Change Maker Accelerator Frequently Asked Questions
Browse the topics below to find answers to commonly asked questions about Change Maker Accelerators and the Accelerator application and selection process.
What is the estimated time commitment required of Accelerators?
Accelerators are expected to actively participate in:
- Monthly one-hour virtual coaching sessions
[Coaching sessions are candid, small group discussions facilitated by experienced well-being leaders.]
- Quarterly joint learning sessions
[Joint Learning Sessions are opportunities for the full cohort to convene for cross-learning on successes and surface shared challenges to their well-being work.] - Quarterly dashboard updates to track their organization’s well-being activities and progress
- 2 hybrid Collaborative-wide meetings per year, with opportunities for Accelerator retreats and closed sessions
How long is the Accelerator cohort commitment?
Accelerator activities begin early each year and run through the end of the calendar year.
Is there a cost associated with participating as a Change Maker Accelerator?
No – there is no cost to apply or participate.
Is funding available for Accelerators?
The NAM does not provide funding to support organizations’ well-being initiatives or participation as a member of the Change Maker Accelerator program.
Most Accelerator activities (e.g., coaching sessions, dashboard entries) are completed virtually. However, funding may be available as needed to support attendance at in-person Collaborative meetings (approximately twice a year).
Are Accelerators required to report data under all 7 National Plan Priority Areas?
No – the NAM recognizes that organizations vary in their missions, focus areas, structures, and stages of their well-being journeys, and Accelerators are not expected to advance or report activities across all 7 Priority Areas.
All Accelerators are encouraged to track activities related to Priority Area 6 (Institutionalize well-being as a long-term value), which provides a shared reference point across the cohort. Beyond Priority Area 6, Accelerators identify and track the Priority Areas most relevant to their organization’s well-being efforts and goals.
In a past cohort, each Accelerator inputted data for at least 3 initiatives, with a median of 10 initiatives. Some organizations tracked up to 69 initiatives, though your bandwidth to consistently report details about the implementation process matters more than the number of initiatives in your portfolio.
Learn more about the National Plan for Health Workforce Well-Being.
Is it mandatory to report my organization’s data? How does the NAM use our data?
Yes – all Accelerators are required to provide quarterly updates through the Accelerator dashboard. These data allow the NAM to track activities and progress related to implementation of the National Plan for Health Workforce Well-Being and identify common trends and gaps across the cohort. Aggregated findings may also inform publications and other products to help advance the field.
During coaching calls, de-identified data and common themes may be shared to support peer learning. The NAM seeks permission before identifying an organization or asking Accelerators to share specific examples through coaching sessions or public-facing activities (e.g., Change Maker in Action webinars).
Accelerators may also choose to share additional details about their initiatives to support cross-learning and provide practical examples that other organizations can adapt to their own contexts.
What type of data are expected from Accelerators?
The dashboard collects both quantitative and qualitative data about organizations’ well-being activities and progress. Accelerators determine what information to report about their well-being efforts and define the measures and outcomes most relevant to their work. The NAM does not require organizations to report on specific outcomes or use standardized measures.
How secure is my data shared in the Accelerator dashboard?
Data security and privacy are very important to the NAM. The NAM uses VisionSync, a cloud-based tool that employs industry-standard data security and privacy protection measures. Each organization can access only its own data and can download reports for internal use at any time.
NAM staff, as system administrators, have access to Accelerator organizations’ data to provide technical support, analyze trends across the cohort, and facilitate shared learning. Data and trends shared across the cohort are deidentified unless an organization has agreed to be identified.
How many people from my organization can participate in the coaching sessions, dashboard entry, and other Accelerator activities?
Organizations typically designate up to two individuals to participate in the Accelerator program and can determine internally how they coordinate responsibilities and attendance at meetings.
Additional representatives from participating organizations may join coaching sessions, but dashboard access is limited to two user accounts per organization.
What opportunities exist for Accelerators to continue to engage with the NAM following their participation in the program?
Change Maker Accelerators become part of the Accelerator Alumni network following their graduation from the program. As the network grows with each cohort, there are emerging opportunities for connection, learning, and research collaboration among alumni at both NAM convenings and industry conferences like the American and International Conference for Physician Health. Additionally, graduated Accelerators’ institutions become part of the broader Change Maker community, with continued access to Change Maker resources and participation in events such as the Change Maker in Action Webinar series. The NAM team remains committed to engaging with Accelerator Alumni to help reinforce the sustainability of their well-being portfolios and identify potential areas for synergy.
