporting Requirements

Discussion leader: Tiffany Bisnar, RN, BSN, MSN. Duke Anesthesiology Clinical Research Unit

Summary: ABLE scholars will learn about regulatory aspects of reporting requirements for federal and non-federal research projects. Discussion will include timelines, best practices, and resources available to assist with reporting data.

Essential: Clinical, translational and education
Optional: Operations

For the operations scholars in the program, the aim is to enhance operations management knowledge and skills. An understanding of operational management is essential for ABLE operations scholars but is also helpful for scholars in other domains. The Operations management modules will include topics that focus on aspects of the institution’s operational infrastructure and design and will be conducted in small group, workshop-like sessions.

Goals

At the conclusion of the Operations management modules, the ABLE scholars should be able to:

1. Describe the operational infrastructure at Duke.
2. Complete a business proposal for a project planned for 2022.
3. Review the methods used to ensure high-quality surgical services at Duke.

Modules

1. Supply-Chain Logistics

Discussion leader: Mike Kivel, Director, Supply Chain Management, Duke University Hospital

Summary: ABLE operations scholars will participate in a discussion on how supply chain logistics are critical for operational reliability in a large health system. The complexities of navigating the system and anticipating changes is important to ensure operational success.

2. Pharmacy Management

Discussion leader: Kuldip Patel, PharmD. Director, Pharmacy Operations, Duke University Hospital

Summary: Management of medications across the organization involves an operational process with many parts, including supply-demand, pricing changes, utilization, drug shortages, managing formularies and costs. An understanding of these processes is critical for ensuring smooth perioperative operations.

3. Perioperative Services

Discussion leader: Clif Flintom, Vice president, Perioperative Services, and Kathleen Ulrich, Asst. VP, Nursing, Duke University Hospital

Summary: Coordination and management of the spectrum of perioperative services involves close collaboration with multiple disciplines including surgery, anesthesiology, medicine, critical care, and operational areas like pharmacy, nursing, finance, administration, engineering, and IT to ensure an optimal experience for our surgical patients. ABLE scholars will participate in a discussion with perioperative service leaders to gain a better understanding of the operational complexities of perioperative services.

4. Improving Performance Through Industrial Engineering Design Methods

Discussion leader: Thomas Davis, Performance Services, Duke Health System.

Summary: Industrial engineering methods are being increasingly leveraged for ensuring delivery of high-quality healthcare. ABLE scholars will participate in a discussion on how Duke is optimizing perioperative services using industrial engineering methods.

5. Developing a Business Proposal

Discussion leaders: Dana Rawls and John Borrelli, Duke Anesthesiology.

Summary: A business proposal is central to any operational project that includes information on the rationale for the idea, competing elements, financial implications, short- and long-term significance, and alternate strategies for success. For the ABLE operations scholars, this will be an alternative to the grant writing workshop.

For the education scholars in the program, the aim is to develop a nuanced understanding of how to develop an educational curriculum. The Education management modules will include topics that focus on creating a curriculum in a guided format and will be conducted in small group, workshop-like sessions.

Goals

At the conclusion of the Education management modules, the ABLE scholars should be able to:

1. Describe the essential elements of creating an educational curriculum.
2. Complete a proposal for an education project planned for 2022.

Modules

Curriculum Development Workshop

Workshop leader: Ashley Grantham, PhD, Education Specialist, Duke Anesthesiology

Summary: In a series of 4 workshops through the year, ABLE education scholars will familiarize themselves with essential elements of an education curriculum, how to write a convincing proposal that succinctly, yet comprehensively conveys the purpose of the project and expected outcomes including assessment tools.

Other modules will be incorporated at a later date as confirmed, including role of simulation in education, management of an educational program, and ensuring diversity and inclusion in an educational program.

Archive

All junior faculty at the rank of assistant professor or instructor are encouraged to apply for ABLE Scholarship. All applicants to the program will be screened by both domain Coaches and discussed with team leads. Recommendations will be made by team leads to the senior cabinet for final selection. Unsuccessful candidates will be encouraged to reapply. Those in a grant application cycle, or within 2 years of promotion eligibility will be prioritized. Faculty at the associate professor rank may also apply for the ABLE program; selection will be approved by Team Leads in consultation with the VC for faculty development and department chair.

Past Scholars

2020 Scholars

2019 Scholars

Coaches will meet with their assigned ABLE Scholars as often as required, but at least every month to set goals and review progress. Team Leads will meet with Coaches every quarter to review progress and discuss opportunities and barriers within the broad goals of the ABLE program. Team Leads will meet with the VC for faculty development every six months to review progress. The VC will provide the department chair an annual report for each domain.