The Pisacano Leadership Program
Leadership Symposium
Internship at The Robert Graham Center
Other Leadership Activities
The Pisacano Scholars Leadership Program offers many career development opportunities, as well as scholarship funding, to the future leaders of family medicine. The Pisacano Scholars participate in annual Leadership Skills Development Symposia (see summary) and are offered a multitude of educational programs and mentoring relationships with current leaders in the field of family medicine. These programs are designed to enhance the overall leadership skills of the Pisacano Scholars; to provide them with the historical context and scope of family medicine; and to allow the Scholars to network and form professional relationships within their field. Examples of these programs are:
- Negotiation Skills
- Problem-Based Learning
- Journal Writing and the Peer-Review Process
- Evidence-Based Medicine
- Professional Presentation and Media Skills
- Health Policy and Primary Care Research
- Teaching Skills for Family Medicine
- Advocacy and Lobbying Skills for Family Medicine
- Primary Care Research and Study Design
- The Future of Family Medicine
This premier leadership program is extremely competitive. Third-year medical students are eligible to apply. Only students who demonstrate a strong commitment to the specialty of family medicine will be considered. In addition, each applicant must show demonstrable leadership qualities, academic performance, including evidence of clinical excellence and application of knowledge to clinical care, and communication skills and service. The level of financial need is not considered in the selection process.
Scholarship funding is offered to honor the achievements of student and resident scholars, with hopes of slightly lowering the growing burden of educational debt as scholars embark on a career in Family Medicine. Upon selection, each Pisacano scholar will receive an annual scholarship of $5000 during their final year of medical school and their first three years of Family Medicine training (four years total, regardless of residency length).
Scholars are expected to attend annual leadership skills development symposia organized by PLF each year. Hotel and meals are covered by the Pisacano Leadership Foundation. An additional $2000/year will be provided for travel expenses to attend the leadership symposia. Any remaining funds will be available to reimburse scholars for other leadership development activities that they wish to pursue, once approved by the Pisacano Leadership Foundation. A reimbursement voucher and receipts for these leadership development activities must be submitted directly to the Pisacano Leadership Foundation.
The Pisacano Scholars are evaluated each year by the Foundation’s Board of Directors to assure eligibility for continuation in the leadership program. There is no service commitment for the Scholars upon completion of their family medicine residency.
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Summary of Annual Leadership Skills Development Symposia
November 2024
Leading from Within: Cultivating Authentic Community Engagement
November 9-10, 2024—Greenville, SC
Kirsten Naomi Chapman, Vice-President of Systems & Innovation, United Way; Executive Director, Racial Equity and Economic Mobility Greenville
Meghan Barp, President and CEO, United Way Greenville County
Karen Baynes-Dunning, Chair, Southern Poverty Law Center; Vice-Chair, United Way of Greenville County
Bryant Davis, Chief Diversity Officer, City of Greenville
Joe Laterza, MD, Family Physician, Prisma Health; CEO, LaterzaMD Aesthetics
Phyllis MacGilvray, Dean, University of South Carolina School of Medicine
Erin Predmore, Executive Director, Greenville Connects
Kerry Sease, MD, Executive Director, Institute for Advancement of Community Health
Beverly Ward, Co-Chair, Greenville Women Giving
Saria Saccocio, MD, MHA, 2000 Pisacano Scholar; Chair, Board of Directors, Pisacano Leadership Foundation
Marti Taba, MD, 1997 Pisacano Scholar; Family Physician, Straub Kailua Family Medicine Center
Jill Endres, MD, MS, 1996 Pisacano Scholar; Professor of Family and Community Medicine, University of Iowa
Warren Newton, MD, MPH, President and Chief Executive Officer, American Board of Family Medicine
November 2023
Community Organizing
November 4-5, 2023—San Francisco, CA
Brian Park, MD, 2013 Pisacano Scholar, Assistant Professor, Oregon Health & Science University
Robert Rock, MD, 2017 Pisacano Scholar, Clinical Director, Bureau of Bronx Neighborhood Health
Hilary Nichols, Health Equity Community Organizer, Oregon Health & Science University Richmond Clinic
Julianna E. Morris, MD, Family Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital Chelsea Healthcare Center
Gabriel Pendas, Community Organizer
Pedja Stojicic, MD, MPH, Executive Lead, People Power Health
Jon Shaffer, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, University of Vermont
Kurt Lindberg, MD, 1994 Pisacano Scholar, President and Medical Director, Holland Physician/Hospital Organization
Jill Endres, MD, MS, 1996 Pisacano Scholar; Professor of Family Medicine, University of Iowa
Warren Newton, MD, MPH, President and Chief Executive Officer, American Board of Family Medicine
October 2022
Self-Empowerment for Success
October 1-2, 2022—Chicago, IL
Manisha Sharma, MD, Co-Founder, CentiVox Media Group
Shalini Pammal, MPH CEO & Co-Founder, Kinection Collective, LLC
Andrea Anderson, MD, Associate Chief, Division of Family Medicine, George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Deb Clements, MD, Chair, Family & Community Medicine, Northwestern University
Andrew Bazemore, MD MPH Senior Vice President, Research and Policy, American Board of Family Medicine
Jill Endres, MD MS 1996 Pisacano Scholar; Professor of Family Medicine, University of Iowa
Warren Newton, MD MPH President and Chief Executive Officer, American Board of Family Medicine
Alberto Ortega, MBA, 2021 Pisacano Scholar
November 2021
Advocacy for Family Physician Leaders
November 13-14, 2021—Washington, DC
Jason Jordan, Advocacy Associates
Hope Wittenberg, Director, Government Relations, STFM
Lauren Hughes, MD, MPH, MSC, State Policy Director, Farley Health Policy Center
Robert Phillips, MD, MSPH, Founding Executive Director, Center for Professionalism & Value in Health Care
Warren Newton, MD, MPH President and Chief Executive Officer, American Board of Family Medicine
Winston Liaw, MD, MPH, Chair, Health Systems and Population Health Sciences, University of Houston
Robert Rock, MD, 2017 Pisacano Scholar
Andrea Anderson, MD, Associate Chief, Division of Family Medicine, George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences
November 2020
Pisacano Leadership Development Skills Symposium
November 14-15, 2020—Virtual
Primary Care Progress
April 2019
Leadership Development Symposium
April 13-14, 2019—Chicago, Illinois
Molly Cohen-Osher, MD 2004 Pisacano Scholar
Aimee Eden, PhD Medical Anthropologist, American Board of Family Medicine
Keith Knepp, MD 1996 Pisacano Scholar
Allana Krolikowski, MD 2010 Pisacano Scholar
Lenny Lesser, MD 2005 Pisacano Scholar
Kurt Lindberg, MD 1994 Pisacano Scholar
Warren Newton, MD, MPH President and Chief Executive Officer, American Board of Family Medicine
Jason Osher, PhD Director Center for Faculty Development; Director, Neuropsychology Concentration; Associate Professor, Clinical Psychology Department, William James College
Gary Plant, MD 2001 Pisacano Scholar
Jamie Reedy, MD 1993 Pisacano Scholar
April 2018
Negotiating to Yes
April 14-15, 2018—Dallas, Texas
(CME credits approved by the AAFP)
Anthony Pacifico, Wilson Learning
Saria Saccocio, MD, MHA, 2000 Pisacano Scholar
Jennifer DeVoe, MD, DPhil, 1999 Pisacano Scholar
April 2017
Starfield Summit II—Health Equity Summit
April 22-25—Portland, Oregon
April 2016
Starfield Summit I — Advancing Primary Care Research, Policy and Patient Care
April 23-26—Washington, DC
April 2015
Advocacy and Media Training
April 10-12—Scottsdale, Arizona
Stephanie D. Vance Founder, Advocacy Associates
Christine Jahnke Founder, Positive Communications
Eric Crall, MD 1993 Pisacano Scholar
April 2014
Leading Through Change
April 11-13—Washington, DC
Erika Bliss, MD 1999 Pisacano Scholar
Eric Crall, MD 1993 Pisacano Scholar
Mimi Doohan, MD, PhD 2001 Pisacano Scholar
English Gonzalez, MD, MPH 1998 Pisacano Scholar
Lars Peterson, MD, PhD 2008 Pisacano Scholar
Rich Roberts, MD, JD Professor of Family Medicine, University of Wisconsin
Saria Saccocio, MD, MHA 2000 Pisacano Scholar
Nicole A. Steckler, PhD Associate Professor, Oregon Health & Science University, Division of Management
April 2013
Future of Family Medicine
April 12-14, 2013—Chicago, Illinois
Debbie Cohen, PhD Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University
Jennifer DeVoe, MD 1998 Pisacano Scholar
Marguerite Duane, MD 1998 Pisacano Scholar
Sarah Lesko, MD, MPH 1996 Pisacano Scholar
James C. Martin, MD Chief Medical Officer and Vice President for Medical Affairs, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health Systems
Robert Phillips, MD, MSPH Vice President for Research and Policy, American Board of Family Medicine
James C. Puffer, MD President and Chief Executive Officer, American Board of Family Medicine
April 2012
Transformation of Family Medicine
April 13-15, 2012—Chicago, Illinois
(CME credits approved by the AAFP)
Eric Crall, MD, 1993 Pisacano Scholar
Sarah Lesko, MD, MPH,1996 Pisacano Scholar
Warren Newton, MD, MPH, Vice Dean of Education at the UNC School of Medicine
Saria Saccocio, MD, 2000 Pisacano Scholar
Mary Sandro, MBA, Pro Edge Skills
Christine Sinsky, MD, Medical Associates Clinic and Health Plans
April 2011
Grant Writing; Quality in Medicine
April 1-3, 2011—Chicago, Illinois
(CME credits approved by the AAFP)
Karl Metzger, 2009 Pisacano Scholar
Meghan Eagan, Associate Director of Development, Rush University Medical Center
Steven K. Rothschild, MD, Associate Professor and Director, Department of Preventive Medicine; Associate Chair and Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, Rush University Medical Center
June 2010
Personalized Medicine—The Journey
June 4-6, 2010—Jackson Hole, Wyoming
(CME credits approved by the AAFP)
Cheng-Chieh Chuang, MD, 1993 Pisacano Scholar
Jennifer DeVoe, MD, DPhil, 1998 Pisacano Scholar
Marguerite Duane, MD, 1998 Pisacano Scholar
Sarah Lesko, MD, 1996 Pisacano Scholar
Jamie Reedy, MD, 1993 Pisacano Scholar
Saria Saccocio, MD, 2000 Pisacano Scholar
Kurt Stange, MD, PhD, Professor of Oncology Research; Professor of Family Medicine, Epidemiology & Biostatics, Oncology and Sociology, Case Western Reserve University
April 2009
Health Care Delivery
April 3-5, 2009—Arlington, Virginia
(CME credits approved by the AAFP)
James C. Puffer, MD, President and CEO, American Board of Family Medicine
Steve Sauerberg, MD
Stephanie Vance, Advocacy Training
April 2008
Practice Transformation
April 3-5, 2008—New Orleans, Louisiana
(CME credits approved by the AAFP)
Erika Bliss, MD, 1999 Pisacano Scholar
James Little, MD, 1997 Pisacano Scholar
Trish Palmer, MD, 1994 Pisacano Scholar
Joseph Scherger, MD, Clinical Professor, Family & Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego
April 2007
Negotiation Skills in Medicine
April 12-14, 2007—Orlando, Florida
(CME credits approved by the AAFP)
Anthony Pacifico, Wilson Learning
April 2006
Mastery of Presentation Skills and Cardiovascular Issues
April 6-9, 2006—Bend, Oregon
(CME credits approved by the AAFP)
Mary Sandro, Pro Edge Skills
Eric Crall, MD, 1993 Pisacano Scholar
April 2005
The Business of Medicine
April 7-10, 2005—New York, New York
(CME credits approved by the AAFP)
Bruce Bagley, MD, Medical Director of Quality Improvement, American Academy of Family Physicians
Peter Catinella, MD, Vice Chair of Primary Care Programs; Associate Professor, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah
Lydia Lawson, MD, Associate Medical Director, Presbyterian Hospice, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Terry Kane, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Community and Family Medicine, Duke University Medicine Center
Stephen J. Spann, MD, Professor and Chairman, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine
April 2004
The Future of Family Medicine
April 1-4, 2004—Scottsdale, Arizona
(CME credits approved by the AAFP)
Robert L. Bratton, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida
Terry Kane, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Community and Family Medicine, Duke University Medicine Center
Michael K. Magill, MD, Chairman, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine
James C. Martin, MD, Chair, Board of Directors, American Academy of Family Physicians; Residency Director, Santa Rosa Health Care
Richard Rathe, MD, Associate Dean for Information Technology, Associate Professor of Medicine, Student Health Satellite Clinic, University of Florida College of Medicine
Stephen J. Spann, MD, Professor and Chairman, Department of Family and Community Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine
Joseph W. Tollison, MD, Deputy Executive Director, American Board of Family Practice
April 2003
Primary Care Research and Study Design
April 3-6, 2003—Park City, Utah
(CME credits approved by the AAFP)
John M. Hickner, MD, M.S., Professor of Family Practice, Department of Family Practice, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Daniel R. Longo, Sc.D., Professor of Family and Community Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine
James C. Martin, MD, President, American Academy of Family Physicians; Residency Director, Santa Rosa Healthcare
James W. Mold, MD, Director of Research Division, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Charles Sneiderman, MD, Ph.D., D.A.B.F.P., National Library of Science
Joseph B. Stanford, MD, M.S.P.H., Associate Professor, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah Health Research Center
Jeffrey L. Susman, MD, Director, Department of Family Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Barbara Troupin, MD, MBA, Radiant Research San Diego
Barbara Yawn, MD, Department of Research, Olmstead Medical Center
April 2002
Advocacy and Lobbying Skills for Family Physicians
April 5-7, 2002—Washington, DC
(CME credits approved by the AAFP)
Moderator and Course Director:
Joe Gagen, JD, Legislative Grassroots Advocacy Trainer
October 2001
Teaching Skills for Family Medicine
Atlanta, Georgia
Marian R. Stuart, Ph.D., Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UMDNJ—Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Neal Whitman, Ed.D., Professor of Family and Preventive Medicine, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, and Director of Faculty Development, Office of the Dean, University of Utah School of Medicine
Gregory N. Smith, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; Director of OB Education and Director of Clinical Training and Research, UPMC—St. Margaret Family Practice Residency and Fellowship Program
Trish Palmer, MD, 1994 Pisacano Scholar; Clinical Instructor, Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine
Jamie L. Reedy, MD, MPH, 1993 Pisacano Scholar; Program Director, Pisacano Leadership Foundation; Assistant Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UMDNJ—Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
September 2000
Professional Presentation and Media Skills
Dallas, Texas
(CME credits approved by the AAFP)
Susan Kearns Benner, Independent Educational Consultant, Personalized Professional Workshops
“Professional Scientific Presentation Skills”
Christine K. Jahnke, President, Positive Communications
“Media and Speaker Training for Family Physician Leaders”
January 2000
Evidence-Based Medicine and Information Mastery
Dallas, Texas
David C. Slawson, MD, Associate Professor and Director of Research, Department of Family Medicine and Department of Health Evaluation Sciences, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center
Allen F. Shaughnessy, PharMD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, Medical College of Pennsylvania-Hahnemann School of Medicine and Director of Research and Director of Pharmacology Education, Harrisburg Family Practice Residency Program
Kenneth Grimm, MD, 1993 Pisacano Scholar and Member, Board of Directors, Pisacano Leadership Foundation
September 1998
Communication Skills—Forms of Medical and Journal Writing
San Francisco, California
G. Gayle Stephens, MD, Associate Editor, The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice
Ronald Goldschmidt, MD, University of California—San Francisco
September 1997
Problem-Based Learning—Case Writing and Facilitator Training
Chicago, Illinois
Trish Palmer, MD, 1994 Pisacano Scholar and Third-Year Family Practice Resident, Chicago, IL
Howard Zeitz, MD, Rush Medical College, Chicago, IL
October 1996
Negotiation and Persuasion Skills
New Orleans, Louisiana
Stuart Diamond, JD, MBA, President, Global Strategy Group and Adjunct Assistant Professor, Wharton Business School
“Negotiation That Works: A Practical, Systematic Framework”
September 1995
Leadership Skills Development Symposium
Anaheim, California
Michael Hagen, MD, University of Kentucky
Debbie Allen, MD, University of Indiana
“Surviving Medicine in the Year 2000”
Joseph Scherger, MD, Sharp Health Care, San Diego, CA
“Leadership in Family Practice”
Paul C. Brucker, MD, President, Thomas Jefferson University, and Chairman, Board of Directors, Pisacano Leadership Foundation
The Second Annual Nicholas J. Pisacano, MD Memorial Lecture—The History of the American Board of Family Practice
October 1994
Leadership in Medicine
Atlanta, Georgia
Louis W. Sullivan, MD, President, Morehouse School of Medicine
April 1994
25th Anniversary of the American Board of Family Practice
Palm Beach, Florida
Paul C. Brucker, MD, President, Thomas Jefferson University and Chairman, Board of Directors, Pisacano Leadership Foundation “Celebrating 25 Years”
Edmund D. Pellegrino, MD, John Carroll Professor of Medicine and Medical Ethics, Georgetown University Medical Center
The First Annual Nicholas J. Pisacano, MD Memorial Lecture—”Words Can Hurt You: Some Reflections on the Metaphors of Managed Care”
David Satcher, MD, Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
“Public Health and Health Care Reform: Implications for Family Practice”
October 1993
Inaugural Lecture of the Pisacano Scholars Leadership Program
Washington, DC
Dr. Donna Shalala, Secretary of Health and Human Services, DHHS
G. Gayle Stephens, MD, Associate Editor, The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice
Ronald Goldschmidt, MD, University of California—San Francisco
Internship at The Robert Graham Center
Internship at The Robert Graham Center: Policy Studies in Family Medicine and Primary Care.
The Scholars are offered the opportunity to spend 4—8 weeks at the center in Washington, DC, where they work on various health policy issues that affect the specialty of family medicine. They observe the research and political processes in action, and learn from experienced primary care researchers and policy-makers.
Other Leadership Activities
Pisacano Scholars are offered the opportunity to participate in a multitude of leadership development activities in addition to the Annual Leadership Skills Development Symposia. Several are listed below:
(1) Peer Reviewer-in-training: The Scholars are paired with an experienced family physician who serves as a peer reviewer for the Journal of the American Board of Family Practice. Scholars review potential articles using standard criteria and guidelines, and then discuss their comments with an experienced reviewer. This serves as an educational experience for the Scholar, as well as an opportunity to discuss writing techniques, research and careers in academic family medicine.
(2) Item Writers: The Scholars are invited to participate in workshops hosted by the American Board of Family Medicine which train family physicians how to write test questions (items) for the family medicine board certification examination.
(3) Presentations at national meetings: The Scholars are encouraged to present their work at national family medicine meetings and conferences. They are coached by more experienced Scholars, who provide assistance with abstract preparation and guidance on professional presentation techniques and use of audiovisuals.
(4) AAFP and state academy leadership positions: The Scholars are sought after for their leadership skills and opinions. Many of the Scholars are invited or elected to serve in leadership positions on the Boards, committees and commissions of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the state chapters. In these positions, they are able to interact with many influential family medicine role models and learn the values of organized medicine and specialty societies.
“Family practice is the keystone specialty in American medicine. We will do everything in our power to preserve, enhance, and improve it.”
“Family practice is the keystone specialty in American medicine. We will do everything in our power to preserve, enhance, and improve it.”
Nicholas Pisacano, MD
Nicholas Pisacano, MD
