If you are a health care leader looking for a high-impact program to expand your team’s expertise, it’s important to pick the right one. Executive and HR leaders should look for these three qualities when choosing a program that will bring meaningful learning to their company and staff:

1.    An understanding of the health care system as a whole

It is vital for corporate learning programs to have a deep understanding of the health care system in all its complexity. Make sure that the experts leading the program have a broad understanding of the health care landscape. When instructors bring a health care-specific perspective to the program, corporate learners benefit.

“Harvard Medical School (HMS) programs are able to bring together a broad range of perspectives and expertise from across the ecosystem,” says David Roberts, MD, the dean of external education at HMS. “These experts share a commitment to the core mission of Harvard Medical School — to help individuals and their families stay as healthy as possible and obtain the best possible care when ill. In order to realize this goal, we must be dedicated to widespread success in the industry.”

2. An understanding of what it takes to create meaningful change in health care 

A high-impact program leans into how advances in science, medicine, and technology take hold in the marketplace and lead to sustained change in health care practice and systems.  

HMS faculty are not only highly accomplished clinical experts, but many are also industry leaders who are innovating in health care, right now. Many are clinician leaders who make a difference on the frontlines of health care delivery, every day. 

3. An understanding of the value of voices from different fields and backgrounds

Learners can gain an understanding of the “business” of health care from business school curriculums. But to gain on-the-ground, practical insights requires the perspectives of experts across medicine, health, science, and business. To a large extent, what makes for effective healthcare is “local.” What works great in a metropolitan area with academic medical centers may not work well in health care “deserts.” All successful healthcare strategies must include regional and cultural competence. High-impact programs provide tailored insights based on the learners and their goals.

“HMS brings the full force of Harvard University to its programs,” says Dr. Roberts. “The diverse depth of expertise that we provide fosters a learning community that helps empower learners to re-envision and create the future of health care. Our Corporate Learning programs draw upon not only members of the broader Harvard Medical School community, but we are also able to bring in key experts from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard Law School, and Harvard Business School, among other areas of the University.” 

--

“Successful corporate learning programs, including our offerings here at HMS, put interesting questions in front of smart people that spark new, creative discussions, “says Dr. Roberts. “When business leaders need our help to transform their company, we can work with them to make an action plan and design a course. By aligning with the unique needs of each company, we help the learners achieve success.”

Industry professionals turn to HMS for custom corporate learning programs that leave a lasting impact on participants. To provide these programs, HMS leverages faculty expertise from throughout the School and the entire Harvard University community to share with health care teams. To learn about HMS Corporate Learning custom programs, read about the approach or hear from clients themselves.