Design Theory for Health Care Solutions
- Continuing Education
Unlock innovative solutions in health care with this immersive, two-day course that empowers professionals to apply human-centered design, collaborate across disciplines, and lead transformative change through real-world problem-solving and design thinking.
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Overview
This two-day course aims to equip physicians, nurses, social workers, therapists, and other health care professionals with the skills necessary to identify challenges and develop innovative solutions in health care using Design Theory for Health Care Solutions.
Participants will engage in a structured, hands-on learning experience that fosters problem-solving through an iterative and collaborative approach. The course will guide them through the five stages of Design Thinking:
- Empathy – Encouraging participants to challenge assumptions, defer judgment, and deeply understand end users' perspectives and lived experiences (patients, families, and caregivers).
- Define – Framing the problem based on insights gained from the empathy stage, ensuring a clear and actionable problem statement.
- Ideate – Facilitating brainstorming sessions where teams generate a range of possible solutions without limitations.
- Prototype – Encouraging teams to develop tangible representations of their solutions for real-world application.
- Test & Iterate – Gathering feedback from testing and refining solutions through an ongoing, non-linear, and iterative process.
A key focus of this course is Human-Centered Design, which expands problem-solving beyond individual users to consider community and societal impact. Participants will explore creating ethical, just, sustainable, and responsible solutions while anticipating unintended consequences.
Through collaborative breakout sessions, teams will apply these concepts to an agreed-upon health care challenge. The course culminates in a solution pitch, where teams present their ideas and receive constructive feedback from peers.
By the end of this course, participants will have developed a practical understanding of Design Theory as a tool for driving transformation in health care, empowering them to implement meaningful and impactful changes in their organizations.
Learning Objectives
- Define Human-Centered Design (HCD) and its principles.
- Explore the historical context and significance of HCD in health care.
- Identify the key differences between HCD and other design approaches (e.g., user-centered design, systems design).
- Apply Design Thinking and HCD to identify gaps and develop innovative health care solutions.
- Work collaboratively in interdisciplinary teams to integrate diverse perspectives in problem-solving.
- Create and present a concise pitch of their proposed solution, ensuring all key points are effectively communicated.
Developed and Offered By:
Participant Types
Physician, Nurse, Social Worker, Physical and Occupational Therapist, Medical Educator, Bio Medical Engineer, or any Clinical Team Member
Schedule
All agenda sessions are in Eastern Time.
Friday, October 3, 2025
Introduction to Human Centered Design
Kimberly Whalen; Hiyam Nadel
9:00-9:30 am
Personas & Health Trends
Nour Al-Sultan; Rachael Acker
9:30-10:00 am
Empathy Mapping
Rachael Acker; Nour Al-Sultan
10:00-10:30 am
Break
10:30-10:45 am
Ecosystem Mapping
Nour Al-Sultan; Rachael Acker
10:45-11:15 am
Problem Statement
Nour Al-Sultan; Rachael Acker
11:15-11:45 am
Break
11:45 am-12:00 pm
Lunch Talk Inspiration
12:00-1:00 pm
Ideation & Innovation
Nour Al-Sultan; Rachael Acker
1:00-2:00 pm
Futures Brainstorming
Nour Al-Sultan; Rachael Acker
2:00-2:15 pm
Journey Mapping
Nour Al-Sultan; Rachael Acker
2:15-2:45 pm
Break
2:45-3:00 pm
Rapid Prototyping
Nour Al-Sultan; Rachael Acker
3:00-3:30 pm
Saturday, October 4, 2025
Storytelling pitch
Nour Al-Sultan; Rachael Acker
9:00-10:00 am
Practice pitch
Nour Al-Sultan; Rachael Acker
10:00-10:30 am
Break
10:30-10:45 am
Pitch-a-thon
Nour Al-Sultan; Rachael Acker
10:45 am-12:15 pm
LUNCH
12:15-1:00 pm
Post-session Reflection
Nour Al-Sultan; Rachael Acker
1:00-3:00 pm
Faculty
Harvard Medical School Continuing Education attracts the best and brightest faculty from all around the world. As a student in this course, you’ll have access to outstanding course directors and faculty.
Hiyam M. Nadel, MBA, RN, CCG
Course Director
- Director, Center for Innovations in Care Delivery
Kim Whalen
RN, MS, CCRN
- Nurse Director Pediatric Intensive Care Mass General
- Nursing Accredited Provider Director, Harvard Medical School
Nour Al-Sultan, MBA, MPH
Senior Health System Partnerships Lead at Midi Health
Rachael Acker
Design Strategist & Health Architect
Founder, Healthero.io
Sunand Bhattacharya
AVP, Design & Innovation Strategies, Office of the Vice Provost for Research
Professor of the Practice, Human-centered Design, School of Social Work, Boston College
Ryan W. Carroll, MD, MPH
Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Attending Physician
Global Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Director
Mass General for Children
Harvard Medical School, Assistant Professor
Nat Sims, MD
Massachusetts General Hospital
Department of Anesthesia
Harvard Medical School, Associate Professor
Newbower & Eitan MGH Endowed Chair in Biomedical Technology Innovation
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Course Fees
Fee Disclaimer
You may register through our secure online environment and will receive an email confirmation upon receipt of your payment.
Prices include CME credit, electronic syllabus and access to recordings for 30 days after the course.
At the end of the registration process, a $10 non-refundable processing fee will be added to your registration.
Early Registration Deadline:
| Role | Standard Price |
|---|---|
| Physician (MD/DO) | $595.00 |
| Nurse (RN/APRN) | $595.00 |
| Resident/Fellow | $595.00 |
| Allied Health Professional / Other | $595.00 |
Accreditation
The Harvard Medical School designates this live activity for a maximum of 10.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Harvard Medical School designates this In Person activity for a maximum of 10.75 ANCC contact hour(s), of which 3.00 is eligible for pharmacology credit.
The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) states that AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ are acceptable for continuing medical education requirements for recertification. We would also suggest that learners check with their state licensing board to ensure they accept reciprocity with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure.
The American Medical Association (AMA) has an agreement of mutual recognition of continuing medical education (CME) credit with the European Union of Medical Specialties (UEMS). Additional information regarding this agreement may be found on the European Union of Medical Specialties website.
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada recognizes conferences and workshops held outside of Canada that are developed by a university, academy, hospital, specialty society or college as accredited group learning activities.