Denise Seigart, chair of the Undergraduate Nursing program and Master of Nursing Populations program, successfully completed the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN)-Wharton Executive Leadership Program in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 10 -13.
Launched in 2012 in collaboration with the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, the program was designed exclusively for top academic leaders in schools of nursing. Using a competitive process, 40 academic nursing leaders were selected to participate in the program. Those selected represented a wide diversity of nursing programs, including large academic health centers, small liberal arts schools, public and private universities, rural and urban-based programs, and faith-based institutions.
The four-day program was taught by Wharton faculty who presented relevant and timely content designed to advance chief academic administrators to a higher level of leadership. Participants of the program left with tools to: manage and lead change at an enterprise level, strategically influence and negotiate, and skillfully strategize and innovate value with internal and external stakeholders.
Seigart thoroughly enjoyed her experience saying, “I think the Wharton Leadership program was excellent, rather like a mini MBA program. I was exposed to concepts and tools I’ve never been exposed to before, so well worth the time, and of course, the cohort consisted of highly intelligent, experienced, creative nursing leaders, a cohort to which I am honored to belong.”
“Leadership development is a lifelong journey and a critical step in preparing nurses at all levels to succeed as effective patient advocates, interprofessional partners, and change agents,” said Dr. Eileen Breslin, AACN President and a member of the AACN-Wharton Program Class of 2014. “I applaud the latest cohort of executive leadership fellows for their commitment to strengthening the skills needed to influence and steer the future of nursing education and research, patient care delivery, and healthcare policy.”
The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania has now graduated 127 fellows from 41 states and the District of Columbia.