top of page

About Physician Leader Group

Physician Leader Group (PLG) is a multidisciplinary coaching and consulting group founded by Ashley Wendel, M.A. We are dedicated to building effective clinician leaders that can engage with their colleagues to transform healthcare.

 

PLG has a core group of Strategic Partners with whom we collaborate, that bring deep expertise in healthcare delivery, physician culture, individual and team coaching, change management, organizational design and development, educational design and delivery, and human performance. 

​

As a Consultant, Ashley applies many of the human performance and change management principles she practiced while a consultant for Accenture, and combines that with her deep expertise in physician leadership and the healthcare ecosystem. She successfully works with healthcare organizations across the sector - from nonprofit, to private, public, and academic - to engage with their clinicians to identify challenges, create shared vision and build sustainable solutions that align with the organization’s strategic goals, enhance integration of care, and reduce clinician burnout.

20170610_132051 (2)_edited.jpg

As an expert in clinician leadership development, Ashley has spent the last 15 years developing and facilitating clinician leadership programs that have helped organizations build their clinician leader capacity to positively influence the culture and practice of care delivery in their organizations. Hundreds of physicians and other advanced practice clinicians have been through Ashley’s programs around the country, and have benefited from her expertise and her engaging, and keen desire to help build their leadership skills.

As national Speaker, Ashley has delivered engaging talks and keynotes to a variety of clincian audiences around the country, drawing on her extensive expertise in leadership development, emotional intelligence, team performance, system and team diagnostics, change leadership, trust and influence, and clinician resilience, among other areas.

20231019_110111.jpg

Select Client Results:

  • Since 2012, Ashley has partnered with Sutter Health to develop and deliver their flagship 4-day physician leadership development program, which has won Sutter a national “Top 10 Physician Leadership Programs” from the NCHL (2016). To-date, 24 cohorts of physicians and APPs (~725 participants) have been through the ever-evolving program. With other key Sutter Affiliates (Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group and Sutter Medical Group Sacramento) Ashley has also developed Leadership Retreats, Alumni Workshops, and the “Leader As Coach” program, which has had 9 cohorts of clinicians (~ 270 participants to-date) since its launch in 2020.
     

  • Ashley recently coached a physician leader acting as the VP Operations of Primary Care for a large, California-based health system. Over a year’s engagement, Ashley conducted a thorough 360 evaluation and advised this leader on building her skill in influence, communication and improving her strategic visibility within the organization. At the conclusion of the coaching engagement, this client was elevated to Chief Medical Officer.
     

  • Ashley conducted a 1-year clinical team intervention for Sound Physicians, coaching the Chief and working with a team of 26 Hospitalists in Virginia, to improve leader effectiveness, team cohesion and performance. Through a process of diagnostics, team engagement, group working sessions and hands-on project work, Ashley was able to guide these clinicians to improved working dynamics/morale, better performance metrics (i.e., improved LOS and HCAHPS), and decreased turnover.
     

  • Over a multi-year relationship, Ashley worked with senior executives of a regional health system in the Southeast to implement a successful physician leadership strategy. After a thorough needs assessment, Ashley worked with organization to clearly define and implement their physician engagement strategy, including the development of a Physician Advisory Council and roll-out of a Regional Leadership Involvement Strategy. She collaborated with them to create the physician leadership development pathway and develop their foundational leadership program, which launched in 2017. Engaged physician leaders went on to lead critical, strategic change efforts.

Education & Accreditations:

  • Masters in Clinical Psychology (M.A.), UC San Diego/SDSU; Specialization in Behavioral Medicine

  • B.A., Psychology, University of Alberta (Canada)

  • Certified Master Coach (ICF)

  • Certified Physician Development Coach (ICF)

  • Certified in Hogan Assessment Administration

  • Trained psychometrist (DiSC, 5 Dynamics, TKI, other)

Professional Experience:

  • Founder & Principal, Physician Leader Group (PLG)

  • Advisor, J3P Health

  • Principal, Center for Physician Leadership (CPL)

  • VP of the Board, Behavioral Diabetes Institute

  • Principal Consultant, awendel consulting group

  • Senior Organization and Human Performance Consultant, Accenture

About Physician Leader Group's Founder and Principal,

Ashley Wendel, M.A.

​

Ashley has spent the last 17 years working with physician leaders and healthcare teams to develop higher levels of engagement, performance, and wellbeing.

 

As a 1:1 Coach/Advisor, Ashley works with physician leaders to build their core skills in communication, team leadership, conflict resolution, Emotional Intelligence, influence, and expert management of change. She has worked with physicians at    all levels of leadership, from Department Chair / Medical Director to Chief Medical Officer and CEO. Through her successfully proven coaching/advising process and her unique style, Ashley has helped physician leaders across the country identify their challenges, crystallize their goals, and make actionable progress towards personal and professional growth.

​​

Ashley3 (1).jpg
bottom of page