COURSES

Advanced Course in Improvement Science (ACIS):

Leading a Culture of Improvers

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ABOUT THE PROGRAM

This seven-month course is for individuals who have been trained in improvement science and are interested in becoming improvement leaders capable of driving change in complex healthcare systems.

Our advanced course focuses on improving knowledge of improvement science and its practical application. At the heart of the program is W. Edwards Deming’s System of Profound Knowledge, a framework for understanding systems and leading improvement:

  • Appreciation of Systems: Understand how components of a system interact, and move beyond silos to manage complex systems.

  • Theory of Knowledge: Use theory, evidence, and disciplined inquiry to test assumptions.

  • Understanding Variation: Distinguish meaningful signals from routine process variation to inform sound leadership decisions.

  • Knowledge of Psychology: Understand human behavior, foster intrinsic motivation, and develop teams capable of change.

All participants should view their improvement work as an integral part of their role and career development. The course is intensive and will require a significant amount of work outside of classes before, during, and after the course.

  • You are able to apply for this course at any time, but the application window ends on August 31st for each cohort.

  • Advanced.

    Leaders, champions and improvement professionals who are leading improvement efforts across programs and systems.

  • $7,000 for Stanford Medicine participants or $10,000 for external participants

  • The course traditionally starts with an in-person week in September or October, followed by a virtual week in November. We traditionally hold the next two, in-person sessions in January/February and March/April. We also require that each student present a poster of their work at our annual improvement symposium in May.

    The 2026-2027 course lays out as follows:

    • October 5-7, 2026 (In person)

    • November 16-19, 2026 (Virtual)

    • January 25-29, 2027 (In person)

    • April 12-15, 2027 (In person)

    • May 4, 2027 (Quality Symposium Poster Presentation)

  • Hybrid.

    3 weeks in-person in Palo Alto, CA, and 1 week virtual.

  • Nomination and sponsorship by an executive leader.

    Completion of an intermediate-level improvement course (Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, RITE, QuILT, etc.) and/or an advanced-level improvement course, like the Stanford Medicine Specialist Course in Improvement Science (Lean Six Sigma Black Belt).

  • Click here to view our 2026-2027 Cohort 7 Syllabus

  • This course requires three weeks of in-person attendance and one week of virtual attendance, amounting to 128 hours of class time over 7 months. An additional 50-65 hours is required for homework, workgroup discussions, and pre-reads. Participants should anticipate approximately 4 hours of pre-reading before each week of class and 2-3 hours of a combination of readings, work group discussion and other studies each week throughout the course.

  • Click here to check out our distinguished alumni

ACIS Voices

Hear from some of our leaders and former students discuss the Stanford Medicine Advanced Course in Improvement Science.

Reach out in the form here to learn more about the course.

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TESTIMONIALS

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“Participating in the ACIS cohort is truly an honor, offering an incredibly valuable format to learn together with colleagues who bring diverse perspectives in healthcare delivery."
“Participating in the ACIS cohort is truly an honor, offering an incredibly valuable format to learn together with colleagues who bring diverse perspectives in healthcare delivery."

Karen Ellis, DPT, LSSBB, ACIS Graduate

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“I gained valuable leadership insights, practical improvement tools and a deeper appreciation for the power of collaboration in driving meaningful change."
“I gained valuable leadership insights, practical improvement tools and a deeper appreciation for the power of collaboration in driving meaningful change."

Bilwa Buchake, MPH, ACIS Graduate

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“ACIS provided me with the opportunity to learn from exceptional speakers & collaborate closely with colleagues has significantly enhanced my skills as a healthcare leader.”
“ACIS provided me with the opportunity to learn from exceptional speakers & collaborate closely with colleagues has significantly enhanced my skills as a healthcare leader.”

Alice Yan, PhD, CPHQ, ACIS Graduate

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“ACIS was instrumental in advancing my QI knowledge and arming me with the skills necessary to grow a successful improvement program anywhere.”
“ACIS was instrumental in advancing my QI knowledge and arming me with the skills necessary to grow a successful improvement program anywhere.”

Jay Shah, MD, ACIS Graduate

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“The speakers were phenomenal, the connections made with my colleagues continue to be instrumental and I continue to call upon the learnings in my day-to-day work as an improvement leader.”
“The speakers were phenomenal, the connections made with my colleagues continue to be instrumental and I continue to call upon the learnings in my day-to-day work as an improvement leader.”

Lauren Destino, MD, Graduate

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