Training

Improvement Advisor Professional Development Program

Improvement Advisor Professional Development Program: United States

Format:

In-Person & Online

Course Opens:

Sep 09, 2025

Sep 30, 2025

Where:

Boston, MA, USA

Sessions:

Three In-Person Workshops, Monthly Zoom Calls

Fee:

$16,400 per person

Get inside info on this exclusive program! Join an Info Call with Improvement Advisor faculty and staff
May 29, 2025
2:00 PM ET
Register here

Build Advanced Knowledge and Skills to Excel in the Science of Improvement

The Improvement Advisor (IA) is devoted to helping identify, plan, and execute improvement projects throughout an organization, deliver successful results, and spread changes across the entire system. Organizations that achieve multiple and sustained improvements usually have the invaluable leadership of an IA at the helm of their improvement initiatives.

What You Will Learn

To effectively meet the demands of the job, Improvement Advisors (IAs) need a solid foundation, advanced knowledge and skills in the art and science of improvement. They also need the ability to work with and coach front-line teams in achieving and maintaining successful changes. IAs communicate effectively with senior management to summarize progress on improvement projects and clearly articulate needed sponsorship and support when projects stall.

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) offers the Improvement Advisor Professional Development Program to help individuals in this critical role build and hone such skills. This richly-packed, 10-month program is an “all teach, all learn” experience that offers:

The advanced knowledge and skills you need to excel in the art and science
of improvement
Instruction on how to use a framework comprising practical skills and
theory to drive whole system changes
A collaborative learning environment and actionable ideas that will help you
achieve maximum results

Program Design and Focus

Each participant is required to direct one or more improvement projects (connected to her or his organization’s business plan) during the program. The project provides a double benefit — a chance to achieve results in an active improvement project and a living laboratory to apply learning. The improvement project may be in any one of three categories:

Improving quality of care and services
Reducing costs while maintaining or improving quality
Expanding patient or customer satisfaction with the development of new
services or innovative ways of providing existing services

The design of this program allows participants to achieve maximum results by immediately applying the skills they learn to everyday work situations.
It is this combination of theory applied to daily work that makes the Improvement Advisor Professional Development Program unique and provides a foundation for making improvements long after the program is completed.

Who Should Attend

Health care professionals who are currently regarded as leaders of improvement efforts within the organization and want to deepen their knowledge and enhance their effectiveness in this role should attend this program. Often these individuals hold titles such as:

Director or Vice President of Quality Improvement
Quality Coach/Facilitator
Chief Quality Officer
Quality Improvement Specialist
Clinicians

Others who would benefit from this program include clinical leaders (physicians, nurses, allied health professionals) who want to make substantial improvements in the care of individuals and the health of populations while reducing health care costs.

Expert Faculty

David M. Williams, PhD, Improvement Advisor, DMW/Austin, is a scholar-practitioner in the science of improvement. He supports individuals and teams in learning the theories and methods of the science of improvement to enhance processes and systems. He works with leaders pursuing Quality as an Organizational Strategy (QOS). He supports IHI’s work as an improvement advisor and is faculty for the IHI Improvement Advisor Professional Development Program. Previously, he was Senior Lead in Improvement Science and Methods at IHI and developed the IHI Chief Quality Officer Professional Development Program. A paramedic by background, Dr. Williams practiced in urban EMS systems for many years and is an expert on paramedic care and emergency medical services systems.

Rebecca Steinfield, MA, Senior Director and Improvement Advisor, has been with IHI since 1996. She currently serves as Director of IHI’s Improvement Advisor Professional Development Program, teaches IHI courses on improvement methods, and mentors “improvers-in-training.” Rebecca sits on IHI’s Improvement Science and Methods team and serves as an Improvement Advisor on results-oriented work.

Jane Taylor, EdD, Improvement Advisor and Learning Designer, supports learning collaboratives and innovation projects by providing expertise in improvement approaches and measurement. She has advised collaboratives for both adult and pediatric populations. She is interested in the integration of transformative learning, improvement science, and clinical improvement as well as engaging persons in their care. Jane has an EdD from Columbia University, Teachers College in Adult Learning and Leadership. In her spare time, she plays the violin and is a competitive amateur ballroom dancer. Jane is a trusted friend and colleague to many; a sister, wife and aunt.

How to Participate

Due to the intensity of this program and the work on real improvement projects for the client organizations, the class size is limited.

Registration and pre-program assessments are currently being accepted on a rolling admission. This program usually fills up fast, we, therefore, encourage interested participants to register and send in their pre-program assessments as soon as possible.

Pre-Program Assessments:

Please refer to the Glossary of Terms to complete the self-assessment and read the Improvement Project Selection Guide for more information on appropriate project criteria and guidelines.

Please email the completed IA Application and the IA Knowledge and Self-Assessment Form to:

Elena Origlio, Senior Project Manager
Email: improvementprograms@ihi.org
Phone: +1 617-391-9946

Program Information:

Get inside info on this exclusive program!

Join an Info Call with Improvement Advisor faculty and staff
May 29, 2025
2:00 PM ET
Register here

Watch a recent recording here
Recorded January 18, 2024

Make the case for Improvement Advisor:
Download our Executive Summary
Download the Improvement Advisor 2025 Brochure

Session Agenda

Download the 2025 Agenda here

This 12-month professional development program includes three four-day in-person workshops in Boston, MA, and a series of web-based sessions in the months between meetings. The workshops provide an opportunity for participants to receive feedback on their projects from the faculty and fellow participants.

Some schedule elements are subject to change. Any questions or concerns about the schedule, please email: improvementprograms@ihi.org

Continuing Education

In support of improving patient care, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the health care team.

Credit totals for the 2025 Improvement Advisor program are being finalized.

This program typically provides 75 credits for physicians, nurses, and Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) recertification.

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement designates this blended learning activity for a maximum of 75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. This activity may also be applicable for other professions that accept AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.

As a result of this program, attendees will be able to:

Lead improvement efforts in your organization
Use the system of profound knowledge to guide your work -
Use Shewhart charts to understand variation -
Develop projects informed by Planned Experimentation to understand the cause-and-effect system producing the outcomes.

Planning Committee

Rebecca Steinfield, MA, Senior Project Director and Improvement Advisor, IHI
Amar Shah, MD, Chief Quality Officer, East London Foundation NHS Foundation Trust
Patricia McGaffigan, RN, MS, CPPS, Vice President, IHI
Elena Origlio, Senior Program Manager, IHI
Matt Berry, Senior Marketing Manager, IHI

Disclosure: None of the planners, presenters, or staff for this educational activity have relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

Fees & Scholarships

Enrollment Fee

Regular Rate: $16,400 per participant

This fee includes:

All program materials, tools, and literature
Monthly webinars and coaching
A community site and listserv to connect participants throughout the program and encourage active collaboration, facilitated by IHI faculty

Group Rate: $13,940 per participant

Organizations sending three or more people are eligible to receive a 15% Group Discount. Please fill out the Group Enrollment form to register a team at the Group Rate.

GSA Pricing For US Government

IHI offers GSA pricing for US government employees to enroll in this educational program. For more information and pricing, see IHI's GSA schedule.

Scholarships Available

IHI is pleased to offer a limited amount of funding for scholarships. Please note that scholarships are available to assist with program enrollment costs ONLY and are not applicable for travel, food, or accommodation costs associated with attending the program. To apply for scholarships and special discounts, complete the online Scholarship Application.

Scholarship applications are due by July 27, 2025.

Please note:

If you are eligible for a discount — because you qualify for a membership discount or you have received a need-based scholarship — it will be automatically applied to your registration. 
After checkout, you will receive a confirmation of purchase. You can also print an invoice from your online profile 24 hours after your purchase.

Payment and Cancellation Policy

Payments: Full payment is due 60 days before the start of the program. If payment in full is not received within 60 days before the program start date, IHI will notify you and cancel your registration.
- Credit card payments: Enter your credit card information online during registration or call the IHI Customer Experience Department to process payment over the phone.
- Check payments: Please mail a copy of the invoice with your payable check to IHI.
Cancellations: For cancellations made within 45 days before the start of a program, Registration fees are fully refundable if a written request is received by info@ihi.org on or before 45 days before the start of the program.
- Obtaining a visa is the responsibility of the customer. If you cannot obtain a visa in time to participate in the first in-person event, we will be able to provide a 50% refund of your enrollment fee.
Refunds: IHI will issue all refunds in the original payment type (credit card or check) within 30 days. Registrations received after 45 days or less before the start of the program are not refundable.
Substitutions: One attendee may be substituted for another at any time by emailing info@ihi.org.

Logistics

The Improvement Advisor program three four-day in-person workshops will held at:

Institute for Healthcare Improvement
53 State Street, 18th Floor
Boston, MA 02109
United States

Meals: Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided on all workshop days. Participants will be responsible for their own dinners.
Dress Code: Please dress business casual. You may wish to bring a sweater or jacket since the meeting rooms are cold at times.

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