Emerging Leaders Program

The AACPDM Emerging Leaders Program aims to provide early career members with opportunities to develop leadership skills within the AACPDM. The program aligns with the AACPDM strategic plan in the following areas:

• Enhancing our Connected, Multi-Disciplinary Community by promoting a welcoming, engaging, and diverse network of multi-disciplinary professionals for early career members, and
• Increasing educational opportunities for early career members by prioritizing forums for the exchange and dissemination of information designed to enhance career development opportunities for early career members, and
• Encouraging research and innovation through mentorship opportunities that increase capacity to generate, evaluate, and apply research to practice in the area of childhood-onset disability.

Eligibility Requirements: 

• Must be a current AACPDM member within five years of terminal degree or professional training (i.e., PhD, clinical or post-doctoral fellowship).
• Applicants must not have participated in the AACPDM leadership program in the past.

Application Review: 

Up to ten individuals will be selected for participation in the program per year. Applications will be evaluated by an AACPDM Board of Director delegated Committee based on the criteria outlined below:

• Applicant meets the eligibility criteria;
• Applicant provides a compelling rationale for the need for leadership training; and 
• Applicant matches the specific areas of the leadership training and would benefit from greater AACPDM involvement. 

The selection process will be guided by principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Program Offerings & Structure:

• Monthly informal "drop-in" educational sessions with AACPDM leadership on a variety of topics
• Committee participation:
  • Applicants will indicate an area of interest in their application (i.e., Scientific Program Committee participation, AACPDM grant review participation, or participation in other AACPDM Committees)
  • Selected applicants will be assigned an area of interest based on their request and the needs of the Committees.
    • Note: Participation in the Research Committee to review grant applications will be on an "as needed" basis. 
  • Support for research grant review will involve being paired with an experienced reviewer in a co-reviewing process. This process will be established by the Research Committee.
• Recognition at the Annual Meeting, along with future networking opportunities.

Apply

AACPDM is a multi-disciplinary community that has tremendous strength and diversity in its members. Investing in upcoming leaders who can play a role in advancing the health and well-being of all individuals with cerebral palsy and other childhood-onset disabilities is an identified AACPDM priority. The Emerging Leaders Program was identified as a strategy that aligns with our strategic plan across three of the four AACPDM strategic thematic areas.

Enhance our Connected, Multi-Disciplinary Community
By promoting a welcoming, engaging, and diverse network of multi-disciplinary professionals for early career members.

Increase educational opportunities for early career members
By prioritizing forums for the exchange and dissemination of information designed to enhance career development opportunities for early career members.

Encourage research and innovation
Through mentorship opportunities that increase capacity to generate and evaluate research in the area of childhood-onset disability.

The program will also enrich our talent pool, create opportunities for collaboration, address multi-disciplinary needs, contribute to organizational excellence with a strategy for investing in our rising talent, and provide an opportunity to implement processes to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).