Comparison of the UCLA Anderson/J&J Program and ELAM Leadership Programs

My experience in the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) program was foundational in shaping my early leadership identity. ELAM, designed specifically for women in academic medicine, created a powerful environment of shared experience, mutual support, and gender‑focused leadership development. It gave me a strong sense of belonging and helped me understand the unique challenges women face in academic leadership. The curriculum emphasized navigating institutional structures, building confidence, and developing the strategic skills needed to advance within academic medicine. That experience was transformative and deeply affirming.

The UCLA Anderson/Johnson & Johnson Health Care Executive Leadership Program, however, offered a distinctly different kind of growth. Unlike ELAM’s women‑only structure, the UCLA/J&J program brought together a diverse, multidisciplinary cohort from across the health care ecosystem—physicians, administrators, public health leaders, and industry professionals. This diversity broadened my perspective and pushed me to think beyond academic medicine and into the larger health care landscape. The program’s business‑school orientation strengthened my skills in financial strategy, operations, negotiation, and organizational leadership in ways that complemented—but did not duplicate—my ELAM training.

What made the UCLA/J&J program especially distinctive was its emphasis on practical implementation, innovation under constraint, and collaborative problem‑solving. Working through real‑world challenges, including the budget limitations I faced with the program I launched at Creighton, helped me develop a more resilient, adaptive leadership style. The encouragement from colleagues and instructors gave me the confidence to persist, refine my ideas, and lead with both creativity and discipline.

Together, these experiences expanded my leadership capacity in different but complementary ways. ELAM helped me see myself as a leader; UCLA/J&J helped me operate as one on a broader, more strategic stage.