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School of Medicine

Faculty Affairs Office

Empowering Medical Educators Through Coaching

The Coaching Excellence Program for medical faculty is a professional development initiative aimed at enhancing faculty members' coaching skills to support learners' growth, resilience, and performance. It emphasizes evidence-based coaching techniques, reflective practice, and effective feedback to foster a supportive and growth-oriented learning environment in clinical and academic settings.

Application Information

Registration:  Is now closed 

Registration Fee: $500.00 (to be paid after notification of acceptance into the program).  Registration fees cover costs of online courses and annual in-person coaching meetings. 

Required Documents

Please make sure you have all documents ready to attach and that they are in a PDF format.  We ask that you attach the following:

  • Statement of Intent: Describe how you would benefit from being a coach in 200 words or less
  • Curriculum Vitae

 

Coaching Excellence Program Logo

  • What Is Coaching?

    In medical education, coaching is a developmental, learner-centered process that supports individuals in achieving their professional goals. Coaching fosters reflection, growth, and resilience by helping faculty and learners clarify values, strengthen performance, and navigate complexity with greater self-awareness.

  • What Coaching Is Not

    Coaching is not advising, mentoring, or psychotherapy.

    • Mentors provide guidance based on experience.
    • Advisors help solve specific problems or plan careers.
    • Therapists treat mental health issues.
      Coaches, on the other hand, create a confidential, nonjudgmental space that empowers individuals to find their own solutions.
  • Who Should Take the Coaching Program

    This program is ideal for:

    • Medical school faculty committed to supporting learners or peers in a non-directive, developmental role
    • Clerkship and residency directors, deans, and academic leaders seeking tools to foster growth mindset and professional identity formation
    • Faculty involved in wellness initiatives, student advising, or leadership development
    • Those looking to expand their impact beyond teaching and mentoring
  • How Do I Know If I'm Ready to Be a Coach?

    You may be ready to take this step if:

    • You’re committed to creating safe spaces for learners or colleagues
    • You recognize the limits of advice-giving and want to facilitate deeper reflection
    • You're comfortable with not being the expert in the conversation
    • You have a growth mindset and are curious about human development
    • You’re willing to engage in self-reflection and feedback as part of your own development
  • Learning Outcomes

    Participants in this program will:

    • Understand the distinctions between coaching, advising, and mentoring in academic medicine
    • Learn and apply evidence-based coaching competencies (aligned with ICF and academic medical frameworks)
    • Demonstrate active listening, inquiry, and goal -setting in a faculty coaching context
    • Use coaching to support professional identity formation, resilience, and career progression
    • Engage in structured practice sessions with feedback from experienced faculty coaches
  • Course Overview

    Program Curriculum / Modules

    1. Foundations of Coaching in Medical Education
      • Coaching definitions, principles, and ethics
      • Role of coaching in UME/GME/faculty development
    2. Core Coaching Skills
      • Deep listening, powerful questions, presence, and building trust
      • Maintaining boundaries and psychological safety
    3. Frameworks for Coaching Conversations
      • GROW model, academic coaching frameworks (e.g., AAMC, ICF, Kirkpatrick)
      • Tailoring coaching to learners vs. peers
    4. Practice & Reflection
      • Faculty coaching triads and structured peer feedback
      • Observed sessions with faculty coach facilitators
    5. Assessment and Certification
      • Final observed coaching session
      • Reflective portfolio submission
  • Next Steps for Certified Faculty Coaches

    After certification, you will:

    • Be added to the Medical School Coaching Faculty Network
    • Participate in annual faculty coaching retreats focused on skill-building and reflection
    • Be eligible to serve as a coach for students, residents, or faculty peers
    • Access continuing education, webinars, and advanced coaching workshops
    • Optionally serve as a peer mentor coach for future cohorts
  • Do Coaches Meet Annually?

    Yes. All certified faculty coaches are invited to attend our Annual Coaching Roundtable—a forum for skill refreshers, case discussions, and advancing the coaching culture at our institution.

  • Coaching Certificate Requirements

    • Complete all online coaching modules, assignments and quizzes (all in Canvas) 

    • Participate in three in person Coaching meetings (Held in Winter, Spring and Fall)

    • Complete 9 coaching sessions within a year