In the dynamic landscape of modern healthcare, the role of a surgeon extends far beyond the operating room.
Mastery of technical skills is indispensable, but to truly thrive and lead, surgeons must embrace a broader set of competencies encompassing leadership, management and strategic vision.
This is why surgeons worldwide are encouraged to expand their skill set beyond technical expertise by enrolling in the prestigious Surgical Leadership Program at Harvard Medical School.

The year-long certificate program boasts a comprehensive curriculum structured around the needs of busy surgeons. It aims to equip surgeons with critical leadership, management and business skills essential for navigating today’s multifaceted healthcare landscape.
It offers a blend of in-person workshops (in Boston or London), live webinars by global experts, and a library of on-demand lectures from distinguished faculty across various Harvard schools.
Three respected individuals lead the program:
• Sayeed Malek, MD, FACS, serves as the Program Director. He is clinical director of transplant surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and an assistant professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School.
• Fiona Myint, FRCS, MA, is the Program’s Honorary Director. She is a Consultant Vascular Surgeon at UCL, also holding a position as an Honorary Clinical Professor at UCL and a Council Member at the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
• Jamie Robertson, PhD, MPH, is the Program’s Associate Director. She is the Director of Innovation in Surgical Education at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and an Assistant Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School.
Dr Malek emphasised the need for surgeons to cultivate non-technical competencies to excel in leadership roles. He underscored the key skills participants could improve, including guiding transformative changes, championing resource advocacy, grasping financial data, nurturing teamwork and adeptly handling crises.
The curriculum’s key highlights include:
• Surgical leadership and executive skills
• Legal principles for surgical leaders
• Building personal brands
• Quality improvement
• Modern leadership strategies for surgeons.
The program integrates real-world use through personalised capstone projects. These projects allow participants to apply their knowledge directly in their institutions, empowering them to create interventions to improve surgical practices.
Participants are guided by Harvard-affiliated faculty throughout this process, ensuring practical, actionable outcomes.
Dr Malek emphasised that the program caters to seasoned surgeons and mid-career professionals aspiring to leadership positions within departments, divisions or large organisations.
The blend of interactive learning formats, including peer-to-peer learning, simulations and case discussions, ensures a rich and diverse educational experience.
The Honorary Program Director, Fiona Myint, underlined the program’s interdisciplinary nature, drawing from Harvard’s extensive expertise in medical, business, public health and law schools.
Surgeons are exposed to advanced surgical techniques and trained in entrepreneurship, team management, and the navigation of legal and commercial aspects of surgical innovation.
This year-long certificate offers an unparalleled opportunity to network with talented peers globally, enhancing their leadership acumen, negotiation skills and ability to implement transformative changes in healthcare institutions.
For surgeons seeking a holistic career advancement opportunity beyond technical mastery, the Surgical Leadership Program at Harvard Medical School is a gateway to honing the comprehensive skillset essential for leadership roles in the ever-evolving healthcare landscape.
It promises to be a transformative journey explicitly for surgeons aiming to ascend to leadership positions, spearhead innovations, and drive change within their institutions.

Why surgeons should enrol
• Holistic skill enhancement Beyond scalpel proficiency: This program provides executive skills essential to leading departments, championing initiatives and steering institutions.
• Tailored curriculum Practical relevance: The curriculum is meticulously crafted around busy schedules, with international workshops in Boston or London and on-demand lectures and live webinars.
• Unmatched faculty expertise: Learn from Harvard’s finest: Gain insights from distinguished faculty members across Harvard Medical School, Harvard Business School, Harvard Law School, Harvard Kennedy School and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
What to expect
• Leadership evolution: Develop strategies for organisational transformation, financial acumen, conflict resolution, and effective advocacy.
• Innovation prowess: Spearhead surgical advancements, research, and process improvements.
• Personal branding: Learn to promote your ideas and brand while managing clinical and administrative crises.
• Quality and safety advocacy: Lead initiatives ensuring the highest standards of care.
The experience
• Interactive workshops: Three intensive four-day workshops in Boston or London.
• Live webinars: Engage with experts discussing cutting-edge surgical practices and technologies.
• Personalised capstone project: Apply newfound knowledge directly to your institution’s benefit.
• Your invaluable investment: This program equips you with indispensable skills to navigate the multifaceted landscape of modern healthcare leadership. Embrace this opportunity to elevate your career trajectory and enrich your impact.
• Join the ranks of surgical leaders: Embrace the chance to cultivate a new spectrum of leadership skills vital for steering the future of surgery. Surgeons with leadership responsibilities or aspirations should seize this chance to empower their careers.
The Harvard Medical School Surgical Leadership Program is a transformative journey that equips surgeons with the indispensable tools and perspectives to lead, innovate and excel in today’s complex healthcare environment.
For more information and to apply, click here or email pgme_programs@hms.harvard.edu
Hurry! The priority enrolment deposit deadline is 1 February 2024.


