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May AANnews: Leadership Program Spotlight
Leadership Program Opens Doors to Engagement
When asked about his experience with the AAN’s Emerging Leaders Program, 2017 graduate Beau Nakamoto, MD, PhD, MBA, FAAN, is quick to respond that “the biggest impact it had was that it opened the door to engage with the AAN and its members.”
Rather ironically, it was a subtle act of engagement that brought the Emerging Leaders Program to Nakamoto’s attention to begin with. “To be honest, it was the AAN staff who piqued my initial interest in the program,” he explained. “I did not renew my AAN membership after residency and by chance I happened to reach out to the ‘Contact Us’ link on the AAN website for assistance. I don’t remember what the issue was, but I still remember how the AAN staff member who helped me made me feel: special, like I mattered. Based on this, I started to look at ways to re-engage with the AAN. The rest is history.”
History, indeed. Since graduating just a few years ago, both Nakamoto’s career and his engagement with the AAN have taken off like a rocket.
Nakamoto is now vice chair of the AAN’s Leadership Alumni Subcommittee and member of the AAN Membership Engagement and Leadership Engagement Committees where he has “a network of AAN members from academic universities who I collaborate with, can ask advice on complicated neurological cases, and can reach out to for recommendations for academic promotion.” Along the way he has developed deep friendships with neurologists nationwide, as well as AAN staff members—all of whom he is grateful to have in his life.
In terms of his professional growth, Nakamoto now serves on the Board of Directors for Hawaii Pacific Health, one of the largest health care providers in the state, and recently transitioned into a career in medical informatics. “I have obtained an MBA, become certified as a physician executive, became an FAAN, became a Fellow in the American Association of Physician Leaders and American College of Health Care Executives, served as the director of the Neuroscience Serviceline, served as director of a stroke program, and am looking to apply for professor at the University of Hawaii,” he said.
Nakamoto’s hunger for engagement has even led him to take up advocacy, donating to the BrainPAC and making himself available to meet with senators and his local representatives on important AAN-related issues.
Beau Nakamoto, MD, PhD, MBA, FAAN
2017 Emerging Leaders Graduate
In speaking about the AAN’s investment in providing leadership opportunities for members, Nakamoto said, “It is wonderful to see the movements being made to engage all its members and expand leadership opportunities to all its members. The AAN has been strategic as far as focusing on making sure that its leaders are representative of the general membership from academic to solo practitioners and making sure disparities based on gender, ethnicity, and gender identities are addressed. I have no doubt that at the end of this yellow brick road the AAN will have an army of engaged members.”
In reflecting on his experience in general, Nakamoto expressed great appreciation for the importance of never losing sight of the personal touches that make each and everyone feel special, valued, and important. “The gestures of gift baskets for members who serve; the social events when we go to committee meetings—all not necessary, but definitely noted. I hope we never lose sight of that all our members are special and all of us want to feel like we belong and are working to contribute to something greater than ourselves.”
And now the ripple effect of an AAN staff member making Nakamoto feel special when he reached out for help will only continue. “Am I grateful for the Emerging Leaders Program? Yes. That is an understatement.”
This Emerging Leaders Program is designed to identify, engage, and mentor talented early-career members who have the disposition to lead and are interested in future roles within the AAN and the field of neurology. Learn more at AAN.com/ELP.
Apply by May 18 for AAN Leadership Development Opportunities
Now’s the time to invest in yourself and your career! Applications are open for three of the AAN’s all-expenses paid leadership development programs. These intensive and rewarding programs incorporate executive leadership education, collaboration with peers on a group project, 1:1 leadership coaching, and mentoring opportunities in the field of neurology. The value of great leadership is more important than ever in today’s challenging health care environment and the AAN is committed to investing in members now to develop tomorrow’s leaders.
Diversity Leadership Program
The AAN is committed to building leadership reflective of our diverse member and patient demographics. This empowering and inspirational program provides a meaningful developmental experience that fully engages members from underrepresented neurology groups.
Emerging Leaders Program
This program is designed to identify, engage, and mentor talented early-career members who have the disposition to lead and are interested in future roles within the AAN and the field of neurology.
Practice Leadership Program
A unique opportunity designed specifically to identify and engage US neurologists in a solo or small practice who are interested in helping to shape the future of neurology with the AAN and their communities. The program’s convenient format provides high-quality development training while accommodating the demanding schedules of busy practitioners.
Visit AAN.com/Lead to browse the programs, application qualifications, and participant expectations and apply before the May 18 application deadline—and be sure and share these opportunities with colleagues who you think would be a good fit for this extraordinary leadership development opportunity.
