Our overarching goal is to train current and future health care leaders who will transform health care delivery by working to eliminate preventable harm, improve patient outcomes, and achieve equity.

Leadership Academy Scholars will develop competencies over the nine months of the program through its three components, participation in didactic and discussion sessions, including Lean Sigma training, completion of a patient safety or quality improvement project, and attendance at institutional quality and safety meetings. The Leadership Academy begins Friday, September 5, 2025, with sessions every other week through Friday, May 29, 2026, with Lean Sigma training on additional dates (see schedule below). Friday sessions will also include small group discussions each month led by 1-2 faculty. Scholars are expected to complete project deliverables for review with faculty during these sessions.

Program Information

• Read the program description.
• See program dates and curriculum.
• Meet the program faculty.
• Learn about prior projects.

Learning Objectives

By end of the program, scholars will demonstrate the capacity to:

• Discuss fundamental patient safety and quality improvement concepts and practices, such as high reliability organizing, human factors, safe design, safety culture, and just culture.
• Identify and create a shared vision of a problem, including engaging stakeholders, developing a compelling problem statement, and assembling a team.
• Develop a SMARTIE goal and key metric.
• Conduct a stakeholder analysis, discuss the multidisciplinary nature of systems change, and engage stakeholder groups for change management.
• Use tools to understand the current process and contributing factors.
• Identify interventions to address root causes.
• Implement and evaluate the impact of interventions.
• Use an A3 to track progress and present results. 

Time Commitment and Effort Allocation

• Scholars are expected to complete independent prework prior to the beginning of the program to identify and prepare for their project.
• During the program, participants devote an estimated 160 hours — or approximately 10 percent effort — to program related activities, including work on a project. Most of the effort is self-directed; however, participation in lectures and live training programs is required.

Eligibility

A Health Care professional with:

1. Interest in developing as a Patient Safety and/or Quality Leader and applying these learning objectives in their current employment.
2. Primary employment/practice at a Johns Hopkins Medicine affiliate, with at least 50% of scheduled hours/effort.
3. Ability to attend Friday morning sessions from September through May (see Curriculum) with no more than 2 absences. Attendance is critical to success in achieving the learning objectives and is required for completion.
4. Ability to complete Lean Sigma training at one of the sessions offered by the Armstrong Institute. 

Criteria for Completion

Criteria for successful completion of the program and receipt of a certificate of completion are as follows:*

• Participation in Leadership Academy sessions from September to May with a maximum of 2 absences.  
• Submission of project deliverables, including Lean Sigma training assignments, monthly project deliverables, and meeting reflections.
• Achievement of milestones leading to completion of a patient safety or quality improvement project. Insufficient progress will result in withdrawal (removal) from the program.
• Presentation of the project A3 at two project-in-progress sessions and the final celebration. 
• Completion of the final evaluation.

*Extenuating circumstances will be considered on an individual basis. 

Application Process

• Applications will be considered on a rolling basis prior to the April 30 deadline, please complete the online application.
• As part of the application, you will be asked to upload two documents:
  • Your curriculum vitae (CV) or resume.
  • A statement of commitment signed by you and your direct supervisor.
• Applicants selected for an interview with a faculty member will be contacted by email.
• Final selection will be announced by May 30, 2025.
• Spots are limited! Early applicants may receive early notification of acceptance. 

Please contact AILeadershipAcademy@jhmi.edu with any questions.

Tuition and Support

For Johns Hopkins University employees, tuition is 100% covered by non-credit tuition remission.  More information is available on the benefits website.

Johns Hopkins Health System employees, please contact us regarding discounted tuition by emailing AILeadershipAcademy@jhmi.edu.