Lalita Shevde-Samant, Ph.D.Two Heersink School of Medicine faculty members have graduated from prestigious medicine leadership fellowship programs from offered by Drexel University College of Medicine. Lalita Shevde-Samant, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Pathology, has graduated from the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) program. Kierstin Kennedy, M.D., MSHA, professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine and Population Science, has graduated from the Executive Leadership in Healthcare (ELH) program.
Founded in 1995, ELAM is designed to train and connect professionals, so that they may become prominent leaders in academic healthcare. To date, ELAM has produced almost 1800 high-level leaders at 300 institutions.
“I am honored to have completed ELAM Fellowship, one of the nation's premier leadership programs in academic health sciences,” said Shevde-Samant. “My sincere thanks to Dean Agarwal and my department chair, Dr. Magi-Galluzzi, for their nomination, encouragement, and support. The curriculum encompassing strategic planning, finance, organizational dynamics, career development, and coaching coupled with the Institutional Action Project is transformational and impactful. ELAM has broadened my strategic perspective, connected me with an extraordinary network of leaders in academic medicine, and strengthened my capacity to contribute to institutional growth in new and impactful ways.”
Newly introduced in 2022, the ELH program is aimed towards rising professionals who are experts in their field. The fellowship focuses on clinical operations and health care delivery, and seeks out individuals with experience in administrative roles, such as personnel and budget management.
Kierstin Kennedy, M.D., MSHA“I have done other leadership training programs, so I can honestly say that ELH is rare in three distinct ways: The tailored curriculum, the blend of didactic learning with practical application, and the learning community structure,” said Kennedy. “It provides a curriculum that doesn’t just teach healthcare leadership broadly, but grounds it in the specific realities of academic medical centers: the financial structures and complexities, value-based care dynamics, and the legal and HR nuances that make these environments unique. ELAM and ELH didn’t just develop my skills, it expanded how I think about leadership itself. I am so grateful to UAB for investing in me in this way.”
Learn more about the ELAM and ELH programs. The Class of 2027–2028 will open Sept. 1. If you are interested in applying for one of the programs, please contact your department chair, EA, or regional dean.