Leadership Development Academy

Capstone Project Overview

Participants in the AACVPR Leadership Development Academy will develop a capstone project that addresses a significant issue or opportunity within their current or prospective rehabilitation program. The project will consist of identifying a significant issue within their program, and through application of course module content, develop a roadmap to address the identified challenge. The project should demonstrate a deep understanding of program management principles and their practical application. The capstone project will consist of the following key milestones:

Identify a Critical Program Challenge
Develop a Capstone Problem Statement
Complete the Capstone Roadmap
Complete the Mid-Course and Final Capstone Summary Reports

Select course participants will be invited to present a brief Capstone Summary Overview as a component of the AACVPR Leadership Development Academy breakout session during the 41st Annual Meeting held on September 30 to October 2, 2026, in San Antonio, Texas.

Identifying a Critical Program Challenge

To focus their capstone, participants will identify a Critical Program Challenge. This challenge should be a significant issue or opportunity within their current or prospective program. This challenge will serve as the foundation for their capstone roadmap. Throughout the Academy, participants will be asked to apply course concepts to address this challenge. Participants will submit their Critical Program Challenge for review by course directors.

The Critical Program Challenge should align with the course's core areas (financial management, quality improvement, human resource leadership, etc.) and offer a clear, measurable opportunity for improvement. Examples of challenges to address through the capstone project include:

Patient-Related Challenges
- Low patient adherence: Many patients struggle to maintain consistent participation in rehabilitation programs
- Patient education and self-management: Difficulty in effectively educating patients about their condition and managing their health at home
Program Management Challenges
- Reimbursement challenges: Navigating complex reimbursement systems and securing adequate funding
- Program utilization: Low enrollment and capacity issues
Quality Improvement Challenges
- Standardization of care: Ensuring consistency in treatment protocols and procedures across different programs
- Collaboration with other healthcare providers: Effective communication and coordination with other departments

Developing a Capstone Problem Statement

Once the Critical Program Challenge has been identified, participants will develop a Capstone Problem Statement. The purpose of the Capstone Problem Statement is to clearly and concisely define the Critical Program Challenge. It should accurately describe the problem, objectively highlight its significance (e.g., supported by data), and succinctly articulate why a solution is urgently needed, emphasizing the potential impact of inaction. The Capstone Problem Statement should be a concise 3-5 sentences, serving as the project’s “elevator pitch” to quickly convey the core issue and its importance. Participants will submit their Capstone Problem Statement for review by course directors.

Completing the Capstone Roadmap

Once the Capstone Problem Statement has been identified, participants will develop a roadmap outlining how they plan to address the challenge. The Capstone Roadmap will include the criteria listed below.

Capstone Project Roadmap Criteria

Problem Statement: A clear and concise definition of the challenge
Needs Assessment: Identification of root causes and contributing factors
Goal Setting: Specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals
Action Plan: Detailed steps to implement the proposed solution, including timelines, responsibilities, and resources
Evaluation Plan: Metrics to measure the effectiveness of the implemented plan
Implementation and Evaluation: Students should implement the improvement plan on a pilot basis and collect data to assess its impact. This phase will allow for adjustments and refinements to the plan

When developing the capstone project roadmap, participants can consider the below examples to address their Critical Program Challenge and incorporate into the Action Plan step above:

Financial Management: Develop a budget optimization plan to improve program profitability
Quality Improvement: Implement a patient satisfaction improvement initiative
Human Resource Leadership: Create a staff development plan to enhance employee engagement and retention
Patient Engagement: Develop a patient education program to improve adherence to treatment plans
Data Analysis: Utilize data to identify patterns in patient outcomes and inform program improvements

Project Methodology

Capstone projects may be research, design, or application based. Below are examples participants may consider as they assemble their course application and hone the capstone focus:

Research-Based Projects
- Empirical Study: Conduct original research to answer a specific research question
- Literature Review: Analyze existing research to identify gaps and contribute new insights
- Case Study: Explore a real-world problem or situation in depth
Design-Based Projects
- Product Development: Create a new product or service
- System Design: Develop a system or process to solve a problem
- Website or App Development: Build a digital solution
Application-Based Projects
- Community Engagement: Address a community need or issue
- Industry Collaboration: Partner with a local business or organization
- Internship or Co-op: Gain practical experience in a real-world setting

Completing the Mid-Year and Final Capstone Summary Reports

As part of the Academy, participants will complete two brief reflection reports. These reports will provide updates on roadmap development and offer insights into how the Academy has influenced the participant’s work and thinking. Instructions and examples will be provided to participants to help guide with the development of these reports.

Capstone Timeline

Below are the key dates for the capstone project:

Identification of a Critical Program Challenge (due January 12, 2026)
Development of a Capstone Problem Statement (due February 6, 2026)
Completion of a Mid-Course Report (due May 29, 2026)
Completion of a Final Summary Report and Capstone Roadmap (due July 31, 2026)

The Capstone Roadmap will be developed throughout the LEAD Academy course, allowing participants to apply concepts from program modules, pre-work activities, and cohort discussions as they establish a plan of work to address their identified critical program challenge. Academy Course Directors will hold two office hour sessions at key points during the course to answer questions and provide guidance on development of the Capstone Roadmap. Attendance at the office hours is optional but encouraged for additional support.

Capstone Evaluation

Capstone projects will be evaluated based upon the following criteria:

Completion of all project deliverables, including the mid-course and final summary reports by set deadlines.
Demonstrating an understanding of curriculum principles by the application of course materials to project scope.
Application of course director feedback, as appropriate.
The clarity and effectiveness of written reports.

Capstone Project Rubric

Learning Outcome	Not Proficient	Nearing Proficiency	Proficient	Mastery
Demonstrate skills of management and operations by addressing a cardiopulmonary rehabilitation challenge	No evidence of management and operation skills used to address a challenge	Limited evidence of management and operation skills used to address a challenge	Shows an understanding of management and operation skills used to address a challenge	Concrete evidence of management and operation skills used to address a challenge
Create and implement strategies for patient engagement, program improvement, and leveraging data for informed decision making	No evidence of creating and implementing strategies for patient engagement, program improvement, and leveraging data	Limited evidence of creating and implementing strategies for patient engagement, program improvement, and leveraging data	Shows an understanding of creating and implementing strategies for patient engagement, program improvement, and leveraging data	Concrete evidence of creating and implementing strategies for patient engagement, program improvement, and leveraging data
Demonstrate essential communication skills	No evidence of demonstrating essential communication skills	Limited evidence of demonstrating essential communication skills	Shows an understanding of demonstrating essential communication skills	Concrete evidence of demonstrating essential communication skills
Demonstrate strategies for personnel management and fostering a strong team dynamic	No evidence of demonstrating strategies for personnel management and fostering a strong team dynamic	Limited evidence of demonstrating strategies for personnel management and fostering a strong team dynamic	Shows an understanding of demonstrating strategies for personnel management and fostering a strong team dynamic	Concrete evidence of demonstrating strategies for personnel management and fostering a strong team dynamic
Completion of project deliverables: Critical Program Challenge Capstone Roadmap Mid-Course Report Final Summary Report	No completion of project deliverables	Partial completion of project deliverables	Completion of all project deliverables in a timely manner
Application of Course Director feedback	No evidence of applying Course Director feedback	Limited evidence of applying Course Director feedback	Shows an understanding of Course Director feedback	Concrete evidence of applying Course Director feedback
Format: Maximum 1000 words	Does not follow the instructed format		Does follow the instructed format

Return Home