Amit Acharya, BDS, PhD, MS, Vice Dean for Regional Research Strategy & Integration, Wake Forest University School of Medicine; Vice Chief Science Officer, Advocate Health and President, Advocate Aurora Research Institute, has been named one of 57 scholars who will form the Presidential Leadership Scholars’ (PLS) 10th annual class.
For the past decade, PLS has brought together more than 500 diverse, established leaders to collaborate and make a difference in the world as they learn about leadership through the lens of the presidential experiences of George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Lyndon B. Johnson. This program is a partnership among the presidential centers of these past four presidents.
The class was selected after a rigorous application and review process. Scholars were chosen based on their leadership growth potential and the strength of their personal leadership projects aimed at addressing a critical challenge or need in a community, profession or organization.
During the six-month program Acharya will address oral health care inequities affecting people of color, underserved communities and vulnerable populations. He aims to develop a framework for diverting non-traumatic dental condition cases from hospital emergency departments to appropriate care settings, such as local dental providers and community clinics. By forming a diverse advisory committee, he seeks to ensure the sustainability of this initiative beyond the PLS program.
With over 20 years of health care experience as a clinician, informatics researcher and now as a health care executive, Acharya has significantly advanced patient care by translating research into practice. He has been a leading researcher and is well-regarded internationally on his expertise in dental informatics and brings valuable insight to build learning health systems by integrating research and innovation within health care delivery settings. At the School of Medicine and Advocate Health Acharya collaborates with senior leaders to drive strategic initiatives that enhance their research mission and advance their status as a leading Academic Learning Health System.
“Dr. Acharya’s selection as a Presidential Leadership Scholar is a testament to his visionary leadership and dedication to advancing health equity through research and innovation,” said Ebony Boulware, MD, MPH, dean of Wake Forest University School of Medicine and chief science officer of Advocate Health. “His work to address oral health care disparities and improve access for underserved communities exemplifies the mission of an Academic Learning Health System. We are proud to support his journey and look forward to the meaningful impact he will continue to make.”
Over the course of the program, scholars will travel to each participating presidential center to learn from former presidents, key former administration officials, business and civic leaders and leading academics. They will study and put into practice varying approaches to leadership and exchange ideas to help strengthen their impact.
Scholars have consistently reported remarkable growth in skills, responsibilities and opportunities for impact since the program began in 2015. Approximately 96% of past scholars said their confidence in how they lead social change has improved as a result of PLS and 97% of scholars reported they are inspired to accomplish more since beginning the program.