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This week in Philadelphia, Doug Wise, Corporate Director of Referral Development at Presbyterian Senior Living, was recognized at the LeadingAge Annual Meeting alongside fellow members of the 2026 cohort of the LeadingAge Larry Minnix Leadership Academy.
The Leadership Academy is a national program from LeadingAge, the association of nonprofit aging services providers. It is built to grow the leadership skills of professionals across aging services by drawing on each person’s natural strengths and authentic leadership style, regardless of title or years in the field.
The program is rooted in narrative identity: the idea that the stories we tell about ourselves shape how we lead. Fellows work through three areas:
- Leadership journey: reflecting on the experiences that shaped who they are as leaders
- Present self: understanding how their own story helps or limits the impact they want to have
- Imagined future: stepping into a bigger picture of the leader they are growing into
Along the way, fellows learn alongside a cohort of peers from across the country through open dialogue, small group discussion, and self-reflection.
“I was honored to be nominated and accepted into the program,” said Doug. “I love the residents who call, and will one day call, our communities home. Presbyterian Senior Living does it like no other, and I want to be part of leading PSL into the future. Our field is always changing and faces unique and rewarding challenges. Being in this program with leaders from around the country offered a unique perspective.”
Doug completed the Academy alongside his LeadingAge national team, the small group he worked with throughout the program and on their team project, and built lasting relationships with along the way.
In his role at PSL, Doug works alongside our teams to strengthen partnerships with hospitals, physicians, care managers, and community organizations. He also supports the sales and marketing team in enhancing our partnership engagement strategy, guided by a heart for helping older adults and families navigate their next steps and connect with PSL’s residential and care options.
As part of the Academy, each fellow completes both an individual project and a team project.
Doug’s individual project, “Establishing Realistic Expectations for New Residents,” builds on work he began earlier this year to revamp New Resident Orientation in Independent Living. The refreshed orientation introduces new residents to every facet of care on campus and the future decisions they may face, so those important conversations start early.
His team project focused on attracting a stronger workforce to senior living. Doug’s national team surveyed peers, professionals, and experts about what future generations are looking for and what changes are needed to build a stable workforce. They turned those findings into a presentation that generated a buzz about how the field can spark interest among its future workforce. It is a topic close to Doug’s heart.
“Many people say they ‘fell’ into senior living,” he said. “Younger adults aren’t saying, ‘I want to work in senior living.’ There isn’t a draw to our field yet. Exploring why that is, and how we can be changemakers, is very important. The rewarding nature of what we do needs to be shared so others want to experience it.”
Doug is already bringing what he learned back to PSL.
“Visiting communities across the country, being mentored by strong leaders, and looking for unique solutions is something I want to spread at PSL,” he said. “Advocating with our state and federal leaders has taken on new importance in my life. I want to champion that for PSL and get more people involved. I’ve seen it make a difference.”
“Seeing Doug graduate from the LeadingAge Leadership Academy was especially meaningful to me because I had the privilege of nominating and supporting him,” said Christine Holt, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at PSL. “I’m proud of his growth as a leader and the ideas, relationships and especially the perspective he brings back to PSL to help us better serve older adults and their families.”
PSL is proud to invest in leaders who carry our mission forward. As we approach our 100th anniversary in 2027, team members like Doug help shape what the next century of serving seniors will look like.
Congratulations, Doug!