North Broward Hospital District Kicks Off its Leadership Academy to Prepare Staff for Management Roles

The North Broward Hospital District’s (NBHD) Department of Learning recently launched a program designed to train and develop current and emerging managers and supervisors. The “Leadership Academy: Passport to the Future” program focuses on providing innovative strategically-aligned learning opportunities to employees in order to maximize individual, team and organizational performance and create a means for succession planning.

The program is being rolled out in phases starting with the Emerging Leader and Front-line Supervisor Certifications, followed by the Manager Certification and Executive Certification classes. “The Leadership Academy will enable the District to grow by developing our future leaders,” said Dr. Wilhelmena Mack, Vice President/Chief Human Resources Officer. “This type of training provides the District with a pool of qualified candidates who will be prepared to fill critical positions.”

Course instructor Brian Rosenberg, Ph.D. from the District’s Department of Learning (far right) engages in a team-building exercise with (left to right) Noel Hyatt, community services, NBHD; Anthony Gagliano, facilities services, IPMC; Randy Gerber, rehabilitation services, CSMC; Thomas Albury, respiratory therapy, NBMC. Photo by Rusty Sherman.

There are currently 42 employees enrolled in the Emerging Leader Certification which helps prepare non-management staff for a leadership role by exposing them to topics such as communication, team-building, managing conflict and diversity. 60 employees are enrolled in the Front-line Supervisor Certification, which was designed for newly hired or newly promoted supervisors or coordinators who will complete the same nine classes as the Emerging Leader as well New Manager Orientation plus attend eight additional classes.

“The response has been tremendous,” said Carol Maietta, RN, BSN, MS, Chief Learning Officer, NBHD. “We continue to get applications on a daily basis. Employees are really seeing the value of these courses and how it can help their career advancement.”

Manager Certification will involve the completion of the emerging leader and frontline supervisor classes plus additional classes. Employees eligible for these certifications can be referred to the academy by their manager or a sponsor outside of their department who is at the managerial or executive level. Executive certification for leaders serving in roles such as vice president will focus on more advanced courses in communication skills, strategic planning, organizational change, healthcare trends, increasing productivity and managing from a distance.

Employees have the option of completing certification courses at their own pace. They will also have the opportunity to participate in three fast track programs which will rotate through the District’s medical centers. “The growth and development of our staff continues to be a critical success factor for the NBHD,” added Maietta. “The rollout of this Academy helps us retain our talented staff and prepares our leaders and future leaders with the tools they need to succeed.”

The mentor program, another important component of the District’s retention strategy, was also recently launched. The program matched up 30 mentors with 30 protégés pairing them up based on the needs of the protégé and the strengths of the mentors. Seasoned mentors will provide leadership and guidance to protégés well as help them develop standard leadership competencies.