Navigating Divisional Leadership Transitions: Building Stability Through Change

Navigating Divisional Leadership Transitions: Building Stability Through Change

From Academic Medicine Strategy Podcast by Dr. Stacey Ishman

June 10, 2026 · 17 min

About this episode

Dr. Stacey Ishman discusses how to navigate leadership transitions in academic medicine to build stability and reduce faculty attrition.

Leadership transitions are inevitable in academic medicine, but they often create uncertainty, anxiety, and disruption for faculty. In this episode, Dr. Stacey Ishman explores how divisions and departments can move through leadership change intentionally, using structured transition frameworks that strengthen culture, reduce attrition, and create alignment around shared values and vision. No need to take notes—visit the blog for a full summary of key insights. If you're interested in working with Academic Medicine Strategy Group, visit www.amedsg.com to learn more about our programs designed to help you build a clear, strategic path to promotion, research, and career advancement. Key Points Leadership Change Is More Than a Personnel Decision (00:00–05:30) Leadership transitions affect culture, identity, retention, and long-term strategic direction. The first 90 days often shape the trajectory of a division for years to come. Understanding the Difference Between Change and Transition (05:30–12:00) Drawing on the work of William and Susan Bridges, Dr. Ishman explains the distinction between external change and the internal psychological process of transition. The Critical "Neutral…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Stacey Ishman

Topics covered

  • leadership transitions
  • academic medicine
  • faculty retention
  • organizational culture
  • strategic direction

Keywords

  • leadership change
  • transition frameworks
  • faculty attrition
  • cultural alignment
  • strategic path

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Academic Medicine Strategy Group

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