From clinical expertise to leadership capability: A challenge to generic and multidisciplinary leadership programmes in support of tailored leadership development

This article challenges the dominance of multidisciplinary and often generic leadership development programmes in healthcare. Drawing on nearly a decade of experience with the Executive Masters in Medical Leadership (EMML) at Bayes Business School—a physician-only programme—we argue that in this instance profession-specific education is not just preferable but essential.

Physicians possess distinct personality traits, undergo uniquely extensive training, carry exceptional legal and professional responsibilities, and operate within a fundamentally different professional culture than other healthcare workers or general managers. We do not believe this is adequately recognised in the NHS. Professional differences demand profession-specific education. Our experience, and EMML learning outcomes data, demonstrate that physician-only programmes create psychological safety, build lasting professional networks, and deliver learning outcomes that generic, multidisciplinary courses cannot replicate. The NHS champions diversity in race, gender, and background. It is time to recognise cognitive, professional, and situational diversity with equal vigour.