Two FMLM members describe their experience with an Executive Masters in Medical Leadership
Dr Ruth Mc Cabe, MRCP PGDipRHC and Dr Kathryn Oakland MRCS MD(Res)
The Executive Masters in Medical Leadership (EMML) is a specialised degree that offers advanced leadership training to doctors. The programme, based at Cass business school, develops leaders who can transform healthcare systems in ways that ultimately help people live longer, healthier lives. It is grounded in research that shows that medical leadership improves healthcare system performance. We are both students in the degree’s first cohort, as well as being FMLM members.
Why pursue a medical leadership degree?
Ruth: Critical care has been my main hospital specialty for ten years, but as a doctor with a varied NHS hospital background, I have extensive remote area experience at sea and on land, and have worked at the Department of Health. This allowed me to develop my management and leadership skills with clinical teams as part of large non-medical organisations such as the oil & gas industry, especially learning new approaches from these alternative perspectives. I wanted to take this further and develop as an effective leader capable of real healthcare development.
Kate: My background is also in the NHS, as a general surgical registrar. We hear a lot about the importance of leadership and the implications for an organisation that is not led well, but how can we ensure that this does not happen? Does good leadership happen by chance? The answer of course is no – and leadership can be taught. This course assimilates the best evidence from healthcare and other sectors, including tech, business and engineering to provide a solid framework to learn how to be a strong, effective leader.
Who is the degree suited to?
The Cass EMML is designed specifically for doctors, and is aimed at any medical professional looking to become a more effective leader.
Programme Structure
The core modules are taught over a two year period, attending one two-day block session (on a Friday and Saturday) each month during the academic year (September to May). Additionally, there is the opportunity to attend social and networking events and engage with the larger community of Cass alumni and friends in healthcare.
Top tips
Allow adequate time for your pre-reading before each taught weekend to get the most out of the contact time. Commit to action learning – the more you put in the more you get out!
Is it worth taking an EMML?
Ruth – Yes, the EMML is stimulating and refreshing, a world away from many clinical courses. The personal development aspect has enabled me to have a better idea of my strengths, and to identify how and where my skills can best be applied to lead change in a complex healthcare setting. I have found the work on ‘framing’ particularly useful: how to better translate some of the ‘self-evident’ issues for medical professionals into what makes sense for general managers and other non-clinicians. The academic studies in this area have been fascinating and have really helped to develop my more intuitive efforts.
Kate – Absolutely, I use the skills and strategies taught on this course multiple times during a normal clinical day. Change management theory is particularly useful. In healthcare, effective change can be difficult to execute, even if all stakeholders have the same agenda. Understanding why some innovations work when others fail is essential if we want to improve the quality of care that we provide. Plus, the course is very enjoyable. We trial the theories learned in the classroom using anything from launching a newspaper to launching a spaceship and everything in between.
Contact for further information
or speak to
Aasim Ali
T: +44 (0)20 7040 8269
E: aasim.ali [at] city.ac.uk (subject: EMML)