2026 AAPL Annual Leadership Conference
Call for Proposals
Call for Proposals & Posters Now Open
We are excited to invite you to submit a proposal or poster for the 2026 AAPL Annual Leadership Conference, themed "Live Your Purpose, Lead with Passion." This event will take place at the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, AZ, from October 22–24, 2026.
Experienced physician leaders are invited to submit a session proposal. Please read through the session topics and formats below. Medical students, residents, and fellows are invited to submit a poster through our new Emerging Leaders Showcase, a dedicated platform for the next generation of physician leaders. You can find details on both submission types below and on their respective submission pages.
The conference aims to provide engaging and thought-provoking experiences for all attendees, and we encourage you to contribute by sharing your expertise and insights.
Today’s environment presents unique opportunities for all physicians to make lasting improvements in care delivery. Why present at the AAPL Annual Leadership Conference?
Demonstrate thought leadership — Share your experiences and lessons learned on the largest stage for physician leadership.
Shape the future of healthcare — Equip peers with the insights, tools, and solutions that have made a difference in your practice or organization.
Build community — Connect with collaborators, expand your network, and contribute to a stronger peer-learning community.
Earn Fellowship credit — Presenter participation counts toward AAPL’s Fellowship requirements.
Save on registration — Accepted session presenters receive a $700 discount on conference registration. Accepted student poster presentations will receive complimentary registration.
Learning Tracks
- Leading Self - Resilience, Wellbeing, Identity & Career Navigation
- Leading Teams & People - Interprofessional Collaboration, Shared Leadership & Team Development
- Leading the Organization - Finance, Strategy, Data & Operational Excellence
- Leading Change & Innovation - Transformation, Disruption & Strategic Adaptation
- Leading with AI - Technology, Ethics & the Future of Care
- Leading with Purpose - Stewardship, Equity & Systems Change
Session Formats
- Concurrent Sessions - A concurrent session is a 60-minute presentation delivered by either a solo presenter or co-presenters.
- Workshops - A workshop is an immersive 2-hour, hands-on learning experience designed to go beyond knowledge transfer to active skill building.
- Panel Sessions - A panel session is a 60-minute moderated discussion featuring three to four subject matter experts who bring diverse perspectives to a shared topic or challenge relevant to physician leadership.
NEW FORMAT ADDED
- Poster Sessions: AAPL Emerging Leaders Showcase
Your Leadership Journey Starts Here.
You chose medicine because you wanted to make a difference. And somewhere along the way — in a challenging rotation, a difficult patient encounter, a team that needed direction, or a system that needed to change — you discovered that leadership was part of your calling too. The American Association for Physician Leadership wants to hear that story.
AAPL is proud to introduce the Emerging Leaders Showcase at the 2026 Annual Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona — a dedicated poster session created exclusively for medical students, residents, and fellows who are already thinking, working, and leading differently. This is your opportunity to share your work, your insights, and your vision for the future of physician leadership with an audience of the most accomplished physician leaders in the country.
Why the Emerging Leaders Showcase?
AAPL believes the future of healthcare depends on cultivating physician leaders early — not after decades of practice, but now, while you are still in training and closest to the frontlines of care.
- Celebrate the leadership work already happening in residency programs, fellowships, and medical schools
- Create meaningful connections between emerging and established physician leaders
- Amplify fresh perspectives and innovative ideas that are reshaping how we think about physician leadership
- Build a pipeline of purpose-driven leaders who will carry the profession forward
Who Should Submit to the Emerging Leadership Showcase?
The Emerging Leaders Showcase is open to:
- Medical students currently enrolled in an accredited MD or DO program
- Residents currently enrolled in an accredited residency program
- Fellows currently enrolled in an accredited fellowship program
Thursday, October 22, 2026 | 5:00 - 6:30
Three Session Levels
- Novice Level Sessions - Introduce fundamental concepts and build a basic understanding.
- Intermediate Level Sessions - Enhance existing knowledge and develop intermediate skills.
- Advanced Level Sessions - Master complex concepts and explore cutting-edge developments.
Important Dates
PROPOSAL DEADLINES
Call for Proposals submission period closes:
April 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM ET.Notifications for acceptance sent to submitters:
May 18, 2026Deadline to accept the invitation to present:
May 31, 2026Full schedule announced:
June 1, 2026Session materials:
September, 30, 2026
POSTER DEADLINES
Deadline to submit a poster:
May 30, 2026Notifications for acceptance sent to submitters:
June 30, 2026Deadline to accept the invitation to present:
July 30, 2026Full schedule announced:
June 1, 2026Posters due:
September, 30, 2026