The Triumvirate: A New Model for Residency Program Directorship

The authors describe their initial 5-year experience with a new model of residency directorship: a triumvirate of shared leadership consisting of a director and 2 associate directors with specific areas of expertise and assigned responsibility. The major appeal of this model is its potential to draw on the diverse talents of 3 individuals with responsibilities matched to their specific areas of strength. A major benefit of the model is that each director has more time and energy to devote to specific duties, resulting in a greater opportunity for innovation and creativity. In this article, the authors describe the roles, responsibilities, and accomplishments of each of the 3 directors. They also discuss potential benefits of the triumvirate model in comparison with a traditional residency directorship and potential pitfalls to avoid when implementing this model.