Psychologists’ Novel Leadership Roles in Traditionally Medically-Led Organizations: Opportunities for Professional Enrichment and Growth Throughout Career Stages

Academic health center (AHC) psychologists finding novel leadership pathways, both within and outside their AHCs, can provide valuable opportunities for professional enrichment and growth. In this manuscript, we describe how psychologists’ training, experiences, and skills contribute to leadership success in traditionally medically-led organizations (MLOs). We also describe how four ACH pediatric psychologists, all at different career stages, found unique leadership roles within traditionally medically-led organizations (MLOs). For each leadership role example, we describe (1) how career stage, expertise, and values intersect with the leadership opportunity, (2) the psychologist’s organizational context and leadership role structure, and (3) the psychologist’s leadership contributions and collaborative strategies. We also provide concrete recommendations to other ACH psychologists who wish to explore leadership roles throughout their careers.