Benefits
Tap into faculty expertise to broaden your perspective on health care and apply what you learn to your work, as together we improve health care.
- Gain specialized knowledge.
- Practice tools for your workplace.
- Expand innovation, leadership, or digital health skills.
- Earn academic credits.
Faculty
Learn from world-renowned faculty whose research gives them direct experience in changing health care.
Health Care Innovation Faculty are leaders in designing, researching, and evaluating ways to increase access to health care, reduce costs, change behaviors, and improve efficiencies. They bring to the online classroom frontline experience and teaching expertise from the Perelman School of Medicine, Penn Medicine Center for Health Care Transformation and Innovation, the Wharton School, Penn Carey Law, Penn Nursing, Stuart Weitzman School of Design, and Penn Engineering.
Certificate Structure
Complete 4 courses within 1-3 years to receive a Graduate Certificate in Health Care Innovation or Health Care and Technology.
Online courses in the Graduate Certificate in Health Care Innovation or Health Care and Technology confer academic course credits (1 CU per course).
Courses are 6 weeks long and designed for working professionals. Each week follows a pattern of asynchronous learning through brief videos, readings, written discussions with classmates, and real-world projects and assignments, using the online learning platform Canvas. A 1-hour live class meeting provides the opportunity to engage directly with the instructor and classmates, including Master of Health Care Innovation students. Expect to spend 12–15 hours per week on coursework.
Option to take one health care innovation course: Limited seats are reserved in each course for health care professionals as they consider applying for the Graduate Certificate in Health Care Innovation.
Students
Graduate Certificate students take courses with Master of Health Care Innovation students.
Graduate Certificate students include:
- University of Pennsylvania and Penn Medicine employees
- Penn graduate and professional students
- External professionals with a focused area of interest in health care innovation
Before enrolling in a Graduate Certificate, students must complete a bachelor's degree and have at least one year of professional experience in health care or a related field.
Tuition and Fees
During Academic Year 2026–2027, tuition and fees for one course (1 CU) total $7,052. Federal financial aid is not available for the Graduate Certificate.
Eligible employees of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Medicine may use employee tuition benefits to cover a portion of the cost.
Post-Graduation Employment and Compensation Trends
Students from the 2025–26 graduating class were surveyed regarding their employment status and outcomes following graduation.
- Employment: All respondents were employed full-time prior to the program. Respondents neither changed or added roles within their organizations, nor changed jobs during or upon completion of the program. Half of respondents are pursuing internal promotion.
- Compensation: Half of respondents reported that their salary increased during or after the program.
Note: This survey was optional, with a 29% response rate. The results may not represent all Graduate Certificate in Health Care Innovation alumni.