Healthcare Innovation

Course Overview

Joint government initiative Health Innovation Hub Ireland operates through a consortium of four academic partners, one of which - Trinity College Dublin (TCD) has specific responsibility for the delivery of educational products that will stimulate a culture of innovation in Irish healthcare. This Postgraduate Diploma is led by Prof Seamas Donnelly - Professor of Medicine and Director for Global Relations at the School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin and HIHI Principal Investigator, as part of this remit.



Healthcare is entering a period of accelerated disruptive innovation with rapid discovery and adoption of new approaches to improve patient outcomes. To thrive and lead in a world of increased complexity requires skills in innovative thinking and creative execution. Through this one-year postgraduate diploma programme, you will be supported to develop a personal innovation framework for leadership. You will be ready to propose future health solutions, stepping up to the next level in your career development.



This course aims to develop you as a strategic leader to engage, shape and enable a culture of innovation across your organisation; advance your ability to ideate, design and implement innovative and novel solutions for organisations or as entrepreneurs; develop you as a skilled practitioner, adept at harnessing innovation to thrive in the opportunity of tomorrows healthcare world; equip you with practical frameworks and the best in international innovation practices in innovation.



The Postgraduate Diploma in Healthcare Innovation comprises of eight taught modules consisting of six foundation modules and two project modules, including methodology workshops, and a practical field project.



Module attendance comprises two-day blocks approx. every six weeks (Friday and Saturday), to facilitate work release. Each module attendance day consists of eight hours of lecture sessions, group presentations, and in-class exercises. Non-contact time for each module is made up of pre-module reading, pre-module paper submission, and end-of-module research, end-of-module assignment and application in the workplace of the project.



Is This Course For Me?

This course is designed for professionals at mid-to-senior level seeking to maximise their personal impact and influence and professionals looking to develop a practical framework of innovation practices, using these to shape the direction of their organisation. This programme is for you if you are looking to master an innovative approach to healthcare specifically, solving challenges with new technologies and approaches which will transform current practice.



Module attendance comprises two-day blocks approx. every six weeks (Friday and Saturday), to facilitate work release. Each module attendance day consists of eight hours of lecture sessions, group presentations, and in-class exercises. Non-contact time for each module is made up of pre-module reading, pre-module paper submission, and end-of-module research, end-of-module assignment and application in the workplace of the project.

Module 1: Evolution and revolution in the healthcare landscape

Module 2: Design Thinking and Embedding a Culture of Innovation in Healthcare

Module 3: New Venture Dynamics in Healthcare & Life Sciences

Module 4: Process Innovation, Lean Thinking & Quality Centric perspectives.

Module 5: Health Economics - Rethinking strategy, Objectives & Incentives

Module 6: Healthcare Management, Leadership & Innovation

Module 7: Healthcare Innovation Project : Phase 1 – Frameworks & Research

Module 8: Healthcare Innovation Project : Phase 2 - Practicum

Applicants are expected to hold an undergraduate Bachelor's degree with an upper second-class (2.1) grade or higher. Experience of working in the healthcare sector is required.



Applicants whose first language is not English and who have not been educated through the English language must present a relevant qualification.

Closing Date: 31st July 2025

1 year full-time



Module attendance comprises two-day blocks approx. every six weeks (Friday and Saturday), to facilitate work release.

Next Intake: September 2025

Career Opportunities

Building a detailed, critical and practical understanding of innovation and how to embed new approaches within the health ecosystem globally, this course advances graduates' career prospects both in terms of promotion eligibility and post-graduate training.