Physician Leadership Program
This program teaches the knowledge and skills essential for physician leaders to effectively lead, adapt, and thrive in changing, uncertain environments. Grounded in evidence-based theories and concepts, this unique program not only teaches the competencies needed to successfully lead but, more importantly, the context in which to apply them.
A robust leadership program that invests in its leaders is essential to an organization’s success in achieving its goals. By using the principles of learning and motivation, this course will help leaders, individuals, teams, and the organization (as a whole) enhance their ability to achieve results. This certificate program provides physician leaders with the basic theories, research, and strategies for analyzing leadership challenges using different problem-solving frameworks to:
- Identify and affirm one’s own values and priorities as a leader
- Identify the organization’s values, priorities, and goals
- Understand basic leadership theory and how one can implement the theory into practice
In-person sessions will be held at either Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills, CA, or at the University Park Campus of the University of Southern California. The in-person sessions for AY26-27 will be held on:
- December 4, 2026
- March 26, 2027
- June 18, 2027
- Six years of full-time professional experience in a healthcare setting.
- Current or imminent candidacy for a healthcare leadership position.
- Other healthcare providers and research PhDs will be considered on a case-by-case basis with a strong justification for their attendance.
The total tuition for the Physician Leadership Program is $3,000 for the 10-month program. To secure your space, a $500 non-refundable deposit is required at the time of registration. The remaining $2,500 balance must be paid in full before the program starts.
Participants from Cedars-Sinai, its affiliates, and the Keck School of Medicine are eligible for a discounted rate. Additional information on this rate is available when you select your affiliation within the application process or by contacting Dr. Jennifer Phillips, Program Co-Director, at jlp62386@usc.edu for further details.
Please note that payments are accepted only by credit card through our secure portal or by check mailed to our office.
For healthcare systems requiring a Purchase Order (PO), our office is happy to provide guidance and support.
Continuing Medical Education (CME) units are awarded by Cedars-Sinai.
Accreditation
In support of improving patient care, Cedars-Sinai is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
AMA Credit Designation Statement
Cedars-Sinai designates this activity for a maximum of 45 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Non-Physician AMA Attendance
Attendance credit will be provided to other healthcare professionals upon the fulfillment of attendance requirements. Participants should ensure in advance that their credentialing or licensing organization accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.
Credits
AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ (MD, DO)(45), ANCC (45), IPCE (45 hours), Non-Physician AMA Attendance (45hours)
Most course materials will be provided electronically. Some textbooks will be required and provided by the program. Each participant will also receive access to the program’s website, which offers digital resources. All communication from USC is conducted using the USC email assigned to each participant.
Applications for the AY 2026-2027 Cohort are accepted until July 15, 2026. Candidates are encouraged to apply early. You can download a PDF with application instructions here:
Application Instructions Download
The online application consists of:
- $25 non-refundable and non-transferable application fee
- Application form (online)
- One short, required application essay
- Your current professional resume or curriculum vitae
- Phone interview (30 min) following satisfactory review of your application
Tab Content
As a Continuing Medical Education (CME) Unit program, the Physician Leadership Program does not qualify for federal financial aid, and payment plans are not available. However, candidates may apply for a low-interest loan through the USC Credit Union. Details on the Certificate Program Loan can be found [here].
If you have any questions or need support with tuition or payment processes, please don’t hesitate to contact Theresa Fradejas at tfradeja@rossier.usc.edu.