Professional Development > Course Descriptions
Course Descriptions
Gain new insights and practice applying them in professional development courses in health policy, behavioral economics, operations management, and health care innovation. Courses are taught by internationally recognized leaders at the University of Pennsylvania, including the Perelman School of Medicine, the Wharton School, the Leonard Davis Institute for Health Economics, and the Penn Medicine Center for Health Care Innovation.
Courses run throughout the year, so you can match your studies to your schedule and interests in improving health care. Courses are online and 4 weeks long, with specific start and end dates. A combination of self-directed and interactive learning activities allows for both flexibility and the opportunity to engage with fellow innovative health professionals.
Please note that the course schedule is subject to change.
Course Listing
Foundations of Behavioral Economics
February 2, 2021 to March 1, 2021 and November 16, 2021 to December 13, 2021
Explore how behavioral economics concepts can help you nudge patients, providers, colleagues, and others in an effort to increase adherence, reduce costs, and shape wellness behaviors. You do not need a background in economics to take this project-oriented course.
Transforming Health Care Delivery
April 6, 2021 to May 3, 2021
Gain insights from industry leaders on transformations in scheduling, administration, care coordination for the elderly, and community health. Brief videos, readings, and activities are designed for you to apply what you learn.
This course explores social determinants of health and strategies for achieving more equitable health and access across all populations in the United States. Prepare to influence policy in order to improve lives and communities.
The Wharton School’s Mike Useem brings business insight to health care as he introduces leadership frameworks and real-world scenarios during brief lecture and interview videos. Examine leadership skills, and develop your own methods to succeed and lead in the dynamic settings of health care organizations.
Acquire tools and strategies to sharpen innovative thinking in order to improve the way health care is delivered. Class exercises serve as a springboard for developing an innovation project at work.
This course helps professionals better understand how the American health care system has evolved into its current structure and policies, and where it may go next. Apply your new knowledge to help patients, clients, and organizations navigate the changing, challenging health care landscape.
This course explores strategies for using technology to build connected customer relationships, with cases from various industries that demonstrate impact and provide models for health care. Prepare to advocate for change in order to improve patient care.
Examine the building blocks of research design and evaluation, and apply them to studies in health insurance, food policy, and hospital operations. This course will give you the foundation and practice to measure the impact of proposed programs and policy changes.
This course provides health care professionals with strategies and tools for improving the way health care is delivered. Sharpen your skills in analyzing existing processes, calculating potential changes, and measuring results.
This course examines the health care industry from an economic perspective. Be an informed contributor to conversations and decisions about the factors that drive cost in health care today.
What will I learn and do?
Health Care Innovation courses are designed to help you address questions such as:
- How do we advocate for increasing access, improving quality, and lowering cost?
- What are the key financial and organizational challenges that health care delivery is currently facing?
- How can I improve outcomes for my clients using behavioral economics concepts?
- What can we learn from leaders about how to lead through crisis?
"The course exceeded my expectations. The material was comprehensive, thought provoking and in many ways inspiring. While I expected to discover aspects of healthcare disparities that I was unaware of, I underestimated the complexities of the issue. The course material not only helped me rethink how I think about patient access but it taught me to think about all the different patient types to consider." Samantha Hidebird, a Healthcare Director for a biotech company on her experience in From Health Disparities to Health Equity
If you want to dive deeper into studying and applying these areas, with more networking and faculty interaction, consider the online Master of Health Care Innovation degree.
Contact
If you have additional questions, please contact Caitlin O'Neill, Program Manager for Online Educational Initiatives, at 215-746-3971 or MEHPonline@pennmedicine.upenn.edu.