Health Communication Leadership Institute

By Mike Mackert

This week is the CHC’s Third Annual Health Communication Leadership Institute (HCLI), which is one of my favorite weeks of the year. This institute is a chance for health communication experts to come together for professional networking and leadership development.

It’s interesting, because every iteration of HCLI has been a little different. In 2015, there was more of a focus on health communication best practices. In 2016, we shifted to more about leadership development. Now, in 2017, we have an agenda and group of speakers that will really be an ideal mix of both health communication best practices and training AND leadership development and training.

I’ve learned a great deal at every HCLI. The personal leadership assessment led by Brenda Berkelaar last year really hit home for me. It was a chance to self-reflect on my own performance as a leader and identify areas for focus and improvement. Paired with Charlee Garden’s call to action to find a “leadership buddy,” someone you could talk to about leadership challenges and find some social support, it helped set me up for a better year in terms of my work as a leader. A year later, I continue to meet with a couple “leadership buddies.” It was great advice.

One of the things that participants have shared the last two years is how much they appreciate a smaller event where they can really get to know fellow participants – unlike so many huge conferences where you can feel like just another face in the crowd. I’m excited to meet the new 2017 HCLI cohort, as well as welcoming back people who were here in 2015 and 2016. I’ll make new connections and meet new colleagues this week, which is one of the best parts of this event.

If you’re interested in keeping up online, follow the #UTHCLI hashtag on Twitter.