Table 3.

Surgeon participants’ recommendations for improving the Leadership Development Program.

Theme	Explanation	Representative Quotes
1. Presence of departmental authorities	Faculty surgeons had mixed feelings on whether or not current departmental leadership should be present during program activities.	Positive reactions: “I saw changes in [authority], more approachable and listens more.” “[Authority] took the time to be there, which is beyond symbolic.” “[We get] more face time and can develop a relationship with him.” Negative reactions: “[Authority] did not stifle conversation, but some participants did perform for him.” “Will people worry that [authority] will retaliate?” “Not needed for every session.”
2. Gaps in curricular content	Participants noted a desire to learn additional leadership skills that were not covered in depth in this curriculum, including more time on concepts regarding business, mentoring, and time management.	“Confrontation, difficult questions, conflict resolution.” “[Would like to go] deeper on the finance piece…expand the content.” “Add mentoring and how to be a mentor [or] find a mentor for you.” “Burnout and work-life balance could be addressed.”
3. Coaching	Support varied for coaching to develop a personalized leadership plan, depending on the quality and experience level of the individual coach.	Positive reactions: “Helped me in my new role.” “It was insightful and…nice to have objective person to go over 360.” “Useful [to have a person] out of the circle. Moderate reality check.” Negative reactions: “The coaching was expensive and did not pay off.” “Didn’t make an impression, too generic.”
4. Participant inclusion	Comments on who should be considered for inclusion in the program ranged from medical students and residents to alumni faculty members.	Include more people: “Alumni involvement in the next one.” “Roll out to the medical school.” “Mid-level [faculty] got a lot out of it.” Include fewer people: “Junior [faculty] it had reasonable impact; senior [faculty] it had no impact.” “Residents would dilute the impact.” “Residents would change the dynamic…would be a different program.”