Leadership Institute

Western Region Leadership Institute: Empowering Public Health & Primary Care Leaders

This leadership program develops public health and healthcare professionals through a holistic, evidence-based approach grounded in adaptive and practical leadership. Participants build core skills in self-awareness, emotional intelligence, communication, team dynamics, systems thinking, and advocacy. They strengthen personal leadership, create high-performing teams, and drive organizational improvement, preparing them to navigate complex public health and healthcare environments while supporting staff retention.

Expected Learning Outcomes

By the end of the program, participants will be able to:

• Strengthen self-awareness and emotional intelligence
  
• Apply advanced communication strategies
  
• Lead through stress using resilience and adaptive decision-making
  
• Design and implement equity-focused initiatives
  
• Leverage digital tools for innovation and data-informed leadership
  
• Integrate leadership theory with real-world application
  
• Lead in diverse, interdisciplinary settings using systems thinking

 

Program Structure

The program follows a three-level leadership progression:

• SELF: Personal leadership development
  
• TEAM: Team leadership and performance
  
• ORGANIZATION: Systems leadership and change management
  

This structure ensures participants first lead themselves effectively, then lead teams, and finally drive system-wide change.

Leadership Institute Sessions & Schedule

All live virtual sessions will take place on Tuesdays, 3–5 PM MST (2–4 PM PST, 12–2 PM HST), from February 3 – May 12, 2026.

Note: Due to Daylight Savings Time (which Arizona does not observe), the session time will shift by one hour for participants on Pacific Time starting in March.

Click here to download the full virtual agenda

Who Should Apply

• Emerging leaders (3+ years of experience) in public health or community-based primary care settings
• Professionals with program and/or clinic management or supervisory responsibilities
• Individuals serving rural or medically underserved communities

Eligibility is limited to professionals working in HHS Region 9, which includes Arizona, California, Nevada, Hawaii, and U.S. Associated Pacific Islands.

 

Application Information

Application Requirements:

• Contact information, role, and agency
• Supervisor letter of support confirming release time
  

Application Deadline: January 20, 2026

Continuing Education & Professional Credit

This program provides 28 contact hours for continuing education, including:

• Category 1 CHES Credits (25 Advanced Credits)
• CPEUs for Registered Dietitians
• AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
• IPCE Credits
  

Credits are awarded upon full completion of all program requirements.

This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 28 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change. The WRPHTC is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

The WRPHTC is a Designated Multiple Event Provider of Continuing Education Contact Hours (CECH) for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES®) through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc.

 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)