Captains Career Course Physician Assistant Small Group Leader Chapter 19 ROLE OF THE CAPTAINS CAREER COURSE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT SMALL GROUP LEADER Manuel Menendez, APA-C, MPAS Introduction The physician assistant (PA) small group leader (SGL) at the Army Medical Department Center and School Health Readiness Center of Excellence (AMEDD C&S HRCoE) Captains Career Course (CCC) is responsible for planning, developing, and presenting graduate-level professional military education (PME) to active duty, reserve, and international students. This education provides students with the skills, knowledge, and attributes required to lead company-size units and to serve on battalion and brigade staffs operating in joint environments throughout the full range of military operations. 1 Students also gain advanced training in combat health service support operations, as well as AMEDD-specific skills and knowledge required to succeed at clinic and hospital assignments. The AMEDD CCC PA SGL plays a key role in educating and mentoring AMEDD company-grade and field-grade officers to succeed in battalion to brigade level assignments. 1 Course Background The School of Advanced Leadership and Tactics at Fort Leavenworth develops, disseminates, and supervises a 12-week common core program of instruction to all CCCs across the Army. As the only non-permanent change of station CCC in the Army, the AMEDD C&S HRCoE makes modifications to the program of instruction, with the approval of the Office of The Surgeon General, to balance 263
US Army Physician Assistant Handbook the educational requirements of AMEDD officers with the healthcare needs of the force. These modifications allow the curriculum to fit into a 9-, 3-, or 2-week course for AMEDD active duty officers, active duty Medical Corps officers, and reserve officers, respectively. 2 All of these course options include the same lessons; however, the shorter courses progress through the lessons in less time, and shorten or remove application exercises. Common core training includes lessons on leadership, management, culture, mission command, operations, unified land operations, and training management. An additional 3 weeks (within the 9-week course) focus on AMEDD-specific topics such as operational health service support, Army medicine, clinical operations, human resources, healthcare administration, and leadership development. Active component officers attend the 9-week course on a temporary duty status during one of four sessions per year; reserve component officers attend the 2-week session that meets once a year during the summer. Medical corps officers have the option to attend one of the 3-week courses offered nine times a year. Active component officers are encouraged to attend as soon as practical, once promotable to captain (O- 3), or between their 4th and 7th year of federal commissioned service. 3 Officers incur a 1-year service obligation for course attendance. 1 All officers are encouraged to plan their long-term individual, organizational, and institutional education goals by utilizing the Army career tracker at https://actnow.army.mil. 4 SGL-to-student ratios ideally range from 1:12 to 1:16. 2 SGLs are responsible for facilitating learning through counseling, coaching, and team building. Students are expected to learn to think and to challenge each other to succeed through shared knowledge and lessons learned. Measures of effectiveness include graded written and oral communication skills evaluations, demonstrated knowledge of the military planning process, demonstrated knowledge of medical business processes, and improvements in leadership skills as demonstrated by peer evaluations. 5 264 Small Group Leader Roles and Responsibilities The SGL operates under the Army Learning Concept, published by the Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC). 4 Each SGL is responsible for creating a positive learning environment in which
Captains Career Course Physician Assistant Small Group Leader students work as a team to improve themselves and each other. SGLs must possess strong spoken and written communication skills, a peopleoriented personality, knowledge of the AMEDD business processes, and superior field technical and tactical knowledge. All SGLs will mentor AMEDD CCC officers assigned to their class regarding course performance, professional development, and their individual careers. Additionally, the PA SGL, as the senior representative for PAs in the AMEDD CCC, is expected to provide specific guidance and career advice for all PAs in the course. In addition to teaching, the PA SGL may complete strategic projects for the PA branch, TRADOC, AMEDD, or Office of The Surgeon General. The PA SGL is also responsible for providing mentorship opportunities for PA branch and program managers, as well as coordinating social events for the PAs. Area of Concentration Day The PA SGL also coordinates AOC (area of concentration) Day, also referred to as PA Day, for the PAs in the course. AOC Day occurs during the last week of the course. The PA SGL arranges for guest speakers to present information to the students on issues pertinent to promotion, career progression, or professional education. Topics should include long-term health education opportunities, job progression, and future promotions and job opportunities (delivered by a representative from Human Resources Command), among other subjects. Desired Skills and Attributes Candidates must be a CCC graduate. Rank of lieutenant colonel or major and Intermediate Level Education graduate are preferred. Hospital leadership and operational, tactical, and strategic planning experience as a PA; senior leadership positions (division or corps PA, company command, clinic command) preferred. Strong knowledge and application of leader attributes and competencies per Army Doctrine Reference Publication 6-22, Army Leadership. 6 Must be an excellent role model with a strong desire to mentor others. Knowledge of AMEDD business practices and processes. Strong written and spoken communication skills, as well as excellent teaching skills. 265
US Army Physician Assistant Handbook Able to serve as SGL for no less than 2 years (3 years preferred). Experience working on strategic-level projects. Small Group Leader Training SGLs must complete faculty development training (parts 1 and 2) after arriving, which results in a 5K additional skill identifier. SGLs assist in the instruction of the AMEDD basic healthcare administrator course (BHAC), a 1-week course that educates students on the healthcare business processes utilized by the Army, and on how to successfully manage operations in a clinical setting. SGLs will have an opportunity to complete this training during assignment to the CCC, although prior experience in BHAC is preferred. Summary The CCC PA SGL works, in a non-clinical capacity, as the PA representative in the AMEDD C&S HRCoE CCC. The PA SGL provides a clinical perspective during the course and acts as a resource for clinical operations to all other instructors. References 1. Department of the Army. Army Medical Department Officer Development and Career Management. Washington, DC: HQDA; 27 June 2007. Department of the Army Pamphlet 600-4. 2. Department of the Army. Army Training and Leader Development. Washington, DC: HQDA; 19 August 2014. Army Regulation 350-1. 3. Department of the Army. Commissioned Officer Professional Development and Career Management. Washington, DC: HQDA; 3 December 2014. Department of the Army Pamphlet 600-3. 4. Department of the Army, Training and Doctrine Command. The US Army Learning Concept for 2015. Ft Monroe, VA: TRADOC; 266
Captains Career Course Physician Assistant Small Group Leader 20 January 2011. TRADOC Pamphlet 525-8-2. 5. US Army Medical Department. AMEDD Captains Career Course at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, website. http://www.cs.amedd.army. mil/ccc/. Accessed November 17, 2015. 6. Department of the Army. Army Leadership. Washington, DC: HQDA; 10 September 2012. Army Doctrine Reference Publication 6-22. 267
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