Human-Centered Healthcare Leadership Certificate Series

The Human-Centered Healthcare Leadership Certificate Series delivers a flexible, bite-sized leadership curriculum that equips clinical, administrative, and operational leaders with practical tools they can apply immediately to lead with confidence, influence, and purpose. With different topics focused on the human side of leadership, you can choose one or choose them all.

Each topic includes a series of three virtual sessions focused on self-leadership, team leadership, and organizational impact. Participants who are new to leadership or looking to enhance their skills are invited to join, learn key concepts and tools, and practice and apply these learnings to their daily work right away.

Why Join This Program?

Early-career leaders across healthcare are stepping into roles that require them to lead people, manage operations, navigate organizational complexity, and influence without authority – often with little preparation. Although technical or clinical skills often shape early career development in healthcare, transitioning into leadership demands a stronger focus on human-centered skills to lead successfully. The Human-Centered Healthcare Leadership Certificate Series focuses on building these skills to complement strong technical and clinical skills.

If you are grappling with any of these challenges, this series is right for you!  
•    Balancing operational demands with new leadership expectations
•    Communicating across varied teams and disciplines
•    Giving feedback, managing conflict, and setting clear norms
•    Supporting team wellbeing while managing their own workload
•    Leading change or improvement efforts without formal authority
•    Establishing credibility as they transition from individual contributor to leader

This certificate series provides the structured support and practical skills that leaders need to succeed in these realities. Each session blends concise lessons with guided, real-world application so participants can implement new strategies immediately. If you are looking to enhance your skills to better navigate your daily responsibilities or looking to learn new skills to advance in your career, this certificate series is right for you.

What You'll Gain

Participants will:
•    Develop core human-centered leadership competencies that are essential in healthcare
•    Strengthen communication, feedback, and conflict management skills
•    Build confidence in influencing stakeholders and leading change
•    Enhance their ability to manage competing priorities and support team wellbeing
•    Access practical tools and frameworks that can be applied immediately in daily work
•    Expand their leadership network 

Who Should Apply

This program is designed for:
•    New managers and supervisors
•    Emerging leaders transitioning from individual contributor roles
•    Healthcare professionals responsible for leading teams or initiatives
•    Clinical, administrative, and operational professionals seeking practical leadership growth
•    Individuals looking for flexible, topic-based leadership development focused on applying these skills in healthcare settings

Individuals in operations, clinical practice, support services, or administrative leadership are encouraged to attend.

Program Structure

The Human-Centered Healthcare Leadership Certificate Series is a series of six topics related to the human side of leadership. Choose one topic or choose them all. 

 

Each of the six topics includes three 90-minute virtual sessions, intentionally designed to progress from individual leadership to team and organizational application. Each session includes evidence-based frameworks and concepts alongside application so that you can apply lessons from each session right away. 

  • Session 1 — Self
    Develop self-awareness and foundational leadership habits
  • Session 2 — Team
    Translate learning into effective team practices
  • Session 3 — Organization
    Explore broader application of leadership skills in organizational context 

New topics launch almost every month. Participants may register for one topic or the full series, depending on their interests and development goals.

In addition to the virtual learning sessions, participants who attend any of the topics will be invited to an in-person Leadership in Action session where they can continue their learning with a hot topic and build community and connection with other leaders.

Program Expectations

Participants are expected to:

  • Attend all three sessions for each topic they register for
  • Engage actively in discussions and practice activities
  • Apply tools and strategies in their work context between sessions
  • Attend the optional networking event offered to all attendees

This format balances learning with real-time application — allowing learners to grow while still meeting the demands of their roles. 

 

February 2026

Leading Change in Healthcare Organizations: Empowering Yourself and Influencing Others

Healthcare organizations are experiencing rapid change. With federal healthcare policy reforms and adoption of artificial intelligence and digital innovation, the healthcare landscape is evolving quickly, and leaders need the skills to navigate these changes. This series offers evidence-based strategies to help you and your team navigate change in alignment with organizational priorities, with practical tools you can implement immediately.

Participants will:

  • Session 1 – Self
    • Understand their personal response to change so they can lead with confidence.
    • Understand evidence-based change models to understand roles of leaders in change initiatives.
    • Apply change models to a recent change effort to identify strengths, gaps, and improvement opportunities.
  • Session 2 – Team
    • Learn why teams resist change and how leaders can reduce uncertainty and boost engagement.
    • Learn coaching and communication strategies to address resistance compassionately and effectively.
    • Practice coaching, communication, and engagement strategies.
  • Session 3 – Organization
    • Understand how change aligns with organizational strategy and where various leaders fit.
    • Investigate systems-thinking to identify downstream and upstream change impacts.
    • Map a stakeholder and communication plan for an upcoming change effort.
SessionDateTime Location 
Session 102/27/2611:30 AM - 1:00 PM Virtual
Session 203/06/2711:30 AM - 1:00 PMVirtual
Session 303/13/2611:30 AM - 1:00 PMVirtual 
Continuing Education  

Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider # CEP 12980, for 4.5 Contact Hour(s).  

Cost:

Regular registration:  $300

UCSF employees & students:  $210

Group discount (5+ participants):  $270

UCSF alumni of a graduate degree program:  $270

Please contact the UCSF Leadership Institute at [email protected] if you would like to register a group so that we can apply the group discount.

Register Here

March 2026

Communicate to Lead: Navigating Critical Conversations and Conflict in Healthcare

This critical communication series is designed for leaders who want to communicate with greater impact at every level of their work. You will gain insight into your personal communication triggers and learn tools to adapt your style for more effective conversations. At the team level, you’ll practice techniques that foster psychological safety, inclusive dialogue, and productive performance discussions. Finally, you’ll develop the skills to clearly convey organizational priorities, tell compelling stories, and create a communication plan that aligns team actions with strategic goals.
Participants will:

  • Session 1 – Self
    • Identify personal communication triggers and default styles as a leader.
    • Apply a structured communication tool to conversations.
    • Practice adapting communication style in a scenario.
  • Session 2 – Team
    • Describe techniques that build psychological safety and inclusive dialogue in team conversations.
    • Use feedback models to guide effective performance conversations.
    • Lead a team discussion applying structured facilitation to resolve a communication challenge.
  • Session 3 – Organization
    • Communicate organizational priorities with clarity and alignment across diverse audiences.
    • Identify essential elements of effective change communication, including storytelling.
    • Develop a communication plan that aligns team actions with organizational strategy.
SessionDateTimeLocation 
Session 103/27/2611:30 AM - 1:00 PMVirtual
Session 204/03/2611:30 AM - 1:00 PMVirtual 
Session 304/10/2611:30 AM - 1:00 PMVirtual 
Continuing Education  

Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider # CEP 12980, for 4.5 Contact Hour(s).  

Cost:

Regular registration:  $300

UCSF employees & students:  $210

Group discount (5+ participants):  $270

UCSF alumni of a graduate degree program:  $270

Please contact the UCSF Leadership Institute at [email protected] if you would like to register a group so that we can apply the group discount.

Register Here

April 2026

To be announced

May 2026

Leadership in Action - Networking Lab

In person networking lab at UCSF. Stay tuned for additional information.

August 2026

To be announced

September 2026

To be announced

October 2026

To be announced