The OMA Physician Leadership Program
Nurturing the leadership talents of our doctors to enable health-system transformation and equitable patient care for all Ontarians
Following a successful four years since its 2023 launch, the OMA’s innovative Physician Leadership Program is excited to roll out its fifth offering in partnership with the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management.
This premier program — which inspires graduates to step forward for leadership roles and garners rave reviews from its alumni — is uniquely designed to give emerging and established leaders the critical skills necessary to drive Ontario’s health-system transformation to benefit our doctors and patients.
The program, offered exclusively to our members, accepts 30 applicants annually who have pioneering ideas, a passion for change and a commitment to learning alongside like-minded thought leaders in health care.
Never has physician leadership been more important to help mitigate the health-care challenges we face. Be it the primary care shortage, overcrowded emergency departments or stymying administrative burden, the current health-care system requires us to stand united and act as agents of change, together.
Who should apply?
We encourage you to apply if you are:
- Willing and able to commit the time required to participate in person during the program. The 10-day curriculum is delivered in four modules, over 2.5 days each. The program runs for approximately 10 months from February to November 2027
- Currently not serving on the OMA’s Board of Directors
- Currently involved in or expect to take on a leadership role
- With aspirations to plan and affect change (either during or after the program)
- See great opportunity for renewal and improvement in our current health-care system
- Committed to learning in a group setting and see value in peer learning communities
- A member in good standing with the OMA and the CPSO
- A practising physician in the province of Ontario
Program structure
Our OMA Physician Leadership Program is a comprehensive learning experience for you, as an OMA member, that includes independent and group sessions. The sessions will be held in person in Toronto at the Rotman campus at 105 St. George St. The program duration for each annual cohort runs approximately 10 months from February to November 2027.
The 10-day program will be delivered in four modules, over 2.5 days each on the following days:
*Program topics are subject to modification and changes.
Co-consulting teams
The co-consulting teams support participants as they develop approaches to manage the challenges they face in their individual practice, as well as at the regional and system level. Co-consulting teams, supported by Rotman faculty, are formed among participants, designed to build trust and respect among participants, and provide another way for them to connect and support one another.
Action learning projects
Participants must come to the program with a proposed change initiative for some part of the health-care system. The projects provide an anchor for the program and inform individual coursework. Throughout the program, participants will apply what they learn and develop a plan to address an interpersonal, organizational or health-system challenge.
Action Learning Projects (ALP) must be actionable, though not necessarily implemented before the end of the program.
The ALPs vary considerably in nature, scope, timeline and, in some cases, sensitivity/confidentiality. There will be time during the program for participants to discuss ALPs with their consulting group (formed in Module 1).
As an endpoint to keep in mind, and aligned with the program’s purpose and Module 4, specifically, participants will create an ALP poster that:
- Describes the problem or opportunity (the “issue”), which may have evolved from the initial project proposal
- Explains the approach or process for addressing the issue (e.g., data, interviews, research about other systems or industries, etc.)
- Identified the stakeholders to engage
- Outlines the end-state recommendation(s) and expected benefit(s)
- Details the change or implementation process (what was done or would be recommended)
- Describe any personal reflections (e.g., what was learned, any changes to the approach, wished to have known earlier, what could have been done differently, etc.)
Applications must describe the following about your proposed ALP:
- Problem or opportunity you are trying to solve
- Ideal future state and the anticipated benefits of your recommended change
- Stakeholder(s) who can affect or be affected by your change initiative
- Impact or reach of your project
- Relevance of your proposed project in achieving the five goals: better outcomes, lower costs, improved patient experience, improved provider experience, health equity
- Efforts you have made to solve the issue
- The obstacles, barriers or risks you encountered or anticipate
Action Learning Projects will be supported by the program’s academic director and evaluated considering five goals: better outcomes, lower costs, improved patient experience, improved provider experience and health equity.
If you’re already leading—or anticipate stepping into leadership—this training gives you the tools to lead with clarity, navigate complexity, and sustain yourself in demanding roles. More importantly, it helps you understand not just what to do as a leader, but how to be one.
I enrolled in the PLP program to strengthen my leadership skills and better navigate a complex healthcare system, seeking practical tools to lead with greater impact. The teaching was among the best I’ve ever experienced, and my most valuable takeaway was learning to lead through influence rather than authority, alongside a deeper understanding of systems thinking and collaboration.
I highly encourage you to apply. The program thrives on the diverse backgrounds of its participants, and your experience is valuable. Even if you aren't accepted on your first attempt (as was the case for me) the feedback provided is incredibly helpful for strengthening a future application.
Just do it. You already have the skills and are leading in your day to day work, even if you don’t label it that way. This program builds on what you are doing, introduces new ways of thinking, and connects you to a strong network of physician leaders without being overwhelming. The skills I learned are ones I continue to apply in my clinic, in my practice, and in my leadership roles.
Physicians are so busy, we rarely have time for leadership training. Much of what I experienced before PLP was not useful, and I found myself switching off. PLP was very different. I was challenged, my brain fired up and the ideas just flowed. This is the reason I decided to apply (successfully) to the GEMBA-HLS program to expand these learnings.
I truly enjoyed the community of learners and people committed to improving their leadership style. I also enjoyed meeting people at different stages in their leadership journey, and learning from them.
OMA Physician Leadership Advisory Network
The OMA Physician Leadership Advisory Network and the supported platform allow participants to connect with advisers who might otherwise be difficult to access. It helps participants consider and plan for possible leadership role(s) over their careers. The network is available to PLP graduates, allowing them continued access to advisers and their peers within the OMA-Rotman cohorts.
Program fees
To ensure you have access to leadership and professional development opportunities and will be at the table to inform and shape the future of health care, we are subsidizing a portion of the fees for this program. This commitment aims to have a meaningful impact on advancing our medical profession.
Members who are selected for the Physician Leadership Program will provide a personal co-payment of $3,500. This represents significant savings relative to the cost of individual course registration. The OMA will also reimburse most additional costs incurred when attending the program, including travel and accommodations.