Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine Vice Dean for Admissions, Student Affairs, and Alumni Engagement Leila Harrison, PhD, MA, MEd, has been elected as a fellow of the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine® (ELAM®) program at Drexel University College of Medicine.
The national program is a year-long part-time fellowship for women faculty in schools of medicine, dentistry, public health, and pharmacy designed to support leaders who are making an impact in academic health care. Dr. Harrison will join 99 other leaders as part of the 31st class of ELAM fellows.
“What an honor to learn and grow from the other fellows and the 1,600 ELAM alumnae ‘ELUMs,'” Dr. Harrison said. “I am excited to discuss challenging contexts in medical education, consider and think through solutions, work toward helpful strategies for our college, and serve as support for other women leaders at the college. I am grateful to Dr. Radha Nandagopal, the college’s inaugural ELUM, and Dr. Jim Record for their encouragement, support, and sponsorship.”
Since joining the College of Medicine in 2017, Dr. Harrison has held multiple leadership roles and successfully supported eight classes of MD students throughout their medical education journeys, from recruitment to graduation and beyond, for the earliest classes.
Her leadership was instrumental for developing the MD program’s holistic review process to recruit mission-aligned applicants who demonstrate a commitment to serving Washington communities. She now provides strategic support for admissions and alumni engagement efforts across all degree-granting departments and programs in the college.
The ELAM program supports the development of professional and personal skills necessary to lead and manage in today’s complex health care environment, with an emphasis on meeting the unique challenges faced by women in leadership positions. Program alums hold leadership positions in institutions around the world.
“We are excited to welcome 100 ELAM fellows and 50 ELH fellows to the class of 2025-26. This cohort comprises exceptional leaders from 118 institutions who are capable of making critical systemic change. The need for the highest quality leaders in academic health care has never been greater, and we are doing everything we can to help meet that need by providing outstanding and innovative leadership training,” said ELAM Executive Director Nancy D. Spector, MD, in an announcement.
Please join us in congratulating Dr. Harrison on this outstanding and well-earned achievement—a reflection of her ongoing commitment to excellence and innovation in medical education.