The OMERACT Emerging Leaders Program: The Good, the Bad, and the Future

Abstract

Objective.To describe the experience of the first OMERACT Emerging Leaders Program (ELP).Methods.A Delphi process identified positive aspects, areas for improvement, and future directions. Core items were defined as essential if they received ≥ 70% ratings.Results.Participants valued relatable/accessible mentors (100%), including an OMERACT Executive mentor (100%), and a support network of peers (90%). Key items for future development were funding support (100%) and developing knowledge about OMERACT processes (90%) and politics (80%).Conclusion.The ELP has the potential to provide targeted training for early career researchers to develop relevant skills for future leadership roles within OMERACT.