Kellogg announces a new Certificate in the Business of Healthcare

New comprehensive credential gives a boost to Full-Time and Evening & Weekend MBA students seeking leadership roles in the fast-evolving healthcare sector.
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Kellogg
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A Kellogg student wearing a white shirt, black pants and tan cardigan gestures as she speaks to classmates.
The new certificate offers students deep understanding of the field through courses and experiential learning opportunities. 

The healthcare industry is a dynamic landscape filled with both challenges and opportunities. Success requires understanding the modern healthcare system and solving difficult managerial and strategic problems while navigating a complex and changing policy environment. To propel the next generation of leaders in this space, the Kellogg School of Management is introducing a new Certificate in the Business of Healthcare for full- and part-time MBA students.

The certificate will equip students with a foundational knowledge of the entire healthcare ecosystem, while also allowing them to tailor their courses to their career goals in the sector. This newest certificate program at Kellogg builds on an already robust set of offerings in healthcare, as well as Kellogg’s curriculum in core management disciplines. A similar certificate in Healthcare Leadership was established in 2023 for Executive MBA students, and increasing interest led to the expansion of the offering to all Kellogg MBA students

“The guest speakers that have been arranged have just been unbelievable. ... We are meeting heavyweights. We are meeting people that are changing the industry.”
John Koss ’24
MBA Student and Healthcare Deep Dive participant

“Our Certificate in the Business of Healthcare is more than just a set of courses — it’s a comprehensive journey designed to immerse students in this dynamic field,” said Dean Francesca Cornelli. “For MBA students aspiring to have a positive impact on the world, this certificate offers an invaluable opportunity to gain a deep understanding of the industry and opportunities for real-world impact.”

To earn the certificate, students must complete at least four healthcare-specific credits, including Healthcare Strategy. This class is offered either as a typical 10-week course or in an immersive Deep Dive format, taught to students across all MBA programs, over a series of weekends in global cities with world-class Kellogg faculty. Industry leaders join in the classroom experience as well.

“The guest speakers that have been arranged have just been unbelievable,” said student John Koss about his time taking the Healthcare Deep Dive course. “We've heard from CEOs; we've heard from people that are on the inside at investment companies and in the pharmaceuticals business. We are meeting heavyweights. We are meeting people that are changing the industry. And to me, it's that exposure and those connections, in addition to all the students we get to meet from across the programs, that are really going to be the invaluable pieces of this weekend.”

To  complete the Certificate in the Business of Healthcare, students must complete at least two additional credits from industry-specific courses and one credit from experiential learning opportunities.

“For those seeking to enter the healthcare field, this certificate is more than a stepping stone; it’s a launchpad to success that will offer value throughout your career.”
Professor Craig Garthwaite
Director, Healthcare at Kellogg

“These courses delve into the intricacies of healthcare economics, strategy, digital innovation, finance and more, preparing our students to navigate and lead in this vital sector,” said professor Craig Garthwaite, faculty director of Healthcare at Kellogg. “Our program is designed to equip MBA students with in-demand skills, providing them with a distinctive point of view and competitive edge in this field.”

The certificate will be available to students in the Two-Year MBA, One-Year MBA, MMM, Evening & Weekend, JD-MBA and MD-MBA programs. MBAi students are not eligible to earn this certificate. 

Kellogg is home to the longest running business school healthcare program in the country, and already offers students many ways to explore the healthcare field. Dedicated academic pathways are available, focusing on healthcare strategy and entrepreneurship.

Students can also participate in the Healthcare Club and attend a variety of events throughout the year, including the annual Business of Healthcare Conference, the annual MacEachern Symposium, the Biotech + Healthcare Case Competition and ongoing speaker series events with industry luminaries. The Healthcare at Kellogg website lists dozens of events throughout the year that help to build the foundational knowledge of the entire healthcare ecosystem.

More than 5,000 Kellogg alumni work across 2,700+ companies in the healthcare field, and many of these graduates generously mentor MBA students with career advice and professional development. More than 800 Kellogg alumni work in C-level roles in healthcare, and more than 350 are CEOs.

“The healthcare industry is a complex, fast-paced environment that requires a unique blend of skills,” said Garthwaite. “For those seeking to enter the healthcare field, this certificate is more than a stepping stone; it’s a launchpad to success that will offer value throughout your career.”

Interested? Explore our degree programs and learn more about Healthcare at Kellogg.