• For Individuals
  • For Businesses
  • For Universities
  • For Governments
Coursera
Online Degrees
Careers
Log In
Join for Free
Coursera
University of Michigan
Healthcare Leadership Principles
  • About
  • Outcomes
  • Modules
  • Recommendations
  • Testimonials
  1. Browse
  2. Health
  3. Healthcare Management

This Labor Day, enjoy $120 off Coursera Plus. Unlock access to 10,000+ programs. Save today.

University of Michigan

Healthcare Leadership Principles

This course is part of Leadership for Healthcare Professionals Specialization

Barbara R. Medvec, DNP, RN, MSA, MSN, NEA-BC
Michelle Aebersold, PhD, RN, MSBA, CHSE, FSSH, FAAN

Instructors: Barbara R. Medvec, DNP, RN, MSA, MSN, NEA-BC

Instructors

Barbara R. Medvec, DNP, RN, MSA, MSN, NEA-BC
Barbara R. Medvec, DNP, RN, MSA, MSN, NEA-BC
University of Michigan
3 Courses•928 learners
Michelle Aebersold, PhD, RN, MSBA, CHSE, FSSH, FAAN
Michelle Aebersold, PhD, RN, MSBA, CHSE, FSSH, FAAN
University of Michigan
3 Courses•928 learners

Included with Coursera Plus

•

Learn more

4 modules
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Beginner level

Recommended experience

Recommended experience

Beginner level

It is recommended that learners have a professional healthcare worker and/or academic healthcare background.

1 week to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

4 modules
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Beginner level

Recommended experience

Recommended experience

Beginner level

It is recommended that learners have a professional healthcare worker and/or academic healthcare background.

1 week to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
  • About
  • Outcomes
  • Modules
  • Recommendations
  • Testimonials

What you'll learn

  • Learn to articulate foundational leadership theories and concepts

  • Apply effective communication skills that distinguish you as an effective professional healthcare leader

  • Recognize the important role of policy advocacy for healthcare organizations

  • Utilize effective advocacy techniques at the leadership level to make and affect positive change

Skills you'll gain

  • Strategic Leadership
  • Organizational Leadership
  • Change Management
  • Interpersonal Communications
  • Self-Awareness
  • Team Leadership
  • Executive Presence
  • Communication
  • Leadership
  • Healthcare Ethics
  • Health Care Administration
  • Advocacy
  • Professional Development
  • Leadership and Management
  • Health Policy
  • Health Care

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Recently updated!

April 2025

Assessments

10 assignments

Taught in English

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business
 logos of Petrobras, TATA, Danone, Capgemini, P&G and L'Oreal

Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Leadership for Healthcare Professionals Specialization
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
  • Learn new concepts from industry experts
  • Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
  • Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
  • Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 4 modules in this course

Healthcare leaders across the industry strive to improve patient care, foster positive environments for their staff, and make strategic decisions that drive organizational success. In “Healthcare Leadership Principles,” get a firsthand look at the core systems, theories, and concepts essential to becoming a strong healthcare leader. This course will equip you with the foundational skills to apply leadership, teamwork, and communication, empowering you to navigate the complexities of healthcare leadership with confidence. Included in the course is an immersive, extended-reality simulation, where you will make critical decisions to help a team of mountain climbers to the top of a summit. The interactive exercise will allow you to practice the leadership skills learned throughout the course and reflect on the challenges and successes you encountered through the experience. You will also learn to discuss the important role of policy and advocacy and their impact on healthcare. By learning essential leadership skills, you’ll be able to develop your own leadership style and advance your career in healthcare management.

This is the first course in the “Leadership for Healthcare Professionals” Specialization, a course series designed to help professionals in all healthcare roles sharpen their leadership skills and advance their careers.

Welcome to the Healthcare Leadership Principles course, the first course of the Leadership for Healthcare Professionals specialization! This Module, you will learn the foundational principles of leadership, answering the major question of what is and is not leadership. You will also start learning how to self-assess your leadership style.

What's included

5 videos8 readings3 assignments1 app item2 discussion prompts

5 videos•Total 45 minutes
  • Welcome to the Leadership in Healthcare Specialization•5 minutes
  • Overview of Leadership Styles•11 minutes
  • The Strengths of Adaptive Leadership Approaches•10 minutes
  • Effective Leadership Behaviors•13 minutes
  • How a Leadership Self-Assessment and a Mature Reflection Should Look Like•3 minutes
8 readings•Total 81 minutes
  • Course Syllabus•10 minutes
  • Help Us Learn About You!•3 minutes
  • Practical Examples of Leadership Styles•15 minutes
  • Elements of Adaptive Leadership Approaches•15 minutes
  • Exemplar Applications of Communication Styles•15 minutes
  • Introduction to Module 1 Assignment: Self-Assessing Your Leadership Style•10 minutes
  • Introduction to the Gamut Gallery•3 minutes
  • Module 1 Optional Reading & Resources•10 minutes
3 assignments•Total 31 minutes
  • Module 1 Assignment Check•1 minute
  • Knowledge Check: Foundational Principles of Leadership•15 minutes
  • Knowledge Check: Effective Leadership Approaches & Behaviors •15 minutes
1 app item•Total 30 minutes
  • Submit Your Leadership Style Self-Assessment•30 minutes
2 discussion prompts•Total 25 minutes
  • Meet Your Fellow Learners•10 minutes
  • Tell Us, What Do You Think?•15 minutes

Welcome to Module 2! In this Module, you will learn the many facets of communication styles that can play an important role in exhibiting leadership. You will develop your skills in addressing effective communication in leadership and consider effective interprofessional communication best practices.

What's included

4 videos6 readings2 assignments2 discussion prompts

4 videos•Total 25 minutes
  • The 7 C's of Effective Communication•9 minutes
  • Overview of Uses & Applications of Communication Styles•4 minutes
  • Team Work & Leadership Communication within Teams•9 minutes
  • Module 2 Wrap-Up•2 minutes
6 readings•Total 125 minutes
  • Examining Effective Communication Strategies•15 minutes
  • Communication Styles used by Leaders•15 minutes
  • Knowledge Check: Communication Styles for Leaders •10 minutes
  • Resources for Building Effective Teams•15 minutes
  • Navigating Team Dynamics in Extreme Environments•60 minutes
  • Module 2 Optional Reading & Resources•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 16 minutes
  • Simulation Participation Check•1 minute
  • Knowledge Check: Makers of Effective Communication in Theory & Practice•15 minutes
2 discussion prompts•Total 25 minutes
  • Tell Us, What Do You Think?•15 minutes
  • Share & Discuss: Post Simulation Debrief•10 minutes

Welcome to Module 3! In this Module, you will learn about affecting change in healthcare. To this end, you will learn about the foundational concepts related to change, such as the theory of change, policy, and advocacy.

What's included

7 videos4 readings3 assignments1 app item

7 videos•Total 54 minutes
  • Fundamentals of Change•8 minutes
  • Policy vs. Advocacy vs. Politics•9 minutes
  • The Why, When, and How of Policy, Advocacy, and Politics•7 minutes
  • The Spheres of Influence•9 minutes
  • A Leader's Sphere of Influence•6 minutes
  • Creating Leadership Presence•9 minutes
  • How an Assessment of Social Networks Should Look•5 minutes
4 readings•Total 50 minutes
  • Expanding your Spheres of Influence•15 minutes
  • Strategies to Create Leadership Presence•15 minutes
  • Introduction to Module 3 Assignment: Assessing Social Networks•10 minutes
  • Module 3 Optional Reading & Resources•10 minutes
3 assignments•Total 21 minutes
  • Module 3 Assignment Check•1 minute
  • Knowledge Check: Change Theory and Advocacy •10 minutes
  • Knowledge Check: Influencing for Action Through Leadership Presence•10 minutes
1 app item•Total 45 minutes
  • Submit Your Assessment of Social Networks•45 minutes

Welcome to our last Module of the course, Module 4! In this Module, you will learn how to use diverse advocacy methods and techniques to affect positive change in healthcare and in healthcare policy. To this end, you will learn more about using discrete strategies to create and sustain your executive/leadership presence. You will also develop an awareness of advocacy in healthcare teams and the ethics of influencing policy.

What's included

9 videos6 readings2 assignments1 app item2 discussion prompts

9 videos•Total 64 minutes
  • Positive Leaders & Advocacy•9 minutes
  • Advocacy Competencies for Positive Change•8 minutes
  • Building and Developing Trust•6 minutes
  • Creating Leadership Presence Through Building Trust•7 minutes
  • Yes, We Should Change, But You Go First•7 minutes
  • Why Advocate for Changes in Healthcare•5 minutes
  • The Art of Storytelling•10 minutes
  • How to Construct Anecdotes for Storytelling and Persuasion•4 minutes
  • How an Evaluation of Your Professional Leadership Presence Should Look•4 minutes
6 readings•Total 70 minutes
  • Strategies to Convey Advocacy Messages•15 minutes
  • Methods for Building Trust in Your Teams•15 minutes
  • Knowledge Check: Executive Presence Should be Leadership Presence•10 minutes
  • Introduction to Module 4 Assignment: Evaluating Your Professional Leadership Presence•10 minutes
  • Module 4 Optional Reading & Resources•10 minutes
  • Post-Course Survey•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 11 minutes
  • Module 4 Assignment Check•1 minute
  • Knowledge Check: Effective Advocacy Techniques•10 minutes
1 app item•Total 45 minutes
  • Submit Your Evaluation of Professional Leadership Presence•45 minutes
2 discussion prompts•Total 30 minutes
  • Tell Us, What Do You Think?•15 minutes
  • Building an Anecdote Scorecard•15 minutes

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Instructors

Barbara R. Medvec, DNP, RN, MSA, MSN, NEA-BC
Barbara R. Medvec, DNP, RN, MSA, MSN, NEA-BC
University of Michigan
3 Courses•928 learners

Instructors

Barbara R. Medvec, DNP, RN, MSA, MSN, NEA-BC
Barbara R. Medvec, DNP, RN, MSA, MSN, NEA-BC
University of Michigan
3 Courses•928 learners
Michelle Aebersold, PhD, RN, MSBA, CHSE, FSSH, FAAN
Michelle Aebersold, PhD, RN, MSBA, CHSE, FSSH, FAAN
University of Michigan
3 Courses•928 learners

Offered by

University of Michigan

Offered by

University of Michigan

The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.

Explore more from Healthcare Management

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    U

    University of Michigan

    Leadership for Healthcare Professionals

    Specialization

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    U

    University of Michigan

    Healthcare Quality Improvement and Decision-Making

    Course

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    U

    University of Michigan

    Healthcare Strategy and Innovation

    Course

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    T

    The State University of New York

    Leadership for Public Health Crises

    Specialization

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.
Learner since 2018
"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."
Jennifer J.
Learner since 2020
"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."
Larry W.
Learner since 2021
"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."
Chaitanya A.
"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."
Coursera Plus

Open new doors with Coursera Plus

Unlimited access to 10,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription

Learn more

Advance your career with an online degree

Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online

Explore degrees

Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy

Learn more

Frequently asked questions

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policy.

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

More questions

Visit the learner help center

Financial aid available,

Coursera Footer

Technical Skills

  • ChatGPT
  • Coding
  • Computer Science
  • Cybersecurity
  • DevOps
  • Ethical Hacking
  • Generative AI
  • Java Programming
  • Python
  • Web Development

Analytical Skills

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data
  • Business Analysis
  • Data Analytics
  • Data Science
  • Financial Modeling
  • Machine Learning
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Power BI
  • SQL

Business Skills

  • Accounting
  • Digital Marketing
  • E-commerce
  • Finance
  • Google
  • Graphic Design
  • IBM
  • Marketing
  • Project Management
  • Social Media Marketing

Career Resources

  • Essential IT Certifications
  • High-Income Skills to Learn
  • How to Get a PMP Certification
  • How to Learn Artificial Intelligence
  • Popular Cybersecurity Certifications
  • Popular Data Analytics Certifications
  • What Does a Data Analyst Do?
  • Career Development Resources
  • Career Aptitude Test
  • Share your Coursera Learning Story

Coursera

  • About
  • What We Offer
  • Leadership
  • Careers
  • Catalog
  • Coursera Plus
  • Professional Certificates
  • MasterTrack® Certificates
  • Degrees
  • For Enterprise
  • For Government
  • For Campus
  • Become a Partner
  • Social Impact
  • Free Courses
  • ECTS Credit Recommendations

Community

  • Learners
  • Partners
  • Beta Testers
  • Blog
  • The Coursera Podcast
  • Tech Blog

More

  • Press
  • Investors
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Help
  • Accessibility
  • Contact
  • Articles
  • Directory
  • Affiliates
  • Modern Slavery Statement
  • Do Not Sell/Share
Learn Anywhere
Download on the App Store
Get it on Google Play
Logo of Certified B Corporation
© 2025 Coursera Inc. All rights reserved.
  • Coursera Facebook
  • Coursera Linkedin
  • Coursera Twitter
  • Coursera YouTube
  • Coursera Instagram
  • Coursera TikTok
Coursera

Sign up

Learn on your own time from top universities and businesses.

​
​
Between 8 and 72 characters
Your password is hidden
​

or

Already on Coursera?


Having trouble logging in? Learner help center

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.