Skip to main content
Top of the Page
Team-Based Leadership Course
Physician and administrator standing at counter
Improving team function to help you achieve greater operational success within your clinical system.

Team-Based Leadership Course

The WSMA Team-Based Leadership Course is a month-long program featuring three in-person workshop days. It’s designed for physicians and their administrative partners who want to strengthen team function and achieve greater operational success within their clinical systems.

Why it Matters

Safe, cost-effective, and high-quality care depend on strong physician–administrator partnerships. When clinical and operational leaders work in true alignment, they connect the culture of patient care with the culture of business—driving better outcomes and meaningful change. 

How it works

This course builds leadership knowledge and skills tailored to the real-world needs and culture of each participating team. By the end, participants will have a clearer understanding of how to enhance both leadership effectiveness and operational performance within their clinical system.
The course functions as a working “retreat,” focusing on three key components:

  • Assessment: Evaluate current individual, dyad, and team function to identify opportunities for improvement.

  • Development: Create a targeted improvement plan using classroom and on-site learning resources.

  • Evaluation: Review progress toward goals at the course’s conclusion.

This WSMA Team-Based Leadership Course develops leadership knowledge and skills based on the ongoing operational needs of the physician and their administrative partner. The course is adapted to fit the specific clinical culture of participating teams. At the end of the course, participants will have a greater understanding of how to enhance leadership and operational success within their clinical system.

Course details

This is a month-long course with three in-person educational workshop days. The first two in-person days will be Friday and Saturday, Sept. 18 and 19 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. in Seattle. The class will conclude with the third in-person day on Oct. 16 from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. in Seattle. The in-person sessions will be held in the 3rd floor conference room of the Financial Center at 1215 4th Ave., Seattle, WA 98161. 

Instructor

Edward A. Walker, MD, MHA

This course is led by Edward A. Walker, MD, MHA, professor emeritus in the departments of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and health services at the University of Washington in Seattle and senior physician advisor for the WSMA Center for Leadership Development.

Prerequisite

To register for the WSMA Team-Based Leadership Course, physicians must have completed the WSMA Physician Leadership Course. Learn more about the Physician Leadership Course.

Questions? Contact Monica Salgaonkar at 206.956.3641 or monica@wsma.org.

Cancellation policy

Refunds are available for live event registration depending on when the refund is requested in relation to the start of the course.

  • 91 days or more until start of event: a 100% refund less a $100 processing fee per person
  • 61 – 90 days until start of event: a 75% refund
  • 31-60 days until start of event: a 25% refund
  • 30 days or less until start of event: no refund

The WSMA reserves the right to cancel the course. If so, preregistered participants will be notified and full refunds provided. No-shows will receive no refund. Registrations may not be transferred to another person at any time. A participant may transfer registration one time to the next available course if space permits. All subsequent transfers of registration will incur a change fee of $250. All refunds will be issued to the original form of payment.

For in-person courses, the WSMA cannot be held responsible for other costs or expenses, including cancellation/change charges assessed by airlines, travel agencies, or hotels.

Team-Based Leadership Course Curriculum

Course goal

Improve the working relationship with your team partner by having those conversations you never seem to get around to having.

Schedule

Unit 1: How you function today and your imagined best future together (Day 1)

  • Current state: Where are we now, and where are we going?
  • Appreciative inquiry: We at our very best
  • Our “one big thing”: What’s the single best thing we could do to take us to the next level?
  • Personal style, vulnerability, and versatility: How do our personal styles help and hinder?
  • Emotional Intelligence: How does emotional intelligence improve our partnership?

Unit 2: Becoming the best we can be (Day 2)

  • Leadership competency analysis: where do we have strengths and weaknesses?
  • Dyad tune up and liberating structures: Improving our daily function and learning new tools.
  • Coaching to success, mental complexity, and decision-making: Support for difficult problems.
  • Overview of capstone and expectations: Design a capstone project that demonstrates how you’ll achieve your “one big thing.”

Unit 3: Working with your partner/team in real-time (3 weeks on your own)

  • Given you know your partner a little better now, work together on the capstone project that demonstrates how you’ll get to that next level.

Unit 4: Capstone (Day 3)

  • Present your project to your colleagues for feedback
  • Hear other best practices from the other groups

CME and MOC Credit

CME Credit

The Washington State Medical Association (WSMA) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The WSMA designates this Live activity for a maximum of 19.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity

This activity meets the criteria for up to 19.5 hours of Category I CME Category I CME credit to satisfy the relicensure requirements of the Washington State Medical Quality Assurance Commission.

MOC Credit

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to:

  • 19.5 MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program;
  • 19.5 MOC points in the American Board of Anesthesiology’s (ABA) redesigned Maintenance of Certification in AnesthesiologyTM (MOCA®) program, known as MOCA 2.0®. Please consult the ABA website, www.theABA.org, for a list of all MOCA 2.0 requirements;
  • 19.5 part II self-assessment credit in the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery’s Continuing Certification (ABOHNS) program (formerly known as MOC);
  • 19.5 MOC points in the American Board of Pathology’s (ABPath) MOC program;
  • 19.5 MOC points in the American Board of Pediatrics’ (ABP) MOC program;
  • 19.5 MOC points for the CME requirement of the American Board of Surgery’s (ABS) Continuous Certification program; and
  • 19.5 MOC points in the American Board of Thoracic Surgery’s (ABTS) MOC program.

It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM or ABP MOC credit.

To claim MOC credit, learners must attend the live portions of the activity, participate in role play exercises, and complete an A3 presentation with their partner(s).

Disclosure

The content of this activity is not related to products or services of an ACCME- defined ineligible company, also known as a commercial interest; therefore no one in control of content has a relevant financial relationship to disclose.

Disclaimer

The WSMA may have a photographer or videographer on-site at this event to gather imagery for use by the WSMA in its communications materials and channels as well as for media outreach. These images will be the property of the WSMA, and the WSMA will not sell or otherwise market event imagery. If you have any questions regarding imagery taken at a WSMA event, please contact Milana McLead at milana@wsma.org.

Physician Leadership News

 


Sept. 18 - Oct. 16, 2026
Three in-person sessions
Register

Cost

WSMA member: $1,765.60*
Nonmember: $2,317.35*
*Prices include sales tax per ESSB 5814. 

Location

Financial Center | Metropolitan Tract
1215 4th Ave.
3rd floor conference room
Seattle, WA 98161


Questions

Contact Monica Salgaonkar at 206.956.3641 or monica@wsma.org.
Join or renew your membership today!
Join/Renew