Physician Well-being Training: Become a Thought Leader Against Burnout
A unique career development certificate program is once again open for applications from physicians who want to deepen their well-being training by becoming leaders who inspire optimal care team performance and encourage a positive organizational focus, leading to better patient outcomes and healthier communities.
The AAFP developed the Leading Physician Well-being certificate program to help physicians foster and fine-tune leadership skills to spearhead change and champion well-being among the physicians and other clinicians in their practice or health care organization. The program is open to AAFP members as well as nonmembers. Residents are eligible if they have the backing of their program; they should submit a letter of support from their program director.
“This program has re-energized me in my efforts to shift my local health care system toward improved clinician well-being. It crystalized the importance of clinicians owning our own well-being,” Timothy Riley, M.D., an associate professor and associate vice chair for wellness in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Penn State College of Medicine, said about his own experience in the Leading Physician Well-being program.
Applications are being accepted through June 1 and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Final acceptance notifications will be sent June 11.
Learn How to Reduce Burnout and Promote Well-being
LPW is a 10-month series that grows family physicians’ knowledge and skills in three foundational areas:
- Leadership development: Physicians learn how to wield influence, implement change management and performance improvement activities, communicate with medical colleagues and others, and develop a change management plan to enhance physician well-being in their organization.
- Performance improvement: Participants gain hands-on experience by developing and implementing a PI-CME project in their organization that’s expected to wrap up one year after the program’s educational experience concludes. This activity meets ABFM Performance Improvement Activities requirements.
- Physician well-being: Successful applicants build expertise through education about the essential need for and current state of well-being, how to measure it, and best practices to achieve it. They then develop a plan to raise awareness of its importance in their practice and organization.
Apply to Lead
AAFP active members, residents and nonmembers can apply to the 2025-2026 Leading Physician Well-being certificate program through June 1. Visit the program page today for an FAQ, application details and more.
Well-being Leadership Learning Objectives
A rich schedule of both livestream and in-person events, punctuated by a steady drumbeat of online educational activities, fosters a supportive learning community for participants of the Leading Physician Well-being program.
By the end of the program, newly empowered physician leaders will feel confident about their improved skill sets, including
- building professional influence, fostering successful leadership, and catalyzing personal and system-level transformation;
- implementing sustainable system-level well-being initiatives;
- applying validated tools to measure and improve well-being;
- and more, as described in the program learning objectives.
Well-being Leadership Scholars Enjoy Multiple Benefits
Successfully completing the LPW program comes with many rewards. In addition to being recognized as AAFP thought leaders and acquiring the knowledge and skills to serve as spokespeople for physician well-being, program scholars receive
- a Leading Physician Well-being certificate;
- CME credit, including PI-CME credits; and
- ABFM PI credit.
Other benefits are less tangible, although just as important. During their 10 months in the program, scholars engage in peer-to-peer networking, receiving guidance and support from their colleagues. Participants also gain the satisfaction of knowing they’re honing their leadership skills while becoming effective agents for change and physician well-being experts.
Program pricing is $2,500 for active and new physician members, $2,250 for residents, and $3,000 for nonmembers. AAFP active members are eligible for scholarships. Details about scholarships and other program specifics are available in a program FAQ.