When brothers Dr Faraz Syed and Dr Adil Syed decided to pursue RACMA’s Leadership for Clinicians Program, they brought different perspectives but shared a common goal: to drive meaningful change in health systems. Now, as newly conferred Associate Fellows, they reflect on how the Program has transformed their approach to health leadership.

For Faraz, a specialist anaesthetist and service director, the Leadership for Clinicians Program was the perfect way to consolidate learning from his London School of Economics and Political Science Masters in Health Economics, Policy and Management. “I liked that it was particularly geared for what we do day-to-day in the Australian hospital setting,” he explains.

Adil’s path was shaped by COVID. As a physician-in-training with a long-standing interest in health systems, the pandemic was his catalyst. “It really changed my mindset from ‘how can I be involved in service improvement’ to ‘how can I actually drive changes in quality assurance, governance and health safety.'”

Shared Frameworks and Immediate Value

Both brothers agree that the Program creates a common language across the profession. “It provides you with shared mental models and frameworks,” Faraz notes. “All across medical leadership, you’ll find the same common language, which I think is vital.”

The Program’s breadth is one of its greatest strengths. “Whether your core responsibility is budgeting, or you’re interested in leadership styles, it’s all covered,” Adil explains. “The breadth is wonderful.”

The AFRACMA post nominal brings value beyond the individual. “As soon as someone in management sees the AFRACMA next to your name, they have immediate reassurance,” Faraz points out. “They know you’ve been through a rigorous program and have a very good handle on foundational medical leadership knowledge.”

Bridging Two Worlds

Perhaps the program’s most significant achievement is bringing clinicians and administrators together – creating leaders who understand both perspectives. Adil admits, “When I was an intern, I was guilty of that ‘us and them’ mentality – perceiving medical leadership in their ivory tower being disconnected from ground realities. But the more exposure and training you get, you realise that the distance between decisions made in executive meetings and their impact on the patient in the bed – it’s not that far away.”

This understanding transforms how clinicians approach problems. “You see the reasons why those decisions are made, and the challenges underpinning them,” Adil explains. The shift from passive observer to active problem-solver becomes natural. “The Program shifted my thinking from ‘surely there’s a better way’ to ‘how can I actually improve this?'” he says. “It teaches you to ask that question and gives you the tools to do something about it.”

This sense of personal agency is fundamental to Adil’s philosophy of patient safety. “Strong clinical governance is everyone’s responsibility. Safety starts with all of us, regardless of seniority. Good processes working well relies on everyone involved with patient care. You don’t have to wait until you’re a consultant to make a difference.”

The program equips participants to identify gaps and act on them. “It teaches you the language as well as how to interact with stakeholders and how to present a business case to divisional leadership. Those skills are foundational.”

Having doctors on staff with an AFRACMA also empowers clinical departments to better engage with quality and safety improvement. “When people realise that they already have the capability within the unit, the threshold to embarking on making that positive difference becomes a lot lower.”

Beyond skills and frameworks, the Associate Fellow community provides support to each other across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. “When you encounter a problem that seems unique or new to your service, – once you reach out to your network, you realise that most problems have been faced by others,” Faraz explains.

A Means to a Beginning

While both brothers are interested in pursuing FRACMA fellowship eventually, they’re currently balancing their clinical roles with leadership positions and family life. For doctors considering the program, they agree it is highly worthwhile.

“As a participant, the more you put into this Program, the more you get out of it, which is a credit to the Program’s structure and its faculty,” Faraz notes.

Adil adds: “The Leadership for Clinicians program is not a means to an end – it’s a means to a beginning.”

As these brothers continue their leadership journeys, the foundations laid by the program will shape how they drive positive change in healthcare – one process, one project, one patient at a time.

RACMA’s 2026 Leadership for Clinicians Program is open for applications.

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