The University of Miami Patti and Allan Herbert Business School is launching the Global Physician Executive Business Accelerator, a first-of-its-kind executive education program designed exclusively for physicians transitioning into senior leadership roles.
The six-month online program, launching in April 2026, addresses a critical need in healthcare as physicians increasingly find themselves promoted to executive positions without formal business training. Unlike traditional executive education programs that mix professions, the Global Physician Executive Business Accelerator creates a physician-only learning environment where participants can develop essential business competencies while maintaining their clinical credibility.
“Physician executives need to understand financial statements, budget implications, and strategic decision-making,” said Edward Kroger, lead facilitator for the program. “Clinical expertise alone, no matter how distinguished, doesn’t prepare leaders for boardroom discussions about capital investments or resource allocation.”
Kroger, who holds an M.D., J.D., and M.B.A., brings more than 45 years of legal, healthcare, and business experience to the program. As a former board-certified internist who spent 30-plus years representing healthcare systems in legal and business matters, he uniquely understands both clinical practice and business leadership.
The program curriculum is structured around three core pillars essential to physician leadership success: strategic leadership, healthcare finance, and technology and data innovation. Participants will engage in bi-monthly 90-minute sessions over six months, with scheduling designed to accommodate demanding physician work schedules.
The program features distinguished faculty who combine academic excellence with extensive healthcare leadership experience. Alongside Kroger, Han Stice, Ph.D., associate professor of accounting at George Mason University, brings expertise in financial statement analysis and managerial accounting, with executive training experience that spans U.S.-based and international programs including INSEAD in Paris and Singapore. Ingrid Vasiliu-Feltes, M.D., EMBA, FAPA, FACHE, physician executive lecturer at Miami Herbert Business School and founder and CEO of the Institute for Science, Entrepreneurship and Investments, contributes specialized knowledge in healthcare technology and digital ethics.
Program participants will receive comprehensive support including three individual executive coaching sessions, direct access to senior healthcare executives through “executives-in-dialogue” sessions and personalized action planning tailored to their specific organizational challenges. Upon completion, participants will earn a certificate from Miami Herbert Business School and join an alumni network of global physician leaders.
The program is designed for newly appointed chief medical officers, medical directors transitioning from clinical roles, department heads preparing for executive advancement, and physician partners navigating organizational change. With global accessibility through its fully online format, the program is accepting applications from physicians worldwide.
“This program represents Miami Herbert’s commitment to developing purpose-driven leaders who can navigate the intersection of clinical excellence and business acumen,” said Rony Shir, associate dean of executive education at Miami Herbert. “We're creating a community of physician executives who can lead healthcare transformation while maintaining the human connection that makes healthcare meaningful.”
The program fee is $10,000. For more information about the Global Physician Executive Business Accelerator or to request information about enrollment, visit the program website or contact Blake Renfro at bar250@miami.edu.
