B3.01 - Oral Session: Strengthening the Health Workforce in Africa: A Model for Leadership, Mentorship, and Policy Training

Brief Abstract Summary: Discover how the Zambia Leadership Program (ZamLEAD), a pan-African initiative, is strengthening the public health workforce and supporting evidence-based policy development. Learn how structured mentorship, targeted leadership training, and policy advocacy skill-building are equipping diverse fellows—including early-career faculty and postdoctoral trainees from underserved and rural institutions—to become independent leaders in research and practice. Attendees will gain practical insights into building inclusive leadership pipelines, strengthening advocacy for health policy, and scaling sustainable mentoring training programs that integrate community voices and diverse perspectives. Launched in 2023 through a partnership between the University of Zambia, Vanderbilt University Medical Cen-ter, Zambian Ministry of Health, the ELMA Foundation and Smile Train-funded Pediatric Anesthesia Training Program (PATA), ZamLEAD integrates academic rigor with applied leadership practice.

Detailed abstract description: Attendees of this session will engage with practical strategies for embedding structured mentorship, leadership development, and policy advocacy into professional training programs. Through real-life examples, evaluation findings, and lessons from ZamLEAD’s pilot cohort, participants will gain tools to design and sustain training initiatives that prepare emerging leaders to drive policy change, expand institutional capacity, and foster equitable health outcomes. Grounded in competency-based learning and adult learning theory, ZamLEAD responds to a critical need for applied, practice-based training that equips the next generation of leaders to navigate complex systems, implement evidence-informed strategies, and mentor future public health professionals. The program combines workshops, coaching, and project-based learning across a six-month cycle. Participants are required to identify and develop a policy brief and individualized leadership development plan, thus applying their new skills to address real challenges. Experienced mentors provide coaching, reinforcing continuous learning and leadership application in practice. Evaluation of the inaugural cohort demonstrates measurable impact. Post-program evaluations documented significant increases in participants’ confidence and ability to demonstrate leadership competencies in areas such as communication, systems thinking, and advocacy. Qualitative data revealed that participants valued applied projects, cross-sector peer learning, and mentorship as the most transformative aspects of the program. Early institutional outcomes include the establishment of formal mentorship structures for faculty, greater collaboration between academic and government health leaders, and sustained networks of ZamLEAD alumni engaged in applied leadership practice.
The ZamLEAD model offers three key lessons for academic public health:
1. Co-creation with government partners and donors ensures relevance and sustainability. The joint design and delivery of ZamLEAD with the Ministry of Health aligns leadership training with national workforce priorities. Leveraging funding from public and private sources creates broader impact, expands networks and en-hances long-term sustainability.
2. Applied leadership projects anchor learning. By embedding training in real institutional and community challenges, ZamLEAD ensures knowledge transfer and measurable outcomes.
3. Mentorship and networks amplify long-term impact. Participants continue to apply and expand their leadership skills through peer networks and ongoing coaching beyond the formal program.
As global health systems face dynamic challenges—from emerging epidemics to workforce shortages—the ZamLEAD program demonstrates how academic–government partnerships can build leadership capacity in ways that are practical, scalable, and sustainable. This model is transferable to other academic public health contexts seeking to advance workforce development and applied practice.