The impact of professional competencies and cultural legacy on medical leadership competencies with leadership style as a mediating variable

This study examines the influence of professional competencies and cultural legacy on medical leadership competencies, with leadership style as a mediating mechanism in a teaching hospital in Indonesia. A quantitative cross sectional design was used, with survey data collected from physicians in managerial or leadership roles at Rumah Sakit Universitas Kristen Indonesia between November 2025 and January 2026. Measurement items were adapted from established instruments and assessed using a six point Likert scale. Data were analyzed using PLS SEM with bootstrapping. The measurement model met validity and reliability criteria, with outer loadings above 0.70, AVE above 0.50, HTMT below 0.90, and reliability values exceeding 0.70. The structural model showed strong explanatory power with R² values of 0.774 for leadership style and 0.696 for medical leadership competencies, as well as high predictive relevance (Q² = 0.760 and 0.619). Professional competencies (β = 0.519, p < 0.001) and cultural legacy (β = 0.432, p < 0.001) significantly influenced leadership style. Leadership style strongly affected medical leadership competencies (β = 0.527, p < 0.001) and strengthened the effects of both variables. The findings highlight the central role of leadership style in developing effective medical leadership.