"I am grateful to have been selected for ThriveForward and that my section chief funded the cost. The amount of time and thoughtful effort that goes into program planning and execution is commendable. The leaders truly value each participant’s career growth, providing resources and encouragement to use them. Each session felt like a TedX Master Class! I sat at different tables each session to meet a variety of participants; I’m proud to belong to this community of female academics.

Why I applied: last year, my section held a Leadership 360 review, in which faculty and staff assessed the leadership skills and performance of our section head, clinic medical director, fellowship director (me) and associate fellowship director. I received feedback that I need to improve my leadership skills and ability to manage conflict, but few suggestions about how or why. I learned all of these in ThriveForward. As physicians, we rarely receive formal leadership training. I appreciated learning these skills from the lenses of human resources and business management. Next steps: apply my newly-acquired knowledge, skills and attitudes to my behaviors as a physician and fellowship director. It’s currently PRiSM annual review season; I used ThriveForward takeaways to develop my one and five year career advancement plans, which include applying for promotion to full professor."

-Megan Curran, MD, Fellowship Director for Pediatrics Rheumatology at Children’s Hospital Colorado

"Participating in the ThriveForward program was a excellent experience, this training helped equip me with essential skills and strategies to become a more effective leader. One of the highlights was the ability to hear from so many accomplished leaders about their leadership journeys and what they have learned throughout their careers. Their stories were very inspiring and offered unique perspectives on the challenges faced in academic medicine. I highly recommend this program to anyone considering it, it was truly a very valuable and memorable experience."

-Cara Crouch, MD, MBA, FASA, Clinical Operations Director for the Department of Anesthesiology at UCHealth

"The ThriveForward Program could not have come at a better time for me personally and professionally. I received excellent feedback and coaching that have empowered me to make careful and conscious decisions about my next steps, and even more importantly, say "no" to opportunities or requests that are not a best fit for my continued professional growth."

-Kaylin Klie, MD, MA, Family MedicinePhysician at UCHealth and the University of Colorado School of Medicine

"This program significantly enhanced my self-awareness. As a mid-career woman, it helped me refine the values that shape my judgment and decision-making, inspired me to pursue a more focused career path, and facilitated meaningful connections with colleagues across campus. Key lessons that I have taken away include the importance of slowing down decision-making processes, replacing "but" with "and" to foster further dialogue, recognizing my unique strengths and contributions to the organization, and identifying areas for growth. I have a personal mission that fosters a positive mindset and helps me determine which leadership roles align best with my career goals."

-Linsey Weller, PA-C, Physician Assistant in Pediatric Hospital Medicine at Children's Hospital Colorado