Date of Graduation

5-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education in Adult and Lifelong Learning (EdD)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Counseling, Leadership, and Research Methods

Advisor/Mentor

Roessger, Kevin M.

Committee Member

Grover, Kenda S.

Second Committee Member

Ward, Wendy

Keywords

Academic Health Centers; Academic Medical Centers; Executive Education; Leadership; Medical Faculty; Readiness to Lead

Abstract

Americans living in rural communities face significantly poorer health outcomes compared to those in urban areas. Academic medical centers (AMCs), such as the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), play a critical role in addressing these disparities by incorporating rural health improvement into their mission. UAMS has committed to mitigating adverse health outcomes through targeted initiatives. However, AMCs operate within highly complex environments, balancing their tripartite mission of teaching, research, and clinical care, which demands exceptional leadership. These institutions also face unique organizational and economic challenges, compounded by personal and professional pressures on faculty members. To enhance leadership capacity and address these challenges, UAMS partnered with the Executive Education program at the Sam M. Walton College of Business (Walton College) to establish the Executive Healthcare Leadership Institute (EHLI). EHLI is designed to develop leadership skills among UAMS faculty, with one of its primary objectives being to increase faculty readiness to lead. This readiness is assessed through leader self-efficacy, a concept rooted in Albert Bandura’s self-efficacy framework, which reflects an individual’s confidence in their ability to execute leadership responsibilities effectively. This study evaluates the effectiveness of EHLI in enhancing leadership readiness among UAMS faculty. Using multiple linear regression, the study compares leadership readiness scores, as—measured through the Leader Efficacy Questionnaire (LEQ)—between faculty who have completed EHLI and those who have not. Additionally, the research examines whether prior leadership experience or participation in leadership development programs (LDPs) moderates the relationship between EHLI completion and leadership readiness. The findings will inform potential modifications to EHLI, assess its overall value as a resource investment, and contribute to broader efforts to strengthen AMC leadership in an era of constrained resources and persistent rural health disparities.

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