Health Care Innovation at MHCDS

Designed and delivered jointly by faculty from the Tuck School of Business and Geisel School of Medicine, the cross-disciplinary curriculum teaches students to approach problems from multiple perspectives. Students learn to employ strategies that bridge clinical, operational, regulatory, and financial priorities to implement impactful innovations.

Focus on Collaboration and Systems Thinking

The MHCDS program fosters collaboration across the health care spectrum, bringing together professionals from diverse backgrounds, including physicians, administrators, and policy makers. The curriculum emphasizes systems thinking—viewing health care delivery as a complex, interconnected ecosystem. Students learn how changes in one part of the system impact others, encouraging a holistic approach to problem-solving that leads to sustainable innovations. The cohort structure facilitates peer learning and creative solutions that extend beyond traditional health care silos.

Data-Driven Decision Making with Analytics and Technology

Innovation in health care is increasingly driven by data and technology. The MHCDS program equips students with the skills to harness data for evidence-based decision making. Training in health care informatics and data analytics teach students how to assess organizational needs, interpret data, and leverage emerging technologies such as AI to improve health care outcomes. This technical foundation allows students to ask the right questions and make informed decisions when implementing new tools and processes.

Develop the Skillset to Drive Innovation through Leadership and Change Management

Health care innovation often requires significant changes in organizational processes, culture, and policy. The MHCDS program includes robust training in leadership, teamwork, and change management, helping students to lead efforts effectively. The Human-Centered Innovation course centers on purposeful innovation design to meaningfully impact people and society. With techniques to reframe problems and help leaders navigate barriers to change in clinical and operational settings, students learn how human centered design techniques can and should guide innovation in health care.

Additionally, the program’s Action-Learning Projects provide students with the opportunity to apply their learning to real-world challenges. Working with their own organizations or other health care settings, students develop and implement actionable solutions, gaining hands-on experience in driving change and making a tangible impact.