CLIMB Program Details

AACAP’s Collaborative Leadership Impact for Medicine and Beyond (AACAP CLIMB) - Program Details

Program Format

AACAP-CLIMB is a 10-month program, and all participants are required to attend all sessions. In addition to the Program-at-a-Glance below, participants will schedule six individualized coaching sessions, and three to six mentoring sessions. Applicants should carefully review the Program-at-a-Glance before applying to ensure their ability to participate in all sessions.

Program at-a-Glance (PDF)

Eligibility Requirements

At minimum, all applicants should meet the following requirements:

Minimum eight years out of training.
AACAP Mid-career Member in good standing, practicing in the United States.
Five years of identifiable service to AACAP, such as appointment to a committee or task force, serving in an editorial role for JAACAP, leading an initiative in a Regional Organization, or similar activities.
Recognized leadership contributions to the field in clinical care, education, advocacy, or research.
Continuous board-certification by the ABPN in child and adolescent psychiatry.
Commitment to participate in all CLIMB activities (mandatory participation).

Tuition and Application Process

Timeline

October 1: Applications Due
October 6-20: Review of Initial Applications
October 29: Finalists selected for interviews
November 30-December 4: Finalist Interviews
December 18: Notification of Acceptance into CLIMB

Program Expectations

Registration fee: $1,500, due by January 8, 2027.
Participants must be able to attend all events indicated in the Program at a Glance and be free from professional and personal obligations during those times.
Participants are responsible for covering their travel expenses to attend AACAP’s 2027 Annual Meeting, October 25-30 in New York, NY.
Participants are expected to regularly provide updates to AACAP post-program for continued measurement of your leadership goals.
Participants are expected to continue to give back to AACAP throughout their careers and in the areas they work, including participating in alumni events and mentoring future cohorts of the program.

Program Benefits

Approximately 40 hours of educational content building leadership skills, delivered virtually and in-person.
40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits^TM available.
Travel and lodging expenses paid by AACAP for two retreats, May 13-15, 2027, and July 29-31, 2027.
Six individual coaching sessions by a licensed executive coach.
Access to senior mentors in the field.
Opportunities for continued alumni networking and professional development post-program year.

T. Benton Fellows

The T. Benton Fellowship is made possible by a generous gift from Ms. K. Lisa Yang. Named after Tami D. Benton, MD, this gift helps to support up to two competitively selected fellows to participate in CLIMB.
T. Benton Fellows participate in the program in the same ways as all other participants. The mentors supervising the T. Benton Fellows prioritize meaningful social impact, policy, and practice in the field of child and adolescent psychiatry.

Application Process

Compete an application by October 1, 2026.
Required items:
- CV
- Two letters of recommendation from employer or if self-employed, other colleagues.
  - Letters of recommendations from employers should expressly state that the applicant will be excused from meetings, clinical duties, and other obligations during course activities.
- AACAP Disclosure of Relationships Form
In the application, completion of the following questions (2,000 character limit per question):
- Leadership doesn't only look like titles and committee seats. Tell us about a core passion that connects your past roles, a single proudest moment in your career, or an experience that equipped you to be a leader that we couldn’t learn from reading your CV.
- Briefly describe or list your service to AACAP including relevant dates.
- Describe your leadership contributions to the field (clinical care, advocacy, education, or research) and its impact.
- Describe a leadership failure, or a piece of hard feedback, that changed how you operate.
- Why this program, and why now? What kind of leader do you want to become?

CME Information

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry designates this other activity (hybrid blended learning) for a maximum of 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits^TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Interested in learning more?