Medical Leaders Pathway (MLP)

​Mission

The Medical Leaders Pathway (MLP) at the University of Colorado, Denver, prepares residents for lifelong careers as high-level organizational leaders: health system executives, community advocates, policymakers, heads of academic divisions and departments. The program aims to produce leaders who are at the forefront of national and international efforts to transform health care delivery and medical science by directing programs dedicated to scientific discovery, health equity, access, quality, safety, and improving the ​value of health care. 

Curriculum​

The MLP is a comprehensive, 3-year training program for internal residents who seek careers as both clinicians and healthcare leaders. The MLP is open to residents who join the Categorical, Primary Care and Hospitalist tracks and is designed for residents who possess excellent potential to become executive-level leaders early in their careers and are interested in pursuing advanced leadership training during residency. 

Through structured educational sessions, intensive mentorship, and real-world multi-year projects, the MLP equips participants with expertise in 5 domains:

• Management of complex healthcare systems, including academic, clinical, and administrative programs
• Health care policy and financing
• Leadership of change through enhanced interpersonal skills
• Systems redesign and clinical innovation
• Personal development as a leader 

These advanced skills build upon a common foundation in leadership and teamwork that we offer to all interns. The curriculum map for the MLP is shown below.

A core component of the program is a capstone “Leadership Project” during R2 and R3 year, which allows participants to apply their knowledge and skills by leading an important, highly visible operational initiative within a portion of our dynamic healthcare ecosystem (e.g., teaching hospital, community clinic or partner organization, medical school, etc.). Participants have protected time for MLP activities across all 3 years of residency.