Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Precision Health Program

Final Deadline: May 31

Think entrepreneurially, develop innovative solutions

Leaders in Precision Health are challenged to think entrepreneurially – to notice the clients’ problems and develop innovative solutions for them, embedded in viable business models. These product and process innovations can be implemented within the current public healthcare systems, as well within new ventures, social enterprises, non-profit firms, or private companies. It is crucial to train precision health professionals in the design, analysis, planning, delivery, implementation and evaluation of innovative precision health projects – be it new products, new services, new systems, new delivery models – that allow achieving the double-edged goal of improving patient care coupled with cost containment.

Graduate Certificate in Precision Health

Innovation & Entrepreneurship Specialization

Students within the Graduate Certificate program with a specialization in Innovation & Entrepreneurship will engage in precision health-oriented experiential learning projects, learning to notice and analyze major clients’ problems, develop novel and useful solutions for them, conduct feasibility assessment of noticed novel opportunities, build the business cases for mobilizing stakeholders’ support, and organize the successful execution of complex precision health innovation projects, including software/hardware systems development.

MDPR 600: Foundations of Precision Health (required)

A key element of Precision Health is the ability to critically appraise myriad types of data in order to facilitate better clinical decisions, health system improvements and clinical education delivery. Beginning with the essential statistical underpinnings of data analyses in health and related research, and demonstrating ways in which those analyses can be leveraged to improve decision making and health and education systems, this course will set students up to succeed in Precision Health specializations.

MDPR 640: Entreprenuerial Thinking and Innovation in Precision Health (required)

Application of entrepreneurial thinking principles to develop innovative ideas in any context: private or public, for-profit or non-for profit. Particular emphasis is placed on generating innovative (novel and useful) ideas in a precision health context.

MDPR 641: Sustainable Business Cases for Precision Health Innovations (required)

Building business cases for innovative ideas in precision health systems, based on objective and holistic business and economic analysis. The course concentrates on both internal projects within healthcare systems and new venturing ideas.

MDPR 642: Implementing Innovations in Precision Health (Option 1)

Planning and organizing the execution of innovation projects within precision health systems, including budgeting, mobilizing financial resources, and strategic planning. The course concentrates on both internal projects within healthcare systems and new venturing ideas.

MDPR 643: Managing Technology Development in Precision Health (Option 2)

Planning and organizing the implementation of technology development projects in precision health (e.g., software, wearable devices, big data applications, etc.). Particular topics include technology development approaches, planning for execution, budgeting, and minimal viable products.

Graduate Diploma in Precision Health

Students enrolled in the Graduate Diploma in Precision Health will deepen their understanding of innovation and entrepreneurship in precision health and gain additional knowledge and skills in implementing innovation projects both within the healthcare system and new ventures. The particular emphasis is on leading the complex innovation projects in precision health systems.

MDPR 603: Health System Leadership

A critical examination of leadership development in the era of precision health as it relates to individual leadership practices, multi-disciplinary teams and the broader healthcare system. Exploration of new frameworks to facilitate collaborative decision making and effecting change. Students will use critical appraisal to identify the most relevant research and make evidence-based decisions to problem-solve around real issues in health systems.

MDPR 604: Managing Complex Projects in Precision Health

Selection and application of the proper approaches for planning and executing complex innovative projects. Particular emphasis is placed on managing the innovative (novel and useful) ideas in a precision health context.

Elective 1 - Choose MDPR 601: Ethics and Law of Precision Health, or a course from any specialization

To receive the Diploma, graduate students are required to have successfully completed the Ethics and Law of Precision Health course. If a graduate student has already completed this course, the student may select an elective from any specialization.

Elective 2 - Choose a course from any specialization

Master's Degree in Precision Health

Innovation & Entrepreneurship Specialization

Students in the Master's Program in Precision Health with a specialization in Innovation & Entrepreneurship will gain an advanced, research-based understanding of innovation and entrepreneurship in precision health and gain additional knowledge in implementing system-wide innovation projects both within the healthcare system and new ventures. At the master's level, the particular emphasis is put on leading the systematic innovation projects in precision health systems.

MDPR 649: Advanced Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Application of insights from the research literature for selecting the appropriate approaches for planning and executing the system-level innovative projects in precision health. Particular topics include barriers to healthcare innovations and frameworks (financial, organizational, informational) for implementing system-level innovations.

Integrated Topics

Integration of theory, research, application and experience in the student’s area of sub-specialization. This course provides the student the opportunity to integrate theory and practice: to link the knowledge and skills derived from the Master of Precision Health program, published research articles, and their experiential learning opportunity. Students will participate in collaborative discussions regarding professional and ethical issues, Experiential Learning situations, research and how to apply theory to the practice of precision health in the student’s area of specialization.

MDPR 682, MDPR 683, MDPR 684: Experiential Learning Opportunities - A & B (3 units each)

Precision Health Experiential Learning opportunities with professional supervision in student's area of specialization or interest. This course must be taken concurrently with the Integrated Topics course. This course is intended to offer practical and supervised opportunities to develop students’ existing precision medicine knowledge and skills to an advanced specialized level. The purpose of this course is to provide advanced level opportunities for development, integration, and experience through either a research project or internship to foster the acquisition of knowledge, and skills relevant to precision health. Together with the Integrative Topics course, the Experiential Learning Opportunity promotes integration of research, theory and practice.