Expanding Leadership Coaching at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

“Coaching for Leadership at MD Anderson” is a downloadable resource that shares the story of how The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center ignited learning and leadership development opportunities through the MD Anderson Leadership Institute.

From the beginning, MD Anderson embedded coaching into developmental programming available to all employees with the goal of instilling a coaching culture to drive change, facilitate knowledge transfer, and set the institution apart from its organizational peers. In the process, the academic medical center entirely reimagined how current and future leaders could rise within the institution.

The cancer center reached more than 230 employees through coaching during the program’s inaugural year, with the demand for coaching enabling that number to nearly double in year two.

Coaching also played a pivotal role in helping MD Anderson’s leaders navigate the onslaught of challenges that arose out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In recognition of its coaching program, ICF named MD Anderson a Celebrated Nominee for the 2020 International Prism Award. ICF’s Prism Award program honors organizations that have achieved the highest standard of excellence in coaching programs that yield discernible and measurable positive impacts, meet rigorous professional standards, achieve key strategic goals, and shape organizational culture.

This case study provides insightful and inspiring ideas for organizational leaders and coaches within organizations—particularly in the healthcare sector—that want to build a strong coaching culture where current and emerging leaders are empowered to drive meaningful, sustainable change in their organization, in their industry, and in the world.”