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    A Diverse Cohort of Health Care Professionals

    The inaugural Master of Health Care Innovation cohort graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2019. Each year the network becomes larger and stronger, as students and alumni connect across cohorts to collaborate, socialize, and support each other as innovative thinkers and leaders, as well as friends. As of summer 2024, there are 163 alumni and 68 current students.

    Who Are Our Alumni?

    A snapshot of the first six student cohorts shows what a diverse network the program has forged in a short time.

    Average student age when entering the program: 40, but students ages range from late 20s to late 60s

    Geography: 27 US states and 7 countries

    The MHCI students and alumni share perspectives and connect across their various roles in health care, such as:

    • Physicians
    • Nurses
    • Executives
    • Directors
    • Managers
    • Researchers
    • Analysts and specialists

    The MHCI network reaches across sectors of health care, including

    • Health systems, hospitals, and home health care

    • Academic medicine

    • Biotech, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices

    • Federal agencies and related organizations

    • Payers

    • Startups and venture capital

    • Health care consulting

    • Finance and technology

    • Nonprofits

    Graduates of Penn’s MHCI program have become more innovative thinkers and leaders, whether in their current roles, in shaping new positions for themselves, or in advancing to different employers.

    How Does the MHCI Influence Alumni Careers?

    MHCI alumni and students are change agents, thanks in part to course activities that translate into workplace outcomes, and connections that lead to broader perspectives. Example stories about the degree's impact include:

    • Neurologist Charles “Chuck” Bae, MD, MHCI, FAASM, wanted to revamp a broken system. He started by dialing up his own practice and taking a front-row seat with schedulers at Penn Sleep Center. This contextual inquiry exercise helped him lead changes to overcome inefficiencies. Now he is developing new programs and processes inspired by theories he learned in class.
    • Andrea Cooke, MBA, MHCI serves as Director of Regulatory and Legislative Policy at the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA). She drew inspiration from MHCI guest speakers, course discussion boards, and assignments when she met with stakeholders and drafted a white paper for BCBSA’s National Health Equity Strategy. This data-driven, cross-departmental initiative aims to reduce racial health disparities, particularly in maternal care, behavioral health, and vaccination.
    • Corey Feldman, MBA, MHCI, knew how to navigate a product roadmap. As a business development leader at a digital health startup, he found the challenge was navigating the health care ecosystem. Through the MHCI, his health care knowledge grew and his innovation skills sharpened. He discovered ways to address innovation in behavioral health, value-based care, and health care plans while accelerating his career growth. 
    • As Director of Finance at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Department of Radiology, Kevin Pian, MHCI seeks ways to optimize health care costs while maximizing quality of care. He credits the pitch skills he refined during MHCI courses with advancing an ambulatory care strategy. Now his department can direct routine services to community sites and reserve hospital-based imaging for highly complex cases.

    Go to alumni profiles to read the complete stories and see more inspiring examples of MHCI impact.

    Even more brief stories of people who are making a difference: Across Penn Medicine, MHCI alumni and students are improving processes and transforming care. Discover how in the article “MHCI Sparks Solutions Across Penn Medicine."

    What Are MHCI Alumni Prepared to Do?

    Penn MHCI alumni are prepared to improve health care and lead transformation in diverse ways, including:

    • Shaping health policy development and human behavior in health care.
    • Competing for higher-level jobs with sharpened skills in policy analysis, evidence building, and decision making. 
    • Drawing upon a global network of innovative thinkers as they improve the processes of care and increase value of health care services.

    Penn MHCI students consistently state that through the program, they acquired knowledge and skills not obtained in medical school or business school, or even on the job.

    MHCI Network

    Alumni remain highly engaged with the MHCI. Their activities include:

     

    • Participating in and facilitating sessions during the annual Seminar and reunions 
    • Presenting during Virtual Info Sessions for prospective students 
    • Serving as course assistants and alumni tutors for MHCI courses 
    • Serving on the MHCI Admissions and Curriculum Committees
    • Interviewing MHCI applicants
    • Keeping up-to-date on program news with a quarterly newsletter
    • Connecting on the alumni LinkedIn group
    • Founding, leading, and contributing to the Society for HealthCare Innovation 
    • Acting as alumni ambassadors for the program
    Alumni Benefits

    Upon graduation, MHCI students attain alumni status of the University of Pennsylvania, becoming part of the tradition of a university that was founded in 1740.  

    Penn Alumni enjoy access to benefits such as QuakerNet (Penn’s networking platform for alumni from across all Penn schools), career services platforms, select library resources, continuing education opportunities, and more.