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Xcel Leadership Institute

Preparing physicians of today to be the 


LEADERS

of tomorrow

Are you positioned to leverage your clinical skills and transfer them into C-suite expertise?

We know you excel clinically to deliver excellent patient care, yet additional skills and expertise are needed for you to transition to and thrive in executive positions.

When you ascend to a leadership role, you will be required to utilize broader skillsets, including strategy, operations, finances, and communications. With longitudinal development of these skills, you will have the tools and strategies to transition from clinical expertise to executive influence and impact.

Xcel uniquely provides the instruction, network, and resources to bridge this gap for diverse physicians seeking to ascend to the health care C-suite.

Xcel is helping to create pathways for physicians of color to enter the C-suite with the skills, tools, and awareness specific to Persons of Color who have not traditionally been afforded equitable access and preparation. We are equipping our physician leaders with the knowledge, networks and resources to successfully enter and navigate the executive ranks.
Neysa Dillon Brown
Managing Director, Diversified Search Group
Xcel Co-Founder

We recognize the huge opportunity for learning, growth and development, and are bringing information and resources and exposure to a group of people who have worked all their adult lives to become physicians and are now embarking on a path toward executive leadership. The outstanding faculty we’ve assembled is pouring into the next generation of executives in the C-Suite.
Dr. Bonnie Simpson Mason
Medical Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with the American College of Surgeons
Xcel Co-Founder

About Xcel

A group of Black women and men pose for the camera.
The inaugural class of Xcel.

Xcel, a one-year executive physician leadership program, designed specifically for physicians of color, was established by Diversified Search Group, under the leadership of Neysa Dillon Brown, Managing Director in Diversified Search Group’s Healthcare Services and Education, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Nonprofit and Social Impact practices, and in partnership with Dr. Bonnie Simpson Mason, board-certified orthopaedic surgeon, experienced DEI leader, and Medical Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with the American College of Surgeons.

The program accepts physicians who meet specific requirements to participate in both in-person and virtual events. They receive sixteen (16) CME credits upon completion. Each participant has a mentor and will complete a project on an organizational issue they are grappling with.

Through a series of leadership development and peer engagement trainings and educational workshops, led by national healthcare leaders, Xcel:

  • Prepares physicians to navigate transitions from clinical to executive careers roles by providing the fundamentals of leadership education and skills building.
  • Poises physicians to understand and navigate challenges inherent to new leaders and current physician executives, especially physicians of color.
  • Positions physician participants to be highly recruitable and successful based on their unique value proposition.
  • Provides ongoing networking, mentoring and peer to peer advisory and longitudinal support towards meaningful engagement and sustainable success.

Criteria for Enrollment

Xcel will enroll a hybrid cohort of 10-20 physician leaders who seek to transition into executive roles, specifically:

  • Preparing to Launch: Early career physicians with at least 3 years of departmental leadership/administrative experience in either academics, system or corporate leadership; require core leadership skills building and development.
  • Ready to Launch: Physicians with at least 3-5 years of leadership/administrative experience in either academics, system or corporate leadership who are actively seeking to transition into the C-suite.

Physician leaders are in high demand. Types of roles to transition into include:

  • President/CEO
  • Chief Medical Officer
  • Chief Medical Information Officer
  • Chief Quality Officer
  • Chief Experience Officer
  • Chief/Chair of medical specialty area
  • Deans/Vice Deans/Associate Deans
  • Vice Chair (Research, Quality, DEI, Education)
  • Medical Director
  • Residency/Program Leaders
  • Lab/Research Leaders (MD/PhD)
  • Clinical Service Line leaders

Upcoming Sessions

This session will be held 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in Atlanta.

This is a virtual session.

Time: 4-6 p.m. EST

This is a virtual session.

Time: 4-6 p.m. EST

This two-day, in-person event will be held in New Orleans. Each day will run 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

This is a virtual session.

Time: 4-6 p.m. EST

How to Apply

Enrollment for the next session of Xcel has closed! Next open enrollment will start in summer 2023.

Want to be the first to Know? Sign up to get alerts about when enrollment opens.

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Enrollment is Closed

Enrollment for the next session of Xcel has closed! Next open enrollment will start in summer 2023!

Want to Be the First To Know?

Sign up to get alerts about when enrollment opens.

Name