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The first cohort of HSC Fellows will end their year-long leadership training program this Friday with a special graduation ceremony.

The Fellows program was created to develop the skills and capabilities necessary to prepare aspiring leaders to face challenges in the innovative, rapidly changing UNT Health Science Center environment.

The first cohort is made up of 17 team members from across campus who were selected for their potential in taking leadership positions of increasing responsibility within the Health Science Center.

Friday’s special graduation ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in MET 109-111.

During the past 10 months, they have heard presentations on universal principles of leadership, including specific application to UNTHSC’s values-based culture. Management consultants and other leadership experts have lectured them about such topics as leading with trust, effective communication, design thinking, innovative decision-making and talent management and development.

“The Fellows program energized me to work hard, do my best and try to make a real difference,” said Fellows candidate Anuja Ghorpade, PhD, Interim Vice President for Research. “I feel privileged to have been a part of it, and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to give back.”

Jonathan Silk, Executive Director of Leadership Development in the Office of People Development, said the first Fellows cohort developed special relationships that will endure long after the program ends.

“We brought together a diverse group of individuals from across the institution who are the next generation of senior leaders at the HSC,” said Silk, who supervised the Fellows program. “Over the course of 10 months, they grew and developed together, forming relationships based on trust that will last for years to come. As the Fellows rise to positions of increased responsibility, they will be able to count on each other for support.”

Fellows candidate Trisha Van Duser, EdD, Executive Director of Student Services in the Division of Student Affairs, said relationships formed during her Fellows training was only one of the benefits of the program.

“I believe the program has made me a more effective leader because I’ve been able to share what I’ve learned with my staff and colleagues, as well as giving me the gift of seeing things from so many different perspectives across the HSC,” Dr. Van Duser said.

Fellows candidate Russell Wagner, MD, Chairman of Orthopaedics, said speakers and reading material were thought-provoking and offered valuable, practical advice.

“I have never enjoyed public speaking, but seeing myself on film and getting feedback helped me become more confident in that arena,” Dr. Wagner said.

Steve Sosland, Executive Vice President and Chief People and Performance Officer, said Fellows candidates not only developed self-confidence and competencies in areas they previously did not have, their work also will have a positive impact on UNTHSC operations.

“Candidates collaborated to help identify and solve some of the most complex issues facing the HSC Team,” Sosland said. “Because of this cohort, we will improve how we conduct our budget process, strategic planning, trust building and communicating to the HSC Team.”

Candidates for the second Fellows cohort will be named Dec. 9.

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