Updated academic coach training coming in spring 2026

Faculty members seeking to foster both personal and professional growth while making a lasting impact on the next generation of physicians now have a new opportunity through the Office of Faculty Affairs and Faculty Development. The office has announced the launch of Autonomy in Practice: Foundations of Coaching, an enhanced professional development program designed to strengthen coaching skills in academic medicine.

“Learning to differentiate the coaching process from advising has brought me a lot of clarity,” said Brandy Merritt, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics and previous participant. “The skills I gained gave me insight into my own thought process.”

Building on the success of the original program, the updated version incorporates participant feedback to create a more focused and flexible experience:

• Streamlined format: Now condensed to just four focused sessions over two months
• Flexible learning: Remote/virtual reading and discussions to accommodate your busy schedule
• Practice-centered approach: In-person sessions are primarily dedicated to hands-on coaching practice
• Professional development: CME credits provided
• Expert guidance: Direct coaching observation and feedback from professional coaches

This refined program will equip participants with advanced skills to become an impactful academic coach. Through evidence-based techniques, they learn to unlock the innate potential of learners, empowering them to achieve their fullest capabilities. Coaches are trained to guide students in developing self-directed, lifelong learning habits — a critical skill in the rapidly evolving world of healthcare.

The program offers participants an opportunity to cultivate the power of coaching, fostering the next generation of agile, self-assured medical professionals while advancing their own leadership and mentoring expertise.

The program schedule includes four sessions held on Friday afternoons from 1 to 5 p.m. on the following dates:

• March 6
• March 20
• April 3
• April 17

Register on the Google Form. 

For questions about the program, contact Binata Mukherjee, M.D., MBA, at bmukherjee@southalabama.edu