UPMC/University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Need:

To address an emerging leadership talent shortage, UPMC/University of Pittsburgh Medical Center needed to identify and provide development opportunities to a select group of high-potential leaders. The leaders needed to be able to think beyond the operation of a single facility and to address the unique issues and challenges associated with leading a multifaceted, multiple-facility health system.

Solution:

UPMC identified and developed its best and brightest leadership talent by working with its Beckwith Institute for Innovation in Patient Care to launch the UPMC Beckwith Fellows Leadership Program in 2000. The "Fellows" selected go through a day-in-the-life assessment that DDI custom-designed for the program. This assessment, in which participants assume the role of a senior executive in a fictional organization, provides an opportunity for UPMC to see how the Fellows would perform in various job situations they are likely to encounter in future positions. In addition, the Fellows are assigned mentors with whom they meet face-to-face on a regular basis, and complete projects addressing UPMC's strategic priorities.

Results:

The Fellowship program has served to prepare a core group of promising high potentials for future roles as senior leaders within UPMC—alleviating UPMC's future leadership talent shortage. Strategically focused projects, addressing critical areas such as patient satisfaction and recruitment and retention, completed by participants and implemented by UPMC have realized actual savings of more than $500,000—a 450 percent return on investment for the first two years of the Fellowship program. Potential savings/opportunities are estimated in excess of $38 million.