Chief Medical Officer Program
Emory is Ranked Among the Top 25 National Universities by the US News & World Report
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Lead With Vision at the Intersection of Care and Strategy
Health care is rapidly shifting toward technology-enabled, value-driven models that demand transformative leadership. 94 percent of health care executives agree that emerging technologies are redefining credibility and influence in leadership. In this environment, chief medical officers (CMOs) are expected to bridge enterprise strategy, innovation in care models, and operational excellence with patient outcomes, regulatory demands, and organizational growth.
The Chief Medical Officer Program from Emory Executive Education translates these demands into a clear leadership path. Over 9 to 12 months, this program will equip you with the business lens, operational tools, and leadership frameworks to make high-stakes decisions, align diverse stakeholders and teams toward productive outcomes, and lead innovations to drive impactful change across care and business models.
This program will help you:
- Lead teams around a shared vision that aligns patient care, workforce needs, and business strategy
- Strengthen communication, negotiation, and influence to drive decisions and manage conflicts
- Build financial acumen to impact strategic and organizational performance
- Navigate competing priorities across units, organizations, industries, and communities
- Drive change, foster innovation in care, and embed a culture of excellence and well-being
300+
95%
Source: Emeritus Impact Survey Year 2024
Faculty Insights and Learner Experiences
Learning Journey
Curriculum
The CMO Program is built for health care leaders preparing to take on enterprise-wide executive responsibilities. The curriculum addresses the challenges most critical to this transition: strengthening leadership acumen to guide teams and culture, building fluency in financial and operational decision making, and steering organizations through systemic health care shifts. Through engaging core modules and the combination of strategic leadership, organizational influence, and business performance, the program bridges clinical expertise with executive insight, equipping you to lead decisively, shape institutional priorities, and deliver measurable impact across the health care system.
Note: Session topics and final list of electives are subject to change.
Electives
In this program, you have the opportunity to select two six-week electives designed to align with your career goals and the evolving demands of health care leadership. These modules sharpen your expertise and build practical skills essential for leading change in clinical practice and organizational operations.
Executive Decision Making for Healthcare Leaders
Develop data-driven decision-making skills using analytical frameworks for clinical and administrative contexts.
Strategic Leadership in Healthcare
Apply systems-level leadership to navigate complexity, align stakeholders, and drive innovation.
Innovating Healthcare: A Strategic Approach
Design and implement innovative care models that improve outcomes and create sustainable value.
Communication Strategies for Healthcare Leaders
Enhance clarity, influence, and storytelling to communicate effectively across clinical and executive teams.
Note: All certificate images are for illustrative purposes only and may be subject to change at the discretion of Emory Executive Education.
Step Into the C-Suite as a Visionary Medical Leader
Executive Credential Backed by Emory’s Legacy
Emory University is home to some of the nation's top-ranked schools in public health, nursing, and medicine and is globally recognized for academic excellence and leadership in health care. Through the Chief Medical Officer Program, you will also have the opportunity to earn six academic credits that can be applied toward select graduate programs at Emory’s Goizueta Business School — including the Executive MBA — enabling a potential pathway to a formal degree from this prestigious institution.
Earn CME Credits from a Trusted Institution
The Emory University School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. This blended learning activity has been designated for a maximum of 185 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, which includes up to 78 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ for the two selected electives. Physicians should claim credit only in proportion to the extent of their participation in the activity.
Annual CMO Forum: An In-Person Leadership Experience
Network with peers, faculty, and industry leaders during the optional one-and-a-half-day Annual CMO Forum, an immersive academic experience at Emory Goizueta Business School in Atlanta, dedicated to health care innovation and strategic leadership priorities.
Meet the Faculty
The program is designed and taught by thought leaders who have a deep understanding of the business of healthcare. They bring to the curriculum cutting-edge scholarship, extensive experience in the healthcare industry, and insights into the skill set and frameworks needed to be successful as a CMO.
Faculty Director; Professor in the Practice of Organization & Management, Goizueta Business School, Emory University; Faculty Director, Woodruff Leadership Academy, Emory Woodruff Health Sciences Center
Michael Sacks’ work focuses on strategic leadership and aligning leadership skills with organizational culture to drive successful execution. His teaching spans leadership dev...
Program Director, Focus Area for Compassion and Ethics, Task Force for Global Health; Former Vice President of Practice and Innovation, Emory Healthcare; Adjunct Associate Professor, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University
Tim Cunningham’s work explores how compassion, resilience, and structural well-being can transform health care systems and support frontline professionals. His research and pr...
Professor Emerita in the Practice of Organization & Management, Goizueta Business School, Emory University
Molly Ryan Epstein’s work explores how strategic communication influences leadership effectiveness, focusing on change communication, intergenerational collaboration, and gend...
Associate Professor of Organization & Management; Faculty Advisor, Business & Society Institute, Goizueta Business School, Emory University
Erika V. Hall’s research examines how race-, gender-, and class-based stereotypes shape workplace dynamics and impact leadership outcomes. Her work explores how implicit biase...
Chief Financial Officer, Emory Healthcare
Bradley Haws, MBA, is the Chief Financial Officer at Emory Healthcare, bringing over 30 years of leadership experience in health care finance and strategy. He has held senior ...
Associate Professor of Organization & Management, Goizueta Business School, Emory University
Özgecan Koçak’s research explores how shared cultural codes, including organizational identities, categorization systems, and communication norms, influence decision making, c...
President, Global Immunization at Sabin Vaccine Institute; Former Director, Center for Global Health, Emory University
Rebecca Martin’s work focuses on global health leadership, policy, and public health system strengthening across international settings. Her career spans over 30 years in glob...
Founder and Chief Catalyst, Accelerance Group International; Former Associate Professor in the Practice of Organization & Management, Goizueta Business School
Rod McCowan’s work centers on strategic change leadership and executive development, exploring how leadership alignment, organizational culture shifts, and neuro‑leadership fr...
President and Chief Executive Officer, Regenstrief Institute Inc.
Rachel Patzer’s research centers on health services and disparities in care, particularly in access to kidney transplantation and health care quality. Her work designs and tes...
Chief Operating Officer at Children's Health; Former President and Chief Operating Officer, Emory Healthcare; Former Chief Financial Officer, Emory Healthcare
Dane Peterson’s leadership focuses on health care operations, organizational strategy, and performance improvement in complex academic medical systems. His work explores how e...
Professor of Urology, Emory University School of Medicine; Vice Chair of Education and Faculty Affairs, Department of Urology; Former Co-Chief Well-Being Officer, Emory University
Chad Ritenour’s work focuses on physician well-being, academic leadership, and innovation in urologic care delivery. His efforts explore how faculty development and efficient ...
Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Accounting, Goizueta Business School, Emory University
Karen Sedatole’s work investigates how performance measurement systems, executive compensation structures, and forecasting shape organizational trust, motivation, and strategi...
Professor in the Practice of Finance, Goizueta Business School, Emory University
Thomas Smith’s research explores how macroeconomic trends, labor dynamics, and industry structures influence leadership decisions and organizational performance. His work span...
Professor Emeritus in the Practice of Organization & Management, Goizueta Business School, Emory University
Peter Topping’s research examines how leaders navigate paradox, conflict, and change to build high-performance teams across organizational boundaries. His work explores why le...
Past Participant Profile
Work Experience
Top Industries
Where Past Learners Come From
Disclaimer: All product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. Use of product and company names does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by the holders. The list of companies is only indicative and not exhaustive.
Who Is This Program For?
The Chief Medical Officer Program is ideal for:
Physician leaders in management roles preparing for a CMO position and seeking a deeper understanding of business strategy and medical leadership within health care organizations
New or early-tenure CMOs who have served in the position for five years or less seeking to deepen their knowledge of management to be successful leaders in the health care industry
Participants are expected to have:
A medical degree from an accredited medical school
Fluency in written and spoken English
FAQs
Connect with a Program Advisor for a 1:1 Session
Our program advisors have helped senior executives around the world choose the right program for their career goals. Schedule a 1:1 to get a deeper understanding why the Chief Medical Officer Program is the right fit for you.
Email: emory_cmo@emeritus.org
Phone: +1 567 350 1214 (U.S.) / +44 1174 633354 (U.K.) / +971 80 0035703747 (U.A.E.) / +52 55965 34231 (LATAM)
Early applications are encouraged. Admissions are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Flexible payment options are available.
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