The Value of Becoming a Capstone Leadership Institute Graduate
This past November, members of the WellLink GPO team attended the 2025 Capstone Forum in Myrtle Beach, SC. This event, designed to bring together Capstone members, supply chain experts, and suppliers to network, share actionable best practices, and strengthen collaboration, is an opportunity for our team to deepen our knowledge and deliver even greater value to the members and suppliers we serve.
The Forum also celebrated the graduation of a group of individuals from the Capstone Leadership Institute (CLI) program. These graduates are comprised of individuals dedicated to investing in their professional development, seeking to expand their knowledge in the advancement of quality healthcare, and gaining a better understanding of supply chain.
I am proud to share that I was among this distinguished group and am a 2025 graduate of the Capstone Leadership Institute.
What is The Capstone Leadership Institute?
The CLI program is an educational platform developed to empower, enable, and prepare future supply chain leaders. I welcomed the opportunity to participate in last year's program, and the experience far exceeded my expectations.
Through engaging, instructor-led courses, I was able to build upon my group purchasing knowledge, expand my understanding of the supply chain process, and gain new leadership skills.
Participating in over 20 courses, the CLI program provided a true deep dive into “all things supply chain,” even offering related courses in hospital operations, finance and business law, professional development, communication, and leadership.
CLI classes are delivered virtually and led by respected subject matter experts, allowing students to learn from some of the most experienced people in the healthcare supply chain industry.
While I felt every session was truly invaluable, I especially appreciated Dr. Li Ern Chen’s class that focused on the critical role supply chain plays in care delivery and the patient experience. A surgeon and one of North America’s top experts in value and clinical experience, her “quadruple aim” of leveraging supply chain to improve health, increase value, optimize patient experience, and restore joy in the work of the healthcare team was especially inspiring.
The professional development sessions led by Patrick Broos, director of supply chain at Valley Children’s Healthcare; Libby Cole, owner of Expand Coaching and Consulting; and Robert Granko, system executive director at Enterprise Pharmacy Services at UNC Health, were also highly impactful.
What Does it Take to Become a Capstone Leadership Institute Graduate?
All applicants to the CLI program must first complete 10 modules through the Capstone Learning Academy, covering topics such as reimbursement, purchasing, inventory, and sourcing capital equipment.
For the 2025 graduates, courses began in January, followed by a mid-term in May, and concluded with a final project in September.
Focusing on a solution to streamline processes including vendor consolidation, inventory tracking, workflow management and cost control, my final project consisted of successfully implementing a member’s utilization of SmartPO™, an all-in-one procurement platform offered through Premier.
Being able to actively work with classmates and instructors made the overall experience more meaningful and helped me grow personally and professionally beyond what I imagined.
How Being a CLI Graduate Can Impact WellLink GPO Members and Suppliers
Graduating from CLI is significantly more than just a personal accomplishment. Participating in the program has given me tremendous insight into the healthcare supply chain and provided a wealth of knowledge, strengthening the value I can deliver to members and suppliers.
The coursework has provided me with knowledge that I have been able to apply to my position in account management, better equipping me to serve as a key resource for my team as we support WellLink’s 28,000 members.
Moving forward, as I continue to partner with GPO members and suppliers, what I gained through the CLI program will help me better understand specific needs and navigate supply chain challenges as I provide a high level of account management that connects members to suppliers that best fit their organization’s goals.
If you work within the healthcare supply chain, the Capstone Leadership Institute offers an amazing chance to learn from industry experts and engage with others working in procurement within hospital systems.
You can learn more about the Capstone Leadership Institute’s education platform by visiting the Capstone Forum website and browsing the 2025 course syllabus.
