HMS/HSDM Leadership Development Course for Physicians and Scientists

Applications open Wednesday, September 9, 2026. This course runs annually; applications are accepted each September. Check back to apply.

A three-day course for HMS/HSDM Instructors and Assistant Professors who hold leadership responsibilities in academic medicine. The curriculum builds practical skills in negotiation, finance, self-assessment, communications, and personal career development.

At a glance

Who it's for
HMS/HSDM Instructors 2+ years at rank, and Assistant Professors holding a leadership role (research grant, laboratory, educational course, or clinical program). Preference is given to full-time academic appointments. Women and faculty underrepresented in medicine are especially encouraged to apply.
Course dates
Wednesday, April 14 – Friday, April 16, 2027, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM each day. All three days are in person.
Location
Waterhouse Room, Gordon Hall, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA 02115
Tuition
$750, plus a $10 CME processing fee. No payment is due with your application.
Class size
Limited to 80 faculty per cohort. The course is competitive; a short waitlist is maintained.
CME credit
Up to 18.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.

Important dates

Applications open
Wednesday, September 9, 2026, 10:00 AM EST
Applications close
Wednesday, September 30, 2026, 5:00 PM EST
Statement of support due
Wednesday, October 7, 2026, 5:00 PM EST (submitted by your Chair/Chief)
Notification
December 2026

Before you apply — read this first

Three things trip up most applicants. Handle them before you start:

  • The form cannot be saved. Write and save all of your answers in a separate document first, then paste them in. You will lose your work if you try to complete it in one sitting without a backup. Use the application question template to prepare your responses in advance.
  • Your CV must be in Harvard Faculty of Medicine format. Upload it as a single PDF named lastname, firstname_CV (e.g., smith, john_CV). CVs that do not follow the Faculty of Medicine guidelines cannot be accepted.
  • Line up your Chair or Chief now. When you submit, a request for a statement of support is emailed to them automatically, with a link to complete it online. The statement must be submitted through that link — mailed or emailed letters are not accepted. They have a separate, later deadline (above), so give them advance notice — an incomplete application cannot be reviewed.

How to apply

  1. Confirm you're eligible using the “Who it's for” criteria above.
  2. Prepare your materials: draft your application answers in a document, and ready your Harvard-format CV as a single PDF.
  3. Submit the online application by Wednesday, September 30, 2026, 5:00 PM EST. 
    The application is not yet open. It will appear here on September 9, 2026.
  4. Your Chair/Chief submits the statement of support by Wednesday, October 7, 2026, 5:00 PM EST. (The request is sent to them automatically when you submit.)
  5. Watch for notification in December 2026.

Attendance commitment

Selected participants are expected to attend all sessions on all three days, on time, from start to finish. Sessions are highly interactive, and some breakout groups have only two or three people, so late arrivals and early departures disrupt the group. Arrange departmental coverage for clinical, teaching, and other obligations in advance, and reschedule one-off meetings. If you anticipate conflicts during these dates, we strongly recommend applying in a year when you can commit to the full course.

Questions about the course?

Brian R. Crete, Faculty Development Program Manager
HMSOFA_Programs@hms.harvard.edu

Additional Information