| Person-in-Charge | Cheryl Thompson |
|---|---|
| Program Code | HIE |
| Campus(es) | Harrisburg Hershey |
Healthcare innovation and entrepreneurship are powerful catalysts in transforming patient care and outcomes—ultimately leading to a healthier society.
The Penn State Healthcare Innovation and Entrepreneurship Graduate Certificate offers an exciting opportunity for students and professionals from diverse fields — including healthcare, engineering, business, life science, and clinical practice — to gain specialized tools and inter-professional competencies necessary to lead medical innovation and healthcare transformation.
This dynamic program equips participants with the skills to become change agents capable of identifying and addressing critical healthcare challenges and unmet medical needs. Participants can explore specialized topics essential for healthcare innovation from clinical, administrative, research, product, or policy perspectives.
Effective Semester: Summer 2026
Expiration Semester: Spring 2031
Admission Requirements
Applicants apply for admission to the program via the Graduate School application for admission. Requirements listed here are in addition to Graduate Council policies listed under GCAC-300 Admissions Policies. International applicants may be required to satisfy an English proficiency requirement; see GCAC-305 Admission Requirements for International Students for more information.
Certificate Requirements
Requirements listed here are in addition to requirements listed in Graduate Council policy GCAC-212 Postbaccalaureate Credit Certificate Programs.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| PSU Harrisburg: School of Business | ||
| HADM 545 | Health Financial Management | 3 |
| College of Medicine: Public Health | ||
| PHS 571 | Health Services Organization and Delivery | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select six credits from among various tracks: | 6 | |
| Penn State College of Medicine: Public Health | ||
| Health Economics and Economic Evaluation | ||
| Patient Centered Research | ||
| Integrating Systems Thinking in Global Health | ||
| Penn State College of Medicine: Biomedical Graduate Studies | ||
| Current Topics in Translational Cancer Research | ||
| Graduate Clinical Rotation | ||
| Principles of Drug Action | ||
| Therapeutic Potential of Cannabis & Cannabinoids | ||
| Clinical Trials: Design and Analysis | ||
| Penn State Harrisburg: Health Administration & Public Policy | ||
| Health Systems Organization | ||
| Health Economics and Policy | ||
| Health Care Quality Assurance | ||
| Penn State Harrisburg: School of Business | ||
| Strategic Management | ||
| Corporate Finance | ||
| Organizational Transformation | ||
| Leadership Development | ||
| Penn State Harrisburg: School of Engineering | ||
| Systems Thinking | ||
| Engineering for Energy and the Environment | ||
| Mathematical Methods in Engineering | ||
| Design for Manufacturability I | ||
| Total Credits | 12 | |
Courses
Graduate courses carry numbers from 500 to 699 and 800 to 899. Advanced undergraduate courses numbered between 400 and 499 may be used to meet some graduate degree requirements when taken by graduate students. Courses below the 400 level may not. A graduate student may register for or audit these courses in order to make up deficiencies or to fill in gaps in previous education but not to meet requirements for an advanced degree.
Learning Outcomes
The Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Innovation and Entrepreneurship, offered by Penn State Harrisburg and the College of Medicine in conjunction with the Center for Medical Innovation (CMI), embodies the multi-faceted, multidisciplinary nature of medical innovation. The program’s key learning objectives include:
- Learning foundational innovation and entrepreneurship concepts and theories to identify current and future opportunities in healthcare.
- Understanding the significance of leading a culture of innovation in partnership with other innovators to translate life science discoveries into real-world solutions.
- Developing the ability to innovate effectively in multidisciplinary teams, from medical technology ideation through development to realization and commercialization.
Upon completing the certificate, graduates will be equipped to lead a culture of healthcare innovation and entrepreneurship in the workforce, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
Contact
| Campus | Harrisburg |
|---|---|
| Graduate Program Head | Cheryl Thompson |
| Program Contact | Anne K DeChant |
| Campus | Hershey Med Ctr |
|---|---|
| Graduate Program Head | Cheryl Thompson |
| Program Contact | Anne K DeChant |