In the latest Yale Child Study Center (YCSC) “On Leadership” blog post and newsletter column, Daryn David, PhD reflects on the 2023-24 academic year as it comes to a close. There will be a pause in blog posts for the summer, with a return to the column in September.
Happy summer to all! In keeping with the spirit of reunion and reflection that marks the end of the academic year, I’d like to close out the 2023-24 On Leadership column by highlighting the ground we’ve covered introducing principles of service leadership within the YCSC.
This past October we launched the YCSC “On Leadership” Grand Rounds. An open forum with leaders at the Yale School of Medicine (YSM) and beyond who are especially committed to principles of collaboration, connection, and service, we welcomed three wonderful speakers to our department as part of this series.
Pamela Sutton-Wallace, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the Yale-New Haven Health System, kicked things off with a fantastic, heartfelt conversation about how grounding in values, service, and a sense of legacy influence her approach to leadership.
Sonia LaBarbara, President of CEO Gaylord Specialty Healthcare, shared insights into the magic that partnership and empowering others can bring to unlocking the full potential of one’s organization.
Dr. Nii Addy, the Albert E. Kent Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Associate Professor of Cellular and Molecular Physiology and the Director of Scientist Diversity and Inclusion at YSM spoke candidly about privileging his many stakeholders’ worldviews when he weds faith to science and community outreach, and works to reduce stigma around substance abuse.
I gave a talk in this series too, laying out my vision for leadership within academic medicine that is grounded in values and strengths, filled with presence and voice, and committed to connecting with and developing others.
Complementing these talks was a series of impactful leadership posters designed by Skyler Rapacioli, an undergraduate graphic design student at CT State Community College. Beautifully displayed across two YCSC buildings over the course of this year, the posters will return when the department’s Grand Rounds series kicks off again next fall.
Speaking of which, academic year 2024-25 promises an expansion of our efforts to imbue the YCSC culture with the spirit of service leadership. In collaboration with the Department of Pediatrics, September will see the launch of a robust peer coaching program for our newest postdocs and early career faculty.
Several members of our faculty have trained on a model for leading these groups and stand ready to deliver! We will also study outcomes associated with the program. If you are a postdoc or early career faculty member interested in learning more, please reach out.
A workshop series for YCSC faculty focused on leading through inclusion and belonging is also being planned, as is a series focused on utilizing the coach approach to developing others.
Additional ideas for leadership programming from within the Yale community are always welcome -- please feel free to reach out to me through the contact information in my YSM profile.
And in the meantime, have a wonderful summer, stay cool, and please stay tuned for more in the fall!
The On Leadership blog was launched in 2022 to address the importance of connection, collaboration, and embodying a service leadership mindset in professional and personal contexts. YCSC Assistant Professor Daryn H. David, PhD directs the column and serves as director for leadership development and coaching initiatives in the Yale School of Medicine (YSM) Offices of Academic and Professional Development and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion.