Abstract
This convergent parallel study explored factors that contribute to participant satisfaction of an online leadership development academy at a national physician company. Executives and company leaders recognized the importance of educating their leaders and established a virtual leadership academy (VLA) to offset the heavy cost-burden associated with in-person training, take advantage of the availability of new training modalities, and deliver relevant education to organizational leaders. A mixed-methods design used an online survey for quantitative research and a focus group of participants for qualitative research to determine if online learning was a satisfactory model for educating physician leaders. Analysis of both data strands suggested that physician leaders found an online, virtual academy a satisfying and acceptable way to learn and encouraged the continuation of the approach. The study also identified several design features which seemed to contribute to the participants’ satisfaction; these included relevant content, quality speakers, brevity, the use of video, and the inclusion of interactivity.