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Clinician Leadership in Quality and Safety Scholarly Concentration

Leadership

Co-Directors: Casey Olm-Shipman, MD, MS 

Program Manager: Cristina Collins

Project Coordinator: Janine Camara

Overview

The Clinician Leadership in Quality and Safety (CLQS) Scholarly Concentration offers a structured, longitudinal learning experience for medical students. Students will focus on the following topics in each phase of their medical journey: 

  • Foundation Phase: Work individually on Quality Improvement (QI) training to build a solid understanding of QI principles. 
  • Application Phase: Engage in collaborative learning opportunities with fellow students, residents, and QI learners to enhance practical skills and teamwork. 
  • Individualization Phase: Lead a QI project alongside a mentor in their chosen clinical discipline. 

Participants in this program are self-selected, and mentors are experienced QI clinicians passionate about teaching. Mentors will guide students through QI projects that may be new, ongoing, or aimed at spreading established initiatives. 

If you are a student interested in this program, please visit the School of Medicine website for more information on how to apply and details about program requirements. 

Become a CLQS Mentor  

We’re always looking for clinicians who are passionate about quality improvement to join our community of mentors. 

Mentors play a vital role in the CLQS program and can engage in different ways, by supporting students early in their journey through exposure to QI work, introducing them to key meetings, and helping them build connections, or by guiding a fourth-year student through a hands-on QI project of your choosing. Whether you have time for a long-term commitment or can offer early guidance and connection, there’s a place for you in the program. 

Participation as a mentor opens the door to being invited into the IHQI Faculty network. This includes access to additional teaching and facilitation opportunities across the institution, as well as a broader community of QI leaders. 

Become a CLQS Guest Speaker  

If you enjoy facilitating and are passionate about a specific quality improvement topic, CLQS offers a meaningful opportunity to share your expertise with the next generation of QI leaders. It’s a chance to inspire future clinicians, contribute to a culture of learning and improvement at UNC, and grow in your own leadership journey. 

Clinicians and staff who partner with us may also be invited to join our growing network of IHQI speakers and facilitators, opening doors for connection, collaboration, and professional development. If you’re interested, we’d love to hear from you. 

Email CLQS Leadership 

 “Thank you so much for everything! I have felt so supported by everybody involved in CLQS and this opportunity has not only sparked but solidified my passion for QI. It has been the highlight of my medical school journey and has shown me how I can incorporate QI into my career moving forward. I can’t thank you enough for this experience!”

“This course is the highlight (in a general sense) of my medical school experience. I wish a QI/QA training was available as a track analogous to Rural Scholars. This is the ideal curriculum for extensive longitudinal integration for the motivated, self-selected student interested in the ever-important field of Quality & Safety.”

“Most helpful part of the class is getting linked with the QI team I’m currently working with and trying this all out for myself, and learning about how QI projects work (or don’t work) in real life.”

“The best parts of this course are the collaborative efforts and support from administration. Readings are also pertinent and at a great level for beginners.”