The WISER Program Leadership Course

This seven-month course is designed to help Program Directors and Associate/Assistant Program Directors unlock their leadership potential through a values-based approach. Built around the WISER framework, Well-being, Integrity, Service, Empathy, and Respect, the course blends group learning, individual coaching, and peer consultation to provide practical strategies you can immediately apply in your residency/fellowship program.

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This innovative course integrates values-based leadership principles with practical coaching to strengthen skills in:

Well-being – sustaining personal and trainee resilience
Integrity – leading with consistency and transparency
Service – embodying servant leadership and excellence
Empathy – fostering trust, compassion, and psychological safety

Respect – building cultures of feedback, professionalism, and inclusion
Participants will engage in seven group coaching sessions (via Zoom), three individual coaching sessions, and a dynamic Consult Corner where peers bring real challenges from their programs for group discussion, problem-solving, and shared wisdom.

Who Should Enroll

Current Residency and Fellowship Program Directors
Assistant and Associate Program Directors
GME leaders seeking practical strategies to align personal and institutional values with day-to-day leadership

Course Structure

Group Coaching Sessions (7 Total)

1. Introduction to Values-Based Leadership in GME

Understanding the role of values in leadership
Discussing the intersection between your personal and residency/fellowship leadership values
Describing ways to bring your residents/fellows into your values approach to education and development
Introduction to the WISER Framework
Case discussions on real GME leadership challenges

2. Well-Being & Personal Growth

Discussion and review of the ACGME Wellbeing Common Program requirements
Strategies to foster resident/fellow well-being
Burnout prevention and recovery approaches
Building resilience in yourself and your program

3. Integrity in Leadership & Resident/Fellow Selection

Decision-making with transparency and fairness
Handling mistakes and transgressions in accountability and honesty
Approaching resident/fellow selection with integrity
Resource allocation and ethical dilemmas

4. Service: Leadership Excellence

The principles of servant leadership as they apply to your residency/fellowship
Creating cultures of trust and psychological safety with a “circle of safety”
“Leaders Eat Last” – service as the foundation of leadership

5. Empathy: Leading with Compassion

Recognizing shame and emotional triggers in residents/fellows
Empathy vs. sympathy in medical education
Fostering trust and openness in high-stakes environments
Learning to meet your struggling resident/fellow where they are, using empathy to truly understand their challenges and support their growth

6. Respect: Coaching and Feedback Foundations

Practical feedback strategies for modern GME using respect and coaching
Building mutual respect in hierarchical teams
Dale Carnegie principles applied to medical education

7. Final Session: Bringing WISER to Life

Reflection and shared insights from participants
Action planning for integrating WISER into daily practice
Peer coaching and collective accountability

Personalized Leadership Coaching

In addition to group sessions, each participant will engage in three one-on-one coaching sessions designed to accelerate personal growth and strengthen leadership effectiveness. These sessions provide a confidential space to reflect, gain insights, and develop actionable strategies
tailored to your unique role as a program leader.

Session 1: Understanding Your Leadership Style
Using the DISC-TTI Behavioral and Motivation Assessment, you’ll gain clarity on how you
lead, communicate, and collaborate — and learn how to maximize your strengths while
addressing growth areas.
Session 2: Strategic Leadership with the Program Compass
Together, we will map out your Program Leadership Compass — a practical tool to help you
define a clear vision, align your program with your values, and lead your team with intention
and focus.
Session 3: Career Growth and Leadership Development
This final session focuses on you — your growth as a Program Director, your evolving
leadership journey, and your long-term career trajectory. You’ll leave with a concrete plan for
continued success and sustainability in academic leadership.

Consult Corner

Well-being

Sustain personal resilience and foster well-being for your residents and fellows.

Integrity

Lead with consistency, fairness, and transparency in every decision.

Service

Embody servant leadership create cultures of trust and safety.

Empathy

Lead with compassion, reduce shame, and foster psychological safety in your program.

Respect

Build stronger teams through professionalism, inclusion, and feedback rooted in respect.

Video Highlight

Watch how the WISER framework empowers Program Directors and APDs.

Meet our Leadership Coaching and Advising

David Della-Giustina, MD, FACEP, FAWM, ACC

Dr. Della-Giustina is Professor of Emergency Medicine, Vice Chair for Education, and Residency Program Director at Yale School of Medicine. A retired U.S. Army Colonel with 29 years of service and four combat tours, he has over 18 years of program leadership experience and directs fellowships in Wilderness Medicine and Educational Leadership. Nationally recognized for his teaching and leadership, he integrates professional coaching into medical education and has received honors including the ACGME Parker J. Palmer Courage to Teach Award.

Robert Blankenship, MD, FACEP, PCC

is a seasoned leader in the medical field, with over 20 years of experience in leadership roles, 11 of which were spent in active duty. Awarded the Bronze Star for his leadership in Iraq, Rob has also offered his consulting expertise to the United States Special Operations Command and the White House. Now an ICF-certified Executive Coach, he utilizes his leadership skills to guide individuals and teams towards peak performance. Rob is currently assisting his hospital system in starting an Emergency Medicine Residency Program. He resides near Cincinnati, Ohio, where he enjoys golfing and spending quality time with his wife and four children.

Feedback from GME Leaders Who Have Taken the Course

This course has already been embraced by GME leaders — Assistant and Associate Program Directors, Residency and Fellowship Directors. These physicians stepped into the course seeking growth and left with new clarity, strategies, and confidence in their leadership. Their reflections highlight how the WISER Approach and personalized coaching not only strengthened their ability to lead programs, but also transformed the way they view themselves as leaders in academic medicine.

“This course helped me remember the “why” of what I do. I found the one-on-one sessions particularly beneficial for aligning my personal values and priorities with my goals/objectives as an educator.”

CG (Surgery Fellowship PD)

“The impact of the WISER Leadership course extended far beyond the curriculum. The camaraderie among participants was extraordinary, creating a sense of connection that made me feel less alone and more empowered in my leadership. It provided a safe, supportive space to share challenges and grow together.

The WISER Leadership course offered a structured framework for understanding key leadership concepts, which helped me reflect on my role with greater clarity and intention.

The DISC assessment, along with my debrief with Dave, was truly transformative—it fundamentally shifted how I view my role and prioritize my time.”

CM (Internal Medicine APD)

“The WISER course inspired me to treat each individual according to their own values rather than a monolith. I have found this very effective in breaking down communication or cultural barriers between myself as a program leader and the trainees. Even having the conversation seems to allow for trust to build and makes my intent more explicitly aligned with theirs. This relationship and trust is invaluable when difficult cases, remediation, or any feedback conversations occur, and I believe has greatly enhanced my ability to lead effectively.”

RC (Emergency Medicine APD)

“The WISER course was a really great experience for me. As an ObGyn I had participated in leadership trainings in my subspecialty organization but this approach was really unique and valuable. The lessons were great and the discussion format was very engaging but what I found most helpful was the ability to connect with other program directors in different subspecialties. Sharing individual struggles and getting advice from others was invaluable.”

AM (OB-GYN PD)

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need prior leadership training to enroll?

Will I get personalized support, or is this only group learning?

How interactive are the sessions?

Can my institution sponsor multiple leaders?

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