Peer Learning at Emory: Why Healthcare Leaders Need a Community
| Summary:
This article highlights how Emory’s Chief Medical Officer Program uses peer learning and community to strengthen healthcare leadership. |
Emory Executive Education has intentionally designed its healthcare leadership programs around cohort-based learning. Drawing on the combined strengths of the Goizueta Business School, Emory School of Medicine, and Emory Healthcare, programs such as the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Program emphasize community-driven learning alongside academic rigor.
For many physicians, healthcare is rooted in a commitment to patient care. However, as they advance into senior leadership roles, they are often required to navigate the complex business and operational dimensions of healthcare with limited formal preparation. This reality led Dr. R. Amadeus Mason to join the inaugural cohort of Emory’s Chief Medical Officer Program, where he found the program’s curriculum and peer network instrumental to his leadership development.
“The program didn’t just teach me how to lead; it gave me the strategic tools to drive change and solve real-world challenges,” he noted. “It also revolutionized how I communicate, helping me connect with clarity, confidence, and intent. It’s a must for anyone stepping into leadership roles in healthcare.”
–Amadeus Mason, Chief Medical Officer, Atlanta United FC
Emory CMO Program: Key Elements of the Peer Learning Model
Key elements of Emory’s peer learning model found in the CMO Program include:
Academic Rigor Anchored in Human Connection
Emory University’s leadership development philosophy combines rigorous academic frameworks with deep human connection, ensuring learning is both intellectually grounded and personally relevant for healthcare leaders.
Cohort-Based, Community-Oriented Design
The Emory Chief Medical Officer Program is intentionally structured around a cohort model, allowing participants to progress together over time. This approach fosters trust, continuity, and sustained dialogue, creating a strong sense of professional community.
Global Peer Exchange
The CMO Program brings together high-achieving medical leaders from around the world, enabling the exchange of diverse perspectives across geographies, healthcare systems, and organizational contexts.
Facilitated, Experiential Learning
Peer learning is supported through facilitated discussions and hands-on experiential exercises. Faculty serve as guides rather than lecturers, helping participants translate lived experience into practical insight.
Integrated Business and Healthcare Expertise
Instruction blends world-class business education from the Goizueta Business School with industry leadership from the Woodruff Health Sciences Center, offering a comprehensive perspective on healthcare leadership.
Psychological Safety and Inclusive Dialogue
The program’s intentional design creates a safe space where open dialogue is encouraged, and diverse viewpoints are valued, enriching the collective learning journey.
Community as a Catalyst for Growth
At Emory, community is an intentional and integral component of the learning experience, supporting professional growth, leadership development, and sustained peer connection.
This structure ensures that learning is not only informative but deeply relevant and immediately applicable.
“I really like when I go to the forum. The speakers always offer a different perspective on important healthcare issues or leadership fundamentals. I refer to my notes from the forum for my job every day. I’m planning to go again next year. The greatest thing I took from the program is the amazing network of classmates I developed. We talk a few times a month to exchange ideas, see where we are at, and see what we need in our jobs. I wouldn’t have that without the CMO Program.”
–Dr. Jose Jiminez, Senior Vice President, Medical Affairs, MCS Puerto Rico
Curious about how these peer connections actually come to life in practice? Explore this further in our article offering a closer look into how healthcare leaders engage, exchange ideas, and learn together at Emory forums.
The future of healthcare leadership is a collective endeavor that requires both strategic business acumen and a supportive professional community. By prioritizing shared learning and human connection, Emory University ensures that healthcare executives are never alone in navigating the complexities of modern medicine. Discover how you can advance your impact as a strategic physician leader by visiting the Emory Chief Medical Officer Program page.
