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Three years ago ADFM reported the need to develop an effective pipeline for family medicine department chairs.1 Prompting this report were results from our 2008 survey, in which nearly one-half (47%) of chairs reported a possible or probable change in departmental leadership in the next 3 years. One year later, our 2009 data indicated a more imminent turnover in chair positions with 52% chairs reporting plans to leave their positions within 2 to 5 years and 20% planning to leave within 2 years or less. Turnover in chair positions is not a new phenomenon. Since 2005, our data show that 10 to 15 new chairs (interim and permanent) have come into ADFM each year, and the trend has accelerated this past year as 19 new family medicine chairs joined ADFM between February 2011 and February 2012. In response to the chair pipeline concern raised in 2008, ADFM launched the ADFM fellowship program. The ADFM fellowship is a 1-year program designed for family physicians who aspire to become a chair in the near future. Since 2009 13 fellows have completed the ADFM fellowship, 6 of whom (46%) have assumed chair positions. There are 3 additional fellows in our current 2012–2013 class, and we will be recruiting for a new class of fellows in the fall of 2012 for the 2013–2014 fellowship class. Below is a description of the program and application process. Curriculum components of the ADFM fellowship include: Attendance at 2 consecutive ADFM Annual Winter Meetings. Annual ADFM Winter meetings are in February and run from the opening reception on Wednesday evening through Saturday at noon. The 2013 winter meeting is scheduled for February 20–23, 2013 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The 2014 winter meeting has not been scheduled yet but the time-frame will be similar. Attendance at 1 ADFM Fall Meeting in conjunction with the AAMC annual meeting. In 2013, this meeting will be in early November in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Assignment to a faculty advisor who will work one-on-one with each fellow to help guide them through the fellowship. Participation on the ADFM Chairs’ list-serve for the duration of the fellowship. List-serve participation allows fellows to learn about potential chair opportunities and about the many issues facing chairs in their everyday jobs. Meetings with other fellows and assigned advisors (as scheduled) during the ADFM Annual Winter Meeting to review together all fellows’ learning needs (including but not limited to the CV review) and educational plans for the year Fellowship projects. In consultation with her/his department chair, the fellow will select a project aimed at increasing the fellow’s skills in an area of interest that also benefits the department. A fellowship application must include: Current curriculum vitae Title of your fellowship project Letter from the chair of your department supporting your aspirations of becoming a department chair and including a statement of: (1) willingness to support the cost of your participation in the fellowship; (2) support of the fellow’s year-long participation on the ADFM List-serve; and (3) support of your fellowship project. If you are not from an ADFM member department, a letter from a current ADFM member chair is required. Personal statement regarding aspirations to become a chair (suggested length is 1 to 2 pages). In the personal statement provide an anecdote or describe an event that illustrates your ability to successfully lead a department of family medicine. If you already have a mentor who is a chair of a family medicine department (other than your own department chair) and would like to have that person continue to mentor you in the ADFM fellowship, please provide the name of that mentor. The cost of the program is registration for and travel to the 2 ADFM winter meetings and travel to the ADFM fall meeting held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Association of American Medical Colleges. Applications will be reviewed by the ADFM executive committee and the ADFM fellowship co-directors. Applicants are notified by late November regarding acceptance into the 2013–2014 ADFM fellowship program. Criteria which are considered in reviewing applications include: Complete application packet Associate Professor or higher rank Involvement in each mission: education, clinical, research/scholarship (and administration) Evidence of being prepared for leadership role within dept/institution and outside institution MD, DO, or PhD with clinical practice in family medicine If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact either of us or Ardis Davis, MSW, Executive Director, ADFM (moc.loa@3827dsidra; 425-423-0922).