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

Programs

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.
Applied Risk Communication for the 21st Century
- September 19 – 22, 2023
This program will provide state-of-the-science knowledge on designing effective risk communication messages to improve communication, increase trust in your organization, reduce public anxiety about an issue, and help key stakeholders make better decisions.
Scaling Up Mental Health Care Services
- October 3, 2023 – November 2, 2023
Scaling Up Mental Health Care Services is the second course offered within the Certificate of Specialization on Mental Health Leadership. Its focus is to broaden the support of those who need mental health care services by giving current and future health care leaders the core skills needed to make those changes in their organizations.
Leadership Development to Advance Equity in Health Care
- November 7 – 10, 2023
Traditional medical education lacks training on how the health care system is influenced by racism and how outdated policies perpetuate disparities.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
- February 6 – 9, 2024
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.
Leadership Strategies for Evolving Health Care Executives
- April 1 – 5, 2024
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 18 – 19, 2024
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.
Innovation with AI in Health Care
- May 7 – 10, 2024
Innovation with AI in Health Care will help leaders of health care organizations develop the skills needed to realize the value of AI in health care and advance their careers through demonstrating leadership in digital transformation of health care. It also brings together a diverse community of leaders from the technical, clinical, and business worlds.
Mental Health Care Peer Learning Collaborative
Foundations of Mental Health Care
The International Leadership Development Program for Physicians

News & Resources

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
The Changing Face of Worker Safety, Health, and Well-Being in a Post-Pandemic Future

It’s not a surprise: the COVID-19 pandemic has changed worker health and safety in permanent ways. From the rise of remote work and manufacturing automation to the effects of burnout and unsafe working environments, we experience work differently. For workers who can do their jobs remotely, they’ve still been able to maintain a modicum of … Continue reading “The Changing Face of Worker Safety, Health, and Well-Being in a Post-Pandemic Future”

Posted on March 7, 2022
To Meet Future Needs, Health Care Leaders Must Look at the Data (Science)

As a health care leader or clinician, do you play an active role in your organization’s data science strategy? If not, you may miss out on important opportunities to help improve value, workflow, and patient outcomes. Today, health care organizations have access to more information than ever before—from emergency department records to radiology reports to … Continue reading “To Meet Future Needs, Health Care Leaders Must Look at the Data (Science)”

Posted on March 3, 2022
Why Leadership in Mental Health Care Is Needed Now More Than Ever—and How to Implement Change

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted population mental health. Among the many negative impacts, it has led to sickness and bereavement, increased uncertainty, decreased human connection, and lost opportunities for work and education. However, it has led to important discoveries, too. Societally, we have a greater acknowledgement that mental health is critically important and that … Continue reading “Why Leadership in Mental Health Care Is Needed Now More Than Ever—and How to Implement Change”

Posted on February 16, 2022
Exploring Opportunities for Women on Boards: 7 Tips to Help Jump-Start Your Efforts

If you’re a female executive in the health care field looking toward the next phase of your career, you might want to explore opportunities to secure a board directorship. This can be a natural progression to take your extensive management and leadership experience to the next level, according to Ellen Zane, past president and chief … Continue reading “Exploring Opportunities for Women on Boards: 7 Tips to Help Jump-Start Your Efforts”

Posted on February 1, 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
Algorithmic Bias in Health Care Exacerbates Social Inequities — How to Prevent It

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to drastically improve patient outcomes. AI utilizes algorithms to assess data from the world, make a representation of that data, and use that information to make an inference. From handling administrative tasks to actively diagnosing disease, AI could make treatment faster and more effective in clinical settings, especially as … Continue reading “Algorithmic Bias in Health Care Exacerbates Social Inequities — How to Prevent It”

Posted on March 12, 2021
Challenges and Opportunities for Women on Health Care Boards during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every facet of life in the United States—including forcing corporations and nonprofit organizations in the health care sector to rethink their business models in order to stay afloat. As a result, both public and private boards of directors and nonprofit boards of trustees have had to find new ways to … Continue reading “Challenges and Opportunities for Women on Health Care Boards during the COVID-19 Pandemic”

Posted on March 2, 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 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
Developing Public Health Communication Strategies—And Combating Misinformation—During COVID-19

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to spread across the United States and the world. It is an unprecedented time—among other directives, people in affected areas have been asked to limit contact with others except when necessary (also known as social distancing), which has drastically impacted business, education, and daily life. The effects of the virus … Continue reading “Developing Public Health Communication Strategies—And Combating Misinformation—During COVID-19”

Posted on April 3, 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
Establishing the Truth: Vaccines, Social Media, and the Spread of Misinformation

In June 2019, celebrity Jessica Biel lobbied against a pro-vaccine bill. She received intense backlash almost immediately, and the resulting scrutiny made international headlines. The exchange took place primarily on social media, where those against and those in favor of vaccines clashed—far from the first time such issues were aired loudly and publicly. Vish Viswanath, … Continue reading “Establishing the Truth: Vaccines, Social Media, and the Spread of Misinformation”

Posted on July 10, 2019
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 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 Health Care CIOs Can’t Delay on Embracing AI

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform the health care landscape over the next few years, helping clinicians achieve better outcomes in patient care and enabling organizations to be more efficient. But many Chief Information Officers (CIOs) and other IT leaders today are still poised at the brink of change, having not yet adopted … Continue reading “Why Health Care CIOs Can’t Delay on Embracing AI”

Posted on February 4, 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
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
The Changing Role of Health IT Leaders: Positioning for Success Moving Forward

Health care organizations have undergone much change in recent years, including the need to incorporate a growing array of technological advances into their day-to-day operations. In fact, as innovations such as population health, big data, and precision medicine are transforming the current landscape, in the process they’re also changing the role of chief information officers … Continue reading “The Changing Role of Health IT Leaders: Positioning for Success Moving Forward”

Posted on March 19, 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
The Need for Effective Risk Communication Strategies in Today’s Complex Information Environment

There has been growing awareness in recent years about the risks of serious injuries associated with playing football. But exactly how can organizations best communicate that risk to the people who care about this issue, such as parents of youngsters on little league teams, college football players, and professional athletes? One common element most effective … Continue reading “The Need for Effective Risk Communication Strategies in Today’s Complex Information Environment”

Posted on January 5, 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 Next Generation of Project Management: How to Develop Technical and Leadership Expertise

Project management is fundamental to the success of any project. As the process of systematically planning, organizing, and executing a pre-determined set of steps to maximize resource use and achieve objectives, it is crucial to have an efficient leader guide this process. Without a manager overseeing sufficient planning and checking off milestones along the way, … Continue reading “The Next Generation of Project Management: How to Develop Technical and Leadership Expertise”

Posted on May 4, 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
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
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
Five Ways to Improve Customer Experiences with Health IT

Information technology in the healthcare industry has the capacity to improve the experience of consumers, but it if not handled properly those efforts could backfire. For every wearable device and mobile app, there’s a potential security breach lurking in the shadows. With the ability to crunch Big Data comes the responsibility to present that data … Continue reading “Five Ways to Improve Customer Experiences with Health IT”

Posted on July 8, 2015
Healthcare IT is ‘Like the Plane that Doesn’t Crash’

When it comes to information technology, the health care industry is “clearly lagging behind,” according to Ashish Jha, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s K.T. Li Professor of International Health. We live in an era when anyone with a smartphone can host a business meeting, deposit a check, and navigate the quickest route home … Continue reading “Healthcare IT is ‘Like the Plane that Doesn’t Crash’”

Posted on July 8, 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
Negotiating and Communicating With Patients

The idea of negotiating with a patient may seem odd, or even off-putting, to physicians and patients alike. But many physicians find they’re using management and leadership skills – such as negotiation and communication techniques – directly with patients, according to Kasisomayajula “Vish” Viswanath, professor of health communication at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public … Continue reading “Negotiating and Communicating With Patients”

Posted on February 25, 2015