Case Western Reserve University launches DRIVE—Delivering Results, Innovation & Value in Execution

Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead School of Management is launching DRIVE—Delivering Results, Innovation & Value in Execution—a next-generation healthcare learning experience designed to help healthcare leaders turn strategic priorities and organizational challenges into real-world solutions and measurable impact.

The program will welcome its first cohort in October 2026 and is built to address one of healthcare’s most persistent gaps: turning insight into action.

Unlike traditional professional development programs, DRIVE centers on real-world problem solving. Participants bring a pressing challenge from their own organization and work throughout the program to develop, implement, and refine a solution that can be immediately applied. Throughout the program, participants apply frameworks in leadership, innovation and design thinking to develop practical, implementation-ready solutions.

“Healthcare rarely lacks ideas,” said Cliff Megerian, chief executive officer at University Hospitals. “The challenge is turning strategic initiatives into focused execution. This program gives leaders the structure, support and accountability to take on meaningful challenges and deliver results that improve care, strengthen operations and move organizations forward.”

The nine-month program combines online coursework, in-person sessions and mentorship from faculty and experienced healthcare executives. Participants develop capabilities across organizational diagnosis, strategic design, operational improvement, financial reasoning and change management.

Through the DRIVE experience, participants will gain the ability to:

• Lead with purpose—inspiring alignment and momentum across diverse stakeholders;

• Diagnose organizational challenges—identifying root causes and framing them as strategic opportunities;

• Design financially sound, operationally viable strategies that advance patient outcomes and workforce engagement;

• Implement change effectively—managing resistance and activating collaboration across clinical and administrative teams;

• Evaluate outcomes and communicate impact clearly to any audience, from frontline staff to boards.

At the conclusion of the program, participants produce an executive-ready brief and presentation centered on a developed solution and implementation plan—grounded in data and supported by a clear implementation roadmap—designed for immediate use within their organization.

“Every health system has leaders who understand strategy,” said Andrew Medvedev, dean of the Weatherhead School of Management. “Less common are the outcome owners who can help strategy survive contact with the messy reality of healthcare delivery. DRIVE is built to develop them—and to send back a real initiative already in motion as the proof.”

Designed for mid- to senior-level professionals across the healthcare ecosystem, the program guides participants through eight integrated courses—from diagnosing challenges to designing, implementing and evaluating solutions.

Participants represent a broad range of functional disciplines and organizational leadership roles, including:

• Clinical

• Administrative

• Operations

• HR and talent development

• IT and digital health

• Population health and community health

• Quality, patient experience and finance

As healthcare systems continue to navigate workforce shortages, rising costs and increasing expectations for quality and equity, the need for leaders who can deliver results has never been greater.

“This is about building leaders who can move organizations forward,” said Medvedev. “Not only understanding the challenges, but having the ability to solve them.”