Doctors occupy an extraordinary and inherent position of leadership. They’re trusted by their patients for the most important life decisions. They’re depended on by healthcare institutions. They’re authoritative sources for the media. So it stands to reason that many of them might seek to enhance that role, influence their industry’s direction, set a standard of leadership within the practice and beyond. That’s where the American Association for Physician Leadership comes in.
The organization, founded in 1975 and based in Tampa, provides a path for members to gain a competitive edge through leadership education, career guidance, a peer-based network and other resources. AAPL has over 10,000 members representing 45 countries. Over 250,000 doctors have been educated in the association’s programs.
Fox Associates is AAPL’s media-monetization partner, responsible for Physician Leadership Journal, produced six times per year, among other publications.
Peter Angood.
Having just caught up with the organization’s leaders at its Fall 2024 Institute in Scottsdale, Arizona and with AAPL’s 50th anniversary coming in 2025, we thought it would be a good time to catch up with the association’s CEO, Dr. Peter Angood. Here’s a lightly edited version of our conversation.
Fox Tales: Tell us the genesis of AAPL. What was the catalyst?
Dr. Peter Angood: The American Association for Physician Leadership was founded by Roger Schenke, and initially was called the American College of Physician Executives.
Schenke identified a crucial gap in the medical profession: The need for physicians to be educated in management and leadership principles. At the time, the association primarily focused on educating mid-career physicians in pursuit of administrative roles within hospitals. To this day, medical training and business courses do not effectively, or adequately, provide medical professionals with an understanding of these principles. Since its inception, AAPL has remained the premier organization for leadership development among healthcare professionals. As healthcare continues to evolve rapidly, the need for leadership and management skills remains crucial.
Fox Tales: Has AAPL’s mission changed or evolved since it was founded in 1975?
Angood: After intense research on the needs of the industry as it relates to physician executives, the association recognized the necessity for a broader perspective for those interested in management roles. In 2012, the association was rebranded as AAPL and its mission evolved to better meet and anticipate the needs of physicians, organizations, and patients. While the core mission of enhancing physician leadership skills has remained consistent, the scope has expanded to acknowledge that the public views all physicians as leaders.
Over time, AAPL has adopted a comprehensive approach to leadership development, diversifying its programs, products and services to cater to healthcare leaders and their organizations. The association continues to evolve as a significant thought leader and influencer in the international healthcare industry. AAPL’s core mission remains constant—to improve the overall quality, safety, efficiency, and value of contemporary healthcare by leveraging the valuable relationship between patients and physicians.
Fox Tales: Have AAPL members become transformative leaders in the broader sense—business, approach to patient care, etc.—for their organizations, and can you share an example or two?
Angood: Graduates of AAPL programs have become transformative leaders at various levels of healthcare, both in traditional and non-traditional roles. These leaders have shifted their organization’s focus to patient-centered care, integrating innovative practices to enhance organizational performance and improve health outcomes through inter-professional collaboration. Through consistent dedication, they have made industry advancements by initiating large-scale changes such as:
- Creating a value-based contract strategy for a one-million-member health system, resulting in $65 million in savings and multi-million-dollar payouts to four integrated networks of over 4,000 MDs.
- Developed an innovative medical management program, saving approximately $15 million.
- Improved organizational scores from a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services score of one to three stars; a Leapfrog Score from D to A; and patient mortality predictions from 300 to 60 percent over four years.
- Integrated a population health-service team into a $3 billion health system.
Fox Tales: What two or three trends in the practice have occurred in the last 10 or 15 years?
Angood: Increased Focus on Value-Based Care: The healthcare industry has made a difficult but significant shift from volume-based to value-based care, emphasizing improved patient outcomes and cost efficiency. This shift led to the adoption of new payment models, quality metrics, and care coordination efforts.
Private Equity Investments: We have seen an increase of private equity investments in the United States healthcare system. This trend has impacted the quality and safety of healthcare delivery, raising concerns about the sustainability of health equity.
Team-Based Patient Care: Clinical teams are evolving to multi-professional and team-based patient care, creating a need for additional education, certification, and licensure across multiple clinical disciplines.
Fox Tales: Tell us about the association’s relationship with Fox Associates, and how Fox helps AAPL achieve its mission.
Angood: In partnership with Fox Associates, AAPL has enhanced operational efficiency and member engagement. This collaboration helps AAPL focus and achieve its core mission by successfully implementing its programs, products, and services. We have successfully partnered with Fox Associates and value their professionalism and expertise.