Interprofessional Leadership in Healthcare Online Certificate
About the Program
This five-month, fully online certificate program equips learners with the knowledge and skills to effectively lead interprofessional teams. Our program is designed for individuals with three or more years of professional experience in any health profession or setting, who lead, or aspire to lead, interprofessional teams. Learners participate in weekly live, online classrooms and engage with self-paced online learning modules featuring interactive exercises, videos, and journals. The online live classroom sessions use Project ECHO® to facilitate technology-enabled, peer-to-peer, collaborative learning, which adopts an ‘all teach, all learn’ approach.
This certificate program was developed through a partnership between Sargent College and BU School of Social Work, with support from BU Digital Learning and Innovation and the Office of Distance Education. The development process is described in the Q&A: Exploring Alumni Mentoring at BU.
Course Details
- Cost: $1,250 for the entire program
- Class times: June 2, 2025 – October 21, 2025 | 8-9:15 p.m. EST
- 5 courses (4 weeks per course)
- Approximately 2 hours weekly (75 minute online live classroom and 1 hour self-paced online module weekly)
- 100 percent online
- Open to all health professionals with 3 or more years of experience
- Participants can earn up to 40 AOTA continuing education credits
- CE credit hours vary depending on the profession
Register
Alumni Mentors
Online classrooms are facilitated by mentors who are Boston University alumni from Sargent College, School of Social Work, School of Public Health, and School of Medicine. Each of the alumni mentors have vast experience leading interprofessional teams and have clinical backgrounds in a range of professions, including occupational therapy, nutrition, public health, medicine, physical therapy, athletic training, physician assistant, social work and speech language pathology.
Mentor Testimonial
“Since the beginning of my involvement, this program has truly changed my professional practice and my life, opening my eyes to all aspects of leadership, teamwork, and communication, and how I can share this information with the teams I lead.” – Alumni Mentor and Advisory Board Member Jennifer Kitano
Faculty
- Karen Jacobs, Clinical Professor and Associate Dean for Digital Learning & Innovation;
Program Director, Online Post-Professional Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program
(Disclosure: Financial – Receives a salary from Boston University; Non-Financial – Volunteers speaking/teaching activities for this certificate)
- Bronwyn Keefe, Director, Center for Aging and Disability Education and Research (CADER) & Professional Education Programs (PEP), BU School of Social Work
(Disclosure: Financial – Receives a salary from Boston University; Non-Financial – Volunteers speaking/teaching activities for this certificate)
- Craig Slater, Director, Interprofessional Education and Practice, Sargent College
(Disclosure: Financial – Receives a salary from Boston University; Non-Financial – Volunteers speaking/teaching activities for this certificate)
Listen to the Health Matters podcast featuring Professors Jacobs, Keefe, and Slater discussing the development of the Interprofessional Leadership in Healthcare Certificate and next steps after a successful first cohort.
Curriculum
Learners in the certificate program complete the following five courses:
- The Interprofessional Team (4 weeks) – Recognize the value of interprofessional collaborative practice, develop team-based approaches to managing ethical issues, and apply practical strategies to foster collaborative teamwork.
- Effective Communication (4 weeks) – Enhance interprofessional communication through reflection on communication theory, techniques, and self-awareness; and develop confidence motivating teams and managing conflict.
- Effective Supervision (4 weeks) – Integrate learning theories and practical strategies to enhance student learning on clinical placement, and develop skills necessary for effective professional supervision and mentorship.
- Leadership of Interprofessional Teams (4 weeks) – Explore the challenges and opportunities of leading interprofessional teams, reflect on leadership styles, and apply contemporary leadership models to effect meaningful change.
- Building Business Acumen (4 weeks) – Understand financial management principles, and develop effective strategies to market and evaluate organizational capacity to offer services.
Policies
Payment
Payment in full is due at time of registration.
Refunds
Requests for cancellations must be submitted within the first week of the first course for 100% refund. After this time, there are no refunds.
Attendance
Learners can miss up to two live classroom sessions without penalty. Missing more than two live classroom sessions will result in reductions in continuing education credits provided.
Minimum Requirements
To obtain the certificate, learners must complete all journals and quizzes, and attend at least 75% of live classroom sessions. For any special needs requests, please contact BU’s Disability Services Office.
Continuing Education
Licensed individuals must contact their individual state jurisdiction to review current continuing education requirements for licensure renewal. It is up to the licensee to be sure that the content of the online courses they take will meet the requirements of their board and that online courses are accepted.
AOTA
Boston University is an American Occupational Therapy Association approved provider for professional development. Course approval ID: 0000002363. This online course is offered at 4.0 CEUs, introductory, and professional issues. The assignment of AOTA CEUs does not imply the endorsement of specific course content, products, or clinical procedures by AOTA. Participants are encouraged to contact BU’s Office of Disability Services to arrange an individualized consultation to discuss support services or accommodations that may be available to them. Phone/TTY: 617-353-3658, http://www.bu.edu/disability.
ASHA
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) CEUs will be awarded within 60 days of completing the Summer session based on participant session registration. Full ASHA CEUs will be up to 3.85 intermediate level for this course.
- This course is registered for 3.85 ASHA CEUs intermediate level for the Summer Session (June-October)
Instructor Disclosures
- Financial: Karen Jacobs receives a salary from Boston University. Non-Financial: She volunteered speaking/teaching activities for this certificate.
- Financial: Bronwyn Keefe receives a salary from Boston University. Non-Financial: She volunteered speaking/teaching activities for this certificate.
- Financial: Jennifer Phillips receives a salary from Boston University and compensation for mentoring activities for this certificate. She has no non-financial disclosures.
- Financial: Craig Slater receives a salary from Boston University. Non-Financial: He volunteered speaking/teaching activities for this certificate.
- Financial: Bala Amurthalingam receives compensation for mentoring activities for this certificate. He has no non-financial disclosures.
- Financial: Jennifer Kitano receives compensation for mentoring activities for this certificate. She has no non-financial disclosures.
- Financial: Naomi Konikoff receives compensation for mentoring activities for this certificate. She has no non-financial disclosures.
- Financial: Margie Pettingell receives compensation for mentoring activities for this certificate. She has no non-financial disclosures.
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Athletic Training
Boston University is approved by the Board of Certification, Inc. (BOC) to offer continuing education to Certified Athletic Trainers. This program has been approved for Category A continuing education units (CEUs) for Athletic Trainers. BOC Approved Provider (AP) number is P12033. CE credit hours: 40
Committee on Dietetic Registration (CDR)
This program meets Committee on Dietetic Registration (CDR) criteria for Activity Type 171 – Live Webinar. Please visit the CDR website for instructions on documenting this course in your Professional Development Plan.
Continuing Medical Education (CME)
Desired Learner Outcomes
After completing the Interprofessional Leadership in Healthcare certificate, learners will increase their knowledge and skills to effectively lead interprofessional teams. This is measured through pre-post competencies assessments based on Core Competencies for Interprofessional Collaborative Practice (IPEC, 2016) and Leadership Competencies for Healthcare Services Managers (ACHE, 2015).
Joint Accreditation
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Boston University School of Medicine and Boston University College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences. Boston University School of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Boston University School of Medicine designates this other activity (blend of online and live content) for a maximum of 40 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Boston University School of Medicine asks all individuals involved in the development and presentation of Accredited Continuing Education activities to disclose all financial relationships with ineligible companies. This information is disclosed to all activity participants prior to the start of the educational activity. Boston University School of Medicine has procedures to mitigate all relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies. In addition, faculty members are asked to disclose when any unapproved use of pharmaceuticals and devices is being discussed. None of the faculty or planners have any relevant financial relations to disclose.
- Faculty include: Karen Jacobs, Bronwyn Keefe, and Craig Slater
- Mentors include: Bala Amurthalingam, Jennifer Kitano, Naomi Konikoff , and Jennifer Phillips
- CME Course Director: Heather Miselis
General Disclaimer
ALL PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES, AND MATERIALS PROVIDED BY BOSTON UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION OR ITS ASSOCIATES ARE PROVIDED ON THE CONDITION THAT THEY BE USED SOLELY FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES BY QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS. IN NO EVENT SHALL BOSTON UNIVERSITY BE LIABLE FOR ANY DECISION MADE OR ACTION TAKEN IN RELIANCE ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS, ACTIVITIES OR MATERIALS. . IN NO EVENT SHOULD INFORMATION IN THE MATERIALS REGARDING LAWS, REGULATIONS, OR LEGAL LIABILITY BE CONSIDERED LEGAL ADVICE OR USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR CONSULTING WITH AN ATTORNEY.
Dental
This continuing education activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the standards of the ADA Continuing Education Recognition Program (ADA CERP) through joint efforts between Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine and Boston University College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College. CE credit hours: 40 (20 self-instruction, 20 live).
Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine is an ADA CERP recognized provider. ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry.
Please note:
- Continuing education credits issued for participation in the CE activity may not apply toward license renewal in all licensing jurisdictions. It is the responsibility of each participant to verify the CE requirements of his/her licensing or regulatory agency.
- Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider or to the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition.
Social Work
Boston University School of Social Work, 1121, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program.
CE credit hours: 40
Please review the School of Social Work course requirements.
Questions?
For more information about the Interprofessional Leadership in Healthcare Certificate, contact Sargent’s Associate Dean for Digital Learning & Innovation Karen Jacobs.
The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, in its capacity as the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) portal entity for Massachusetts, reviews and evaluates student complaints regarding distance education activities offered by Boston University in accordance with 610 CMR 12.07.
If an issue regarding distance education cannot be resolved internally, please see the process.