There is always a huge demand for our renowned National Institute for Program Director Development (NIPDD). This professional development program, led by an esteemed Academic Council, is a nationally recognized fellowship open to a limited number of participants each year.
NIPDD participants must be members of AFMRD.
What is NIPDD?
NIPDD is a program of the AFMRD and presented by the Academic Council, a group of nine (9) seasoned program directors, many of whom hold or have held leadership positions within the RC-FM, AFMRD, AAFP, ABFM and other family medicine organizations. The Academic Council is responsible for the coordination, supervision, and evaluation of the NIPDD's educational programs and reports to the AFMRD Board of Directors. The fellowship consists of three sessions (Fall, Winter, and Spring).
The NIPDD fellowship uses a one-of-a-kind, adult learning model to enhance knowledge, attitudes, and skills and to equip participants to become effective residency program directors. The tuition fee is $6,300.00. Some meals are included. Participants are responsible for hotel, travel and remaining meal costs.
Application & Selection Process
Applications for the 2025-26 NIPDD fellowship are now closed. There are typically more applications received than there are positions available. Applicants are therefore screened and prioritized with a goal of accommodating as many applicants as possible who will be serving in the Program Director (PD) role in an operating program, training residents by July 1 of the year they complete the fellowship.
Accordingly, applicants will be prioritized in the following categories in descending order of priority:
1. Current PDs of accredited operating programs that have residents present in the year of application
2. Current PDs of developing programs that are accredited or are expected to receive accreditation and begin recruiting for residents in the year of application
3. APDs who are the designated successor for the current PD of an accredited, operating program and expected to assume the PD role within 12 months
4. Current PDs of developing programs that have achieved accreditation but not recruiting residents in the year of application
5. Current PDs of developing programs that have not yet received accreditation
6. APDs who are on a trajectory to become a PD but not expected to assume the role within the next 12 months
7. Faculty with 3+ years of experience with an interest in becoming a PD in the future
Fellowship Requirements for NIPDD
All elements of the fellowship must be completed to receive the Certificate of Completion. Fellows must attend all three sessions, AAFP's Residency Leadership Summit and complete the required projects:
· Financial Project: Participants will also complete an in-depth financial project to aid in their understanding of residency program funding and finances.
· Annual Report: Communicating the overall status of your program to governing bodies, hospital executives, Boards of Directors, etc. is another important skill for program directors. Using the findings from the Financial Project, along with other program outcome data for the year, participants will prepare and present an Annual Report to a mock Board of Directors consisting of your NIPDD peers.
· Self-Study Project: Although no longer an ACGME requirement, this Self-Study Project is an opportunity to combine strategic planning with continuous process improvement while building off the Annual Program Evaluation. The self-study affords participants the opportunity to refine project management skills that will yield a deliverable with real-life application to your program.