Academics | Executive and Continuing Professional Education | Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Programs

Leadership Development for Physicians
- October 23, 2022 – November 4, 2022
- October 1 – 13, 2023
- October 22, 2023 – November 3, 2023
Leadership Development for Physicians in Academic Health Centers brings together physicians in administrative positions in academic health centers, who lead a clinical division and report directly to the chair of their department, for intensive and systematic study of the critical leadership and management issues facing academic health centers.
Leadership Development to Advance Equity in Health Care
- November 1 – 4, 2022
Traditional medical education lacks training on how the health care system is influenced by racism and how outdated policies perpetuate disparities. This program will teach you how to confront and remediate unfair practices and advance health equity in your community or practice.
AI for Health CareConcepts and Applications
- January 17 – 20, 2023
The health care industry is in a productivity crisis. For the last half century, technology, agriculture and manufacturing corporations have outpaced health care’s innovation. However, today artificial intelligence offers a tool that can help medical doctors, administrators and other stakeholders break out of this crisis. This is where AI for Health Care: Concepts and Applications comes in.
Program for Chairs of Clinical Services
- January 22, 2023 – February 3, 2023
The Program for Chairs of Clinical Services brings together chairs of major clinical departments in teaching hospitals for intensive and systematic study of the critical leadership and management issues facing chairs, their departments, and teaching hospitals.
Conflict, Feedback, and Negotiation for Physician Leaders
- February 15 – 17, 2023
Increase your competence as a physician leader in the critical management areas of navigating conflict, providing feedback, and skillfully approaching negotiations.
Leadership Strategies for Evolving Health Care Executives
- April 3 – 7, 2023
Develop the health care leadership skills you need to achieve individual and organizational objectives. You will gain skills to lead more effectively, including conflict resolution, operational analysis, employee management, and quality management.
Women on BoardsGetting On and Adding Value
- April 27 – 28, 2023
This program will put you on the path towards attaining a board position in health care and related industries. You will gain the competencies you need to succeed at being a first-rate board member, prepare for the challenges you will face, and gain direction, tools, and approaches for attaining a seat on a board of directors.
Foundations of Mental Health Care
- May 2, 2023 – June 1, 2023
This program will focus on understanding the mental health needs of diverse populations, across the life course, from relatively healthy to those who are ill, and from vulnerable groups to the privileged.
Leading in Health SystemsActivating Transformational Change
- June 7 – 9, 2023
Initiate and implement change in health care by leveraging meta-leadership. You will explore both meta-leadership concepts and the ‘Walk in the Woods’ methodology, a proven method for interest-based negotiation.
Emerging Women Executives in Health Care
- June 19 – 22, 2023
This leadership development program focused on women provides you with the skills to lead complex health care organizations. Participating in this course will help you bridge the gaps in your understanding, strategies, and skills, and prepare you for the next stage in your career.
Health Care Project ManagementThe Intersection of Strategy, People, and Process
- July 19 – 21, 2023
This program drives meaningful growth in project leadership abilities for clinicians, administrators and operations professionals in health care settings. It covers project leadership, assessment, planning, initiation, execution, quality control, team-building, management, conflict resolution and communication with stakeholders.
Applied Artificial Intelligence for Health Care
Health Care Financial Management for Physician Leaders
Preparing for What’s Next in U.S. Health Reform
The International Leadership Development Program for Physicians
Measurement, Design, and Analysis Methods for Health Outcomes Research
Principles and Practice of Clinical Research

News & Resources

How Organizations Can Make Better Use of Limited Resources for More Effective Mental Health Services

It’s a well-known fact that, even in high-income countries like the United States, mental health resources are insufficient to address the overall mental health need. Waiting time to see a mental health specialist is usually from several weeks to several months. In practice, this means that there are fewer specialists able to see potential and … Continue reading “How Organizations Can Make Better Use of Limited Resources for More Effective Mental Health Services”

Posted on September 20, 2022
The Importance of Getting the Message Right in Your Risk Communication Strategy

Over the past few years, traditional and online news outlets and social media channels have been filled with information about COVID-19—and much of it has been misleading, inaccurate, or incomplete. This has made it challenging for members of the public to make educated decisions about how to protect their own health: from deciding whether to … Continue reading “The Importance of Getting the Message Right in Your Risk Communication Strategy”

Posted on July 26, 2022
Approaching Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Through a Future-Oriented Lens

Recent social justice movements (Black Lives Matter, #MeToo and the Women’s March, Stop AAPI Hate, and others) have spotlighted the need for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) across all facets of our society. The workplace is no exception; even though DEI initiatives have been around in some form since the 1960s, in the months and … Continue reading “Approaching Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Through a Future-Oriented Lens”

Posted on June 22, 2022
It’s More Important Than Ever for Physician Leaders to Develop Financial Literacy—Here’s How to Start

Financial literacy will always be an important skill for a physician leader. But now, because of the ongoing challenges of COVID-19 and the unique demands it imposes on budgets, the skill set is even more critical. Understanding how resources are allocated and how to negotiate and self-advocate during financial discussions has never been more important. … Continue reading “It’s More Important Than Ever for Physician Leaders to Develop Financial Literacy—Here’s How to Start”

Posted on December 14, 2021
The Art of Managing Conflict and Cultivating Influence as Health Care Leaders

It’s a stereotype with a grain of truth: leaders are often promoted for past performance, not future potential. That notion certainly rings true in health care, considering how many clinicians are regularly promoted to positions of leadership because of their clinical skills. When things don’t work out, though, it’s less often about their clinical performance … Continue reading “The Art of Managing Conflict and Cultivating Influence as Health Care Leaders”

Posted on December 14, 2021
Risk Analysis in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Weighing the Cost and Benefits of Vaccines and Masks

Every single day, people take risks. They drive in cars and fly in airplanes, expose themselves to environmental pollution and so much more. While some of these public health risks are so integrated into our lives that we’ve stopped worrying about them, other risks—such as engaging in activities that increase your likelihood of contracting COVID-19—can … Continue reading “Risk Analysis in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Weighing the Cost and Benefits of Vaccines and Masks”

Posted on November 7, 2021
Change Management: Why It’s So Important, and So Challenging, in Health Care Environments

Medical professionals excel at finding solutions in patient care. “We are great at coming up with the ‘next big thing’: we have brilliant people who are at the front lines of innovation,” says Louise Keogh Weed, program director of the Leadership Strategies for Evolving Health Care Executives program and a practice transformation specialist at the … Continue reading “Change Management: Why It’s So Important, and So Challenging, in Health Care Environments”

Posted on September 20, 2021
How Do You Communicate Uncertainty and Promote Public Health — During COVID-19 and Beyond?

Despite a vast amount of research, there are many aspects of COVID-19 that continue to be perplexing. From the more transmissible variants of the virus to the necessity of mask-wearing after vaccination, the protocols of the pandemic continue to evolve — and inherent uncertainty about the virus will continue. Even when officials delivering information are … Continue reading “How Do You Communicate Uncertainty and Promote Public Health — During COVID-19 and Beyond?”

Posted on July 20, 2021
How to Build—And Lead—Resilient Health Care Teams During COVID-19

Health care workers currently face challenges that are more intense than usual during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The medical field is no stranger to crises, but COVID-19 has caused, in many cases, a profoundly heightened environment — extending not just to the professional but to the personal lives of employees, leaders, partners, and patients. “It’s … Continue reading “How to Build—And Lead—Resilient Health Care Teams During COVID-19”

Posted on September 21, 2020
The Unique Challenges – and Opportunities – Facing Leaders of Academic Health Centers During COVID-19

Academic health systems routinely test their disaster preparedness—but nothing has fully prepared organizations for the public health crisis of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, explains Mary Finlay, lecturer in the Department of Health Policy & Management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and program director of the Leadership Development for Physicians in Academic … Continue reading “The Unique Challenges – and Opportunities – Facing Leaders of Academic Health Centers During COVID-19”

Posted on May 21, 2020
The Importance of Meta-Leadership During the COVID-19 Crisis

The unprecedented worldwide crisis spawned by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) makes leading in health care more challenging than ever. Executives face the stress and consequences of a pandemic on top of the tumult of an unsettled marketplace. The concepts and tools of meta-leadership help those leaders reframe adversity. It is an opportunity for building … Continue reading “The Importance of Meta-Leadership During the COVID-19 Crisis”

Posted on May 7, 2020
Transform Your Health Care Organization with Quality Improvement Skills

Physician leaders who work in a variety of health care settings all around the world face similar challenges — from managing staff members to improving financial performance — in order to lead their organizations to success. They also require a deep understanding of the science of quality improvement, which is a framework used to improve … Continue reading “Transform Your Health Care Organization with Quality Improvement Skills”

Posted on January 16, 2020
Putting the Drug Debate into Context: the State of Pharmaceutical Cost Reform in the U.S.

U.S. medical care has experienced huge and unsustainable spending increases—especially in drug prices—for decades. Under the Affordable Care Act, the Obama administration accelerated the value-based care movement to address key spending categories such as hospital and physician care. Value-based purchasing seeks to reduce spending by improving quality and efficiency to address unnecessary costs. Most stakeholders … Continue reading “Putting the Drug Debate into Context: the State of Pharmaceutical Cost Reform in the U.S.”

Posted on January 8, 2020
Friction on the Board: How to Deal with Challenging Power Dynamics as a Female Board Member

Serving on a for-profit or not-for-profit board can be quite fulfilling. However, obtaining a board position can be challenging, especially for women. Currently, more than 80% of seats on corporate boards are occupied by men. Merely attaining a board seat is not the only hurdle. Being a director can bring its own set of unique … Continue reading “Friction on the Board: How to Deal with Challenging Power Dynamics as a Female Board Member”

Posted on May 16, 2019
The Path to Effective Health Care Project Management

At its core, effective health care centers around human health and life—so, working in a health care field means making life-changing decisions. Unfortunately, the industry is unique not just for the higher stakes, but also for its unpredictability and complexity. Different industries, professionals, and project management styles conjoin, often inefficiently, and professionals must fight for … Continue reading “The Path to Effective Health Care Project Management”

Posted on April 24, 2019
The Knowns and Unknowns of Health Care Meta-Leadership

The state of health care in this country could best be described as predictably unpredictable. The future of the Affordable Care Act—and the financing that underlies it—is open for question. Evolving technology challenges health care organizations both to keep up and to stay smart in how they adapt to new opportunities and capabilities. And the … Continue reading “The Knowns and Unknowns of Health Care Meta-Leadership”

Posted on April 3, 2019
Why Evolving Health Care Leaders Can Benefit from Stronger Management and Strategy Skills

Do you work in health care? Do you have leadership aspirations? If so, you’ll need to develop your strategy and management skills right now. That’s because in today’s rapidly changing marketplace, employees at all levels must be equipped with a much more diverse set of strengths than in the past. They need to adapt to … Continue reading “Why Evolving Health Care Leaders Can Benefit from Stronger Management and Strategy Skills”

Posted on October 22, 2018
Why Building Your Brand Is Essential to Leveraging Project Management Opportunities in Health Care

In today’s tumultuous health care landscape, there is a growing need for project managers who demonstrate key skill sets to lead their organizations for success, according to Karen Curley, Instructor in the Division of Policy Translation and Leadership Development at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She also serves as the Program Director … Continue reading “Why Building Your Brand Is Essential to Leveraging Project Management Opportunities in Health Care”

Posted on June 7, 2018
From Physician to Physician Leader: Developing Your Skills for Success

As academic health centers are challenged by the dynamic health care environment, they must find ways to adapt in order to thrive. This has resulted in the growing trend of bringing physicians into leadership roles with the goal of introducing change and setting new directions for the institution. Physician leaders ranging from department chairs to … Continue reading “From Physician to Physician Leader: Developing Your Skills for Success”

Posted on May 24, 2018
Exploring the Challenges Facing Women Leaders in Health Care

If you’re a woman executive working in today’s complex health care setting, you likely face many challenges on the job that make it difficult to advance your career to the next stage. That’s because women in leadership roles often meet resistance when they try to assert their authority or demonstrate the same management traits that … Continue reading “Exploring the Challenges Facing Women Leaders in Health Care”

Posted on March 28, 2018
Leading Through the Complexity of Health Care Change

Health system leaders now face numerous challenges in guiding their organizations: Reimbursement is in question as the health policy debate ebbs and flows. The market is becoming increasingly consolidated and competitive. Technology provides tremendous opportunities along with significant costs and risks. In this ambiguous mix, decisions must be reached. Practices must evolve. And emotions come … Continue reading “Leading Through the Complexity of Health Care Change”

Posted on March 15, 2018
How Networking Can Help Women Secure Board Seats

If you are a woman whose career aspirations include securing a seat at the boardroom table, it’s important to hone your networking skills. This is because your professional contacts may lead you to those coveted board opportunities that best match your experience and skills, according to Ellen Zane, a nationally known health care expert and … Continue reading “How Networking Can Help Women Secure Board Seats”

Posted on November 1, 2017
How to Transform Employee Resistance through Team Building and Training

Teamwork is crucial to an organization’s ongoing success. When management runs smoothly, employees tend to enjoy their jobs, exhibit greater passion for their work, and collaborate more intelligently to positively shape their industry year after year. But when an organization is run by inefficient management who regularly causes day-to-day, or even hour-by-hour, workplace challenges that … Continue reading “How to Transform Employee Resistance through Team Building and Training”

Posted on September 20, 2017
Universal Challenges for Physician Leaders

To learn more about the unprecedented challenges facing physician leaders all over the globe, we spoke with Laurie Pascal, lecturer in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Director Cindy Hupke. They serve as co-directors for the International Leadership Development … Continue reading “Universal Challenges for Physician Leaders”

Posted on September 13, 2017
The Value of Applying Health Outcomes Research to Improve Treatment Results

With mounting pressure on health care organizations to provide high-quality care while containing costs, there’s been an increasing reliance on using health outcomes research to identify the most effective interventions and incorporate them into clinical practice. As such, health outcomes research can provide a valuable resource to help clinicians make strategic treatment choices that will … Continue reading “The Value of Applying Health Outcomes Research to Improve Treatment Results”

Posted on August 8, 2017
Exploring the Next Phase of Health Care Reform: How Health Care Leaders Can Position Their Organizations for Success

These are uncertain times in American health care. The Republican Congress and President Trump have vowed to repeal and replace the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), commonly called Obamacare. They recently unveiled the American Health Care Act, the replacement plan, which has met with substantial resistance from all parts of the political spectrum. … Continue reading “Exploring the Next Phase of Health Care Reform: How Health Care Leaders Can Position Their Organizations for Success”

Posted on March 24, 2017
Leading Health Care Through Unpredictable Times

Health care leaders now face a perplexing mix of puzzles. With a political push to repeal and possibly replace Obamacare – more accurately the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act or ACA – the financial, service delivery, and workforce foundations of the health system are in question. It is true that managing the current operations … Continue reading “Leading Health Care Through Unpredictable Times”

Posted on February 24, 2017
Measuring Up: The Need to Incorporate Key Nursing Indicators in Electronic Health Records

One of the key developments resulting from health care reform is a growing reliance on using “big data” to guide health care systems’ efforts to deliver high-quality, cost-effective care. This trend explains why increasingly many organizations are employing Electronic Health Records (EHR) as a way to track measurable indicators of patient care and outcomes, as … Continue reading “Measuring Up: The Need to Incorporate Key Nursing Indicators in Electronic Health Records”

Posted on October 27, 2016
Improving Patient Experience and Reducing Cost by Measuring Outcomes

In the climate of health care reform, much attention has been paid to the Triple Aim of improving population health, reducing costs, and improving patient experience. The goals of the Triple Aim framework, which was developed by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, are complex and challenging, but become less so when broken into smaller goals … Continue reading “Improving Patient Experience and Reducing Cost by Measuring Outcomes”

Posted on September 20, 2016
Vaccinating Against an Epidemic: The Story of an Ebola Vaccine

In August 2014, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak then raging in West Africa a “public health emergency of international concern,” a formal designation by the WHO’s Emergency Committee that reflects the fact that the disease was spreading internationally and posed a risk to other countries yet unaffected. By the time the … Continue reading “Vaccinating Against an Epidemic: The Story of an Ebola Vaccine”

Posted on July 21, 2016
Why Diversity Matters: Women on Boards of Directors

Having an effective board of directors is crucial to an organization. Even if the average person might not be able to name an organization’s board members, they have a strong impact on how an organization runs, makes decisions, and ultimately, on its success. This is particularly true in the health care, biotech, and pharmaceutical spaces, … Continue reading “Why Diversity Matters: Women on Boards of Directors”

Posted on July 21, 2016
Snapshot of the American Pharmaceutical Industry

The passage of the Affordable Care Act has been profitable for pharmaceutical companies in the U.S., with more Americans now having access to prescription drugs. But as this article explores, there are many complexities inherent in the drug industry that need to be addressed moving forward.

Posted on July 14, 2016
Tuberculosis in Rural America: What Tuberculosis in Marion, AL Tells Us

Many factors could be blamed for the spread of tuberculosis in a rural Alabama town earlier this year, including its residents’ fears of being stigmatized in a small town, poverty line, and the legacy of the Tuskegee experiments.

Posted on March 28, 2016
Leadership Development (Infographic)

How do leaders become leaders? While some people still think leadership is an innate capacity, there is strong evidence that leaders develop over time through experience. Beyond experience, leadership development programs—including executive education courses, mentoring, internal educational offerings, and coaching—are a proven method for developing leadership capacity. Continue reading to find out how leadership development … Continue reading “Leadership Development (Infographic)”

Posted on February 25, 2016
8 Healthcare Quality Improvement Tips

There have been promising improvements in healthcare quality as a result of improvement efforts nationwide. Even so, there is still much to be done. This article offers 8 tips to improve quality in health care.

Posted on February 18, 2016
How Health Care Executives Can Use Health Outcomes Research for Business Decision Making

Health outcomes studies can offer a lot of benefit for health care delivery organizations that utilize them for business decision-making. This article explores how health outcomes studies can be used to improve organizational performance.

Posted on December 22, 2015
An Update on United States Healthcare Quality Improvement Efforts

The National Strategy for Quality Improvement in Health Care was created in 2011 to guide national quality improvement efforts. This article provides an update on these efforts, five years later.

Posted on December 22, 2015
A Primer on Project Management for Health Care

Project management has emerged as one of the most prominent business skills of our time because its use can help control costs, reduce risk, and improve outcomes. Used across disciplines, project management is the process of systematically planning, organizing, and then executing a pre-determined set of steps in order to maximize resource use and achieve … Continue reading “A Primer on Project Management for Health Care”

Posted on December 17, 2015
Using Health Outcomes Research to Improve Quality of Care

Health outcomes research looks at the impact of different care models on health and provides guidance clinicians and hospital executives can use to make better decisions. This article provides an introduction to health outcomes research.

Posted on December 17, 2015
Leading Outside Your Authority

When most people think of being a leader, they think of guiding and influencing those over whom they have direct authority. This traditional form of leadership is often the easiest and most straightforward way to get work done, but formal authority is not the only kind of influence one can – or should – have … Continue reading “Leading Outside Your Authority”

Posted on November 6, 2015
Staying Relevant in the Midst of Health Care Reform: A Primer for Healthcare Executives

Dr. John McDonough, Professor of Public Health Practice at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, discusses the Affordable Care Act, health reform, and the changing health care landscape.

Posted on November 6, 2015
Teaching Patients About Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors: Communication is the First Step

In a world where obesity has reached epidemic proportions, medical professionals are faced with increasing pressure to help their patients lose weight and adopt healthy lifestyle habits. This is no easy task for clinicians, who often have little training in nutrition science or counseling patients on healthy lifestyle changes. “Most clinicians went into the profession … Continue reading “Teaching Patients About Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors: Communication is the First Step”

Posted on September 16, 2015
Women on Boards: A Roadmap to Success in Corporate Governance

Many women desire to hold governance positions for organizations operating in the healthcare space. Yet the road can be a very winding one, especially for women. Ellen Zane provides advice for women executive looking to obtain a board position.

Posted on August 11, 2015
Equipping Physicians To Manage The Rapidly Evolving World of Health Care

On Mother’s Day, 2003, 5-year-old Matthew Siravo, who had epilepsy, died at Boston Children’s Hospital, two days after suffering a seizure that lasted an hour and a half. Siravo’s story made headlines in the local news, and in September of that year, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health issued what The Boston Globe called “a … Continue reading “Equipping Physicians To Manage The Rapidly Evolving World of Health Care”

Posted on February 25, 2015