The purpose of this two-part webinar series is to examine the need for leadership skills and capabilities in palliative care, what makes palliative care leadership development effective, and to make the case for sustained investment in the future of the field. Drawing on the experience of the Sojourns Scholar Leadership Program, the findings of a national task force, and the perspectives of interdisciplinary palliative care team members, the series will provide a forum for reflection, candid exchange, and forward-looking dialogue across disciplines, sectors, and care settings.

The webinar is not intended to produce formal recommendations, but rather to elevate lessons learned, clarify where gaps in leadership development persist, and identify opportunities where further investment, coordination, or innovation may be warranted.

By the end of the series, participants will aim to:

• Explore the evolving needs of serious illness care leaders--including the skills, competencies, and forms of support required to lead in both local clinical environments and broader health system contexts.
• Examine what makes palliative care leadership development effective, including the design principles, program elements, and enabling conditions that have produced meaningful impact across disciplines and settings.
• Propose potential approaches to closing identified gaps in leadership development, including new training models, expanded access across disciplines, and wrap-around supports such as mentorship and community of practice.
• Surface cross-cutting insights and priority questions to inform future investment, coordination, and innovation in palliative care leadership--and to inspire funders, policymakers, and health system leaders to act.

The webinar series is being convened by the Roundtable on Quality Care for People with Serious Illness, a standing activity of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The Roundtable provides a neutral venue for fostering ongoing dialogue about improving care for people of all ages facing all stages of serious illness. The Roundtable member planning group for this series is Brynn Bowman (Center to Advance Palliative Care), Susan Hedlund (Biller Family Foundation), and Peggy Maguire (Cambia Health Foundation).