Programs & Events
1:1 Coaching
This is a completely confidential space in which the individuals’ challenges can be explored, whether you are seeking clarity, follow through with your goals, or empowerment in your work. Sessions are typically held virtually for ~60min monthly, with a minimum of a 4-month commitment. Tailoring logistics to the individual’s needs is welcome.
Coaching Workshops/Events:
Request a Workshop: Looking for a specialized workshop tailored to your event? Whether you’re looking to include coaching in a large meeting/conference or as part of your weekly/monthly department get-together, we’ve got you covered. We will explore which aspects of coaching would be best for your group prior to the event.
Open Workshops/Events: General workshops will be updated on this site below. The title and description will be published so you can join the workshops that best fit your needs. The timing of these workshops will vary throughout the year.
Fostering Psychological Safety in Coaching:
May 6th, 2025 from 9:00am-11:00am
The International Coaching Federation (ICF) highlights the importance of building relationships that foster client trust, engagement, learning, and growth. Join Drs. Kristi Kleinschmit and Jennifer O'Donohoe for an interactive U-CAN Workshop on creating a psychologically safe coaching environment where clients feel comfortable expressing themselves.
Fundamentals of Professional Coaching:
Part 1: Tuesday, February 24th, 2026 from 9:00am-12:00pm (Zoom)
Part 2: Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026 from 9:00am-12:00pm (Zoom)
We are often called upon to provide empathy and perspective to our colleagues in their careers through coaching. Most of us engage in some form of professional coaching, whether formally or informally. Through greater effectiveness in coaching, we develop our leadership and support our colleagues. This is a two half-day workshop for those who are interested in becoming more effective in coaching others. This training is meant to give you the fundamental skills in professional coaching. In each half-day session, we will be covering fundamental topics in professional coaching.
Faculty Program/Events:
Early Career Coaching (ECC) Program:
The Early Career Coaching Program provides coaching to University of Utah Health early career faculty to cultivate a successful academic career. Early career faculty often do not have explicit guidance to effectively manage the course of their career and professional development. Early career attention is often dedicated to technical skills, such as clinical care or education. Individuals often react to program needs and available opportunities, but neglect deliberate planning and execution. Departments and divisions often struggle to implement effective coaching and mentoring programs because of a lack of resources and process expertise. This program facilitates early career faculty to develop their academic career with clarity and purpose.
Program Goal
The program goal is to increase participants’ clarity on professional direction, satisfaction, self-efficacy, academic productivity, promotion, and sense of community within the University of Utah.
Objectives of the Coaching Program
Early career faculty who complete the program will:
Demonstrate increased self-awareness and self-efficacy in their professional trajectory
Define goals supported by planning and skills development that build toward an overarching career vision
Connect with mentors and colleagues to develop a professional network and sense of community
Coaching within ECC
Faculty members in the School of Medicine in any track, at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor, are eligible to serve as ECC coaches. Each coach is assigned to work with one early career faculty (generally within 5 years of their faculty appointment) member and is expected to meet with the assigned coach monthly.
In this 6-month coaching engagement, early career faculty in the School of Medicine are partnered with a senior faculty coach. The program goal is to increase participants’ clarity on professional direction, satisfaction, self-efficacy, academic productivity, promotion, and sense of community within the University of Utah. Participants meet monthly with their coach to work through a structured coaching curriculum.
ECC Kickoff - Tuesday, September 30th, 2025 from 9:00am-1:00pm
Application Fee: $500
Mid-Career Coaching (MCC) Program:
The Mid-Career Coaching Program provides coaching to University of Utah Health mid-career faculty to facilitate professional growth, career reinvention, and access to leadership roles. After an early career focus on developing professional identity, establishing a brand, and getting promoted, mid-career faculty often find themselves asking, “What is my legacy?” and “What’s next?” How can they refresh their work to sustain interest and enthusiasm? What leadership opportunities should they explore and what is required to get there? The MCC Program is open to SOM faculty members at the rank of associate professor or professor, who have been the faculty for 7-15 years and are interested in pursuing leadership roles or exploring a new direction. The program has three components: Senior Leadership Coaching, Peer Coaching, and Leadership Interviews. The Program pairs a senior faculty member in a coaching capacity with a mid-career faculty member to complete a systematic process of assessment and career planning over a three- to four-month period.
Participants in the program will focus on “Three Conversations” through reflection, decision, and action:
Who am I and who do I want to be?
Where do I want to go?
How do I get there? What is the next step?
Program Goals
The program goals are to increase participants’ clarity on professional direction, provide opportunities to build social capital, and build a community within the coaching cohort.
Objectives of the Coaching Program
Mid-career faculty who complete the program will:
Develop clarity about career direction through reflection, exploration, decision, and action
Build institutional knowledge and social capital through leadership interviews and peer coaching, which will facilitate connection with career opportunities and sponsorship
Connect with organizational peers and develop professional networking ability
Senior leader coaches who complete the program will:
Hone coaching skills and gain experience as a coach
Develop their leadership skills through the coaching process
MCC Kickoff - Wednesday, October 29th, 2025 from 9:00am-1:00pm
Application due: $500
Late-Career Coaching (LCC) Program:
The Late Career Coaching Program provides coaching to University of Utah Health late career faculty to facilitate professional fulfillment, career transitions, and personal meaning beyond the career. The LCC program is designed for faculty who consider themselves within ten years of retirement.
Topics that the coaching may address (based on the needs of the faculty member being coached) may include:
- Thinking through what professional activities to maintain / what activities to shed
- Career goals and career legacy
- Developing interests/priorities outside the professional environment
- Considerations of financial security
- Coordinating with partner and family
- Succession planning
- Negotiating for a new work arrangement
Objectives of the Coaching Program
The program aims to provide faculty who have served in academic healthcare to design and navigate this stage of their career creatively and meaningfully. This phase of the career could be the most enjoyable and rewarding if approached strategically and intentionally.
Program Goals
The program will match the faculty client with a faculty coach who is also in the late career stage. The dyad will engage in coaching for a three-to-four-month period. The coaching engagement will begin with an in-person kick-off session to establish the coaching relationship and to establish the coaching objectives of the coaching engagement. After the kick-off session, the dyad will meet once a month (for an hour) for three or four months to engage in coaching topics relevant to the client.
LCC Kickoff - Wednesday, November 12th, 2025 from 8:00am-1:00pm
Application due: $500
Fundamentals of Professional Mentoring
Part 1: Tuesday, January 20th, 2026 - 9:00AM - 12:00PM
Part 2: Tuesday, January 27th, 2026 - 9:00AM - 12:00PM
As a part of an academic career, there is an expectation of mentorship. Good mentorship is one of the most influential factors in one’s career. However, there is often very little training for mentors to understand what good mentoring is and how to mentor effectively. This training program will give mentors the basic skills to be an effective mentor. This workshop is for those who are currently mentors who would like to improve their mentoring effectiveness.
One-time Meeting Presentations
This offering is for if you have a standing meeting or event, you would like a certain coaching-related subject presented. These are generally 60min or less presentations and can be tailored to your needs.
Opportunity Coaching:
At UCAN, Opportunity Coaching is a coaching program designed to provide a valuable path for self-reflection, growth, and realignment. It is designed to support faculty when a pivot or change is needed - those who are experiencing stress, burnout, professional difficulties; those who need assistance aligning performance with work expectations and personal goals; or those who need assistance optimizing performance in teams. Our opportunity coaching program uses a proactive, supportive process aimed at fostering development and positive change. We welcome both self-referrals and referrals from leaders. We will require a pre-coaching conversation if a leader is requesting this service for a faculty member rather than themselves. Please press the "Request Coaching" button below to request Opportunity Coaching.
Tailored Events
If one of these descriptions is not quite fitting what you had in mind for coaching to aid in your area, contact us! We are flexible to hearing your ideas!
I believe that coaching has been monumental in my life. It gives a voice to otherwise just a thought in my head. And once said it is harder to ignore. Gives me the choice to continue to ignore or do something about it. And with the help of a coach what may seem impossible now has options.
