Articles

Reflections at the Halfway Point: The ACC Leadership Accelerator Course

About the author: Vrinda Trivedi MD FACC is a Critical Care Cardiologist at University of Missouri – Columbia. 

At the halfway point of the ACC Leadership Accelerator Program offered by the American College of Cardiology, I find myself reflecting on how different and eye opening the experience has been from what I initially expected.

When I applied to the course, I anticipated a traditional leadership curriculum with sessions focused on conflict resolution, building trust, and delegating tasks. Those elements are certainly part of the program, and they are thoughtfully incorporated. What I did not anticipate, and what has been a pleasantly surprising aspect is the emphasis on something far more fundamental: before we can effectively lead others, we must first learn to lead ourselves.

Much of the work during the first half of the program has centered on self-reflection. The course has helped us all to look inward; to understand our motivations, clarify core values, and identify the priorities that shape how we approach both our professional and personal lives. In many ways, the process has been less about acquiring traditional leadership techniques and more about developing self-awareness. That work has helped me begin to rethink what success means at a personal and professional level.

Another unexpected and essential aspect of the program has been the connections that have formed among participants. One of the most refreshing elements of the experience has been the sense of kinship, and shared purpose that has emerged within the group. Being vulnerable with colleagues we are meeting for the first time, is not something physicians tend to do. Yet during the in-person kickoff session, that was exactly what the program asked of us.

In Medicine, we are often conditioned to believe that the more controlled, and emotionally reserved we appear, the more effective we are as professionals. This course challenged that assumption in ways.  By creating a space where participants could share experiences candidly and without judgement, it demonstrates how authenticity and trust can become the foundation for meaningful collaboration and leadership. There is perhaps nothing that jumpstarts friendship more quickly than openness and honesty.

As I reflect on the first half of the program, one of the most valuable lessons has been this reframing of leadership itself. Leadership is not simply about directing others or managing teams, it begins with understanding oneself. By encouraging that inward gaze, the course has provided the tools to think more intentionally about how I want to lead, contribute, and grow in the years ahead.

I am looking forward to seeing how these lessons continue to evolve during the second half of the program. If the first half is any indication, the most important leadership insights may not come from learning how to influence others, but from the deeper work of understanding ourselves.

Link to course - https://www.acc.org/tools-and-practice-support/cardiology-as-a-career-path/leadership-development-programs/leadership-accelerator