Facilitator Reflections on Shared Expertise and Adaptive Leadership in ECHO Autism

Facilitators of an Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) Autism: Center Engagement program developed a writing exercise to prospectively analyze their experience leading the curriculum. The program promotes improvement in autism care by enhancing the management of autism care centers. An analysis of the longitudinal reflective writing exercises from seven "Hub Team" facilitators yielded three central themes: "shared learning," or reciprocal exchange with Spoke sites; awareness of facilitators' engagement styles; and fostering of an "all teach, all learn" interactional style. The shared learning environment cultivated by the ECHO Autism: Center Engagement facilitators recognized the expertise of both facilitators and participants. "These findings are pertinent for scholars of continuing education in health professions who lead educational programs where participants and facilitators have high levels of overlap in their areas of expertise and years of experience," the authors conclude.

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