Successful launch of new leadership program – Executive Medical Management bridges public healthcare and life science

The new academic leadership program Executive Medical Management (15 ECTS) has been launched in collaboration between AstraZeneca, the Västra Götaland Region, and the Centre for Health Governance at the School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg. The new program was fully subscribed within a short time, and the first two modules of the pilot round have now been completed. The opening sessions were marked by the latest academic insights, strong participant engagement, lively discussions, and extensive networking.

Executive Medical Management aims to increase mutual understanding of the conditions and governance of both the healthcare and life science sectors, and to strengthen the potential for collaboration, innovation, and organizational transformation. Participants are managers and leaders from both sectors, and the program takes as its point of departure the ongoing and future changes in healthcare and the needs of patients.

The academic faculty includes researchers from both the University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology. They are complemented by representatives from healthcare and industry, who contribute practical perspectives on change processes and the governance of complex organizations.

The idea for the program originated in a steering group established to promote the development of life science and healthcare in western Sweden and nationally. The group identified a need for an educational initiative that could strengthen leaders’ understanding of the importance of collaboration between public healthcare and industry, and of the different conditions and drivers of each actor. The importance of competence development in innovation and change management was also emphasized.

An executive-level program

Ramon Nogueras, Senior Project Director, Site Management Team at AstraZeneca, and Berit Roos Holmquist, HR Strategist for Leadership and Management at the Västra Götaland Region, have both been involved in designing the program together with the Centre for Health Governance, a cross-disciplinary collaboration between the School of Business, Economics and Law and the Sahlgrenska Academy, and GU Executive Education.

“We are in the midst of a major transformation of the entire healthcare sector and see a growing need for leaders who can handle increasingly complex issues, rapid change, and a fast-moving technological landscape. There is also a growing need for collaboration between public healthcare and industry. Both ultimately aim to help patients. Many programs focus on the public sector and how it differs from private enterprise. We wanted one that includes both and sheds light on their respective challenges. That is why we turned to academia,” says Ramon Nogueras.

“The participants are experienced managers with strong implementation capacity, and our goal was to design a program at an executive level. It is also important that the program, in addition to industry and the public sector, includes academia and research. The program is designed to build both understanding and relationships, providing time for networking and discussion. Participants need to see each other’s realities. It is about finding shared areas of development that ultimately lead to better care for patients. The first two modules have already met expectations according to our follow-up, and we hope that experience will continue throughout the program,” says Berit Roos Holmquist.

Insightful and relevant

One of the participants in Executive Medical Management is Gunnar Magnusson, Head of Information Practice, Respiratory and Immunology at AstraZeneca. He joined the program to broaden his perspective and strengthen his business acumen, and was particularly attracted by the mix of participants:

“The opportunity to exchange experiences with leaders from both AstraZeneca and Sahlgrenska University Hospital is a major advantage of the program. The public and private sectors may face different challenges, but when looking at the major trends and how we respond to them, clear similarities emerge. This was evident already in the first module. So far, the program feels both very interesting and highly relevant. The format works extremely well – everyone is engaged, and discussions and reflections are lively.”

Focus on the system level

Another participant, Yvonne Simrén, physician and Head of Health Professions and Pediatric Radiology within the Västra Götaland Region, also highlights the engaging discussions and inspiring lectures:

“An open and inclusive atmosphere was created right from the start. It was fascinating to take part in the latest research on leadership and governance in complex healthcare organizations. I appreciate that the program focuses on leadership at the system level, not the individual level, and that we gain insight into each other’s operations. Combined with the exchanges within the group, this clearly enhances our ability to collaborate.”

About Executive Medical Management

Executive Medical Management is designed for leaders in both the healthcare and life science sectors, in public as well as private organizations, who are responsible for complex operations where change management, innovation, and implementation are part of their daily leadership.

The program is offered on a part-time basis and awards 15 ECTS credits. Participants meet at the School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg over a total of 16 on-campus days, divided into eight modules. The program includes international components and is conducted in English. Academic lecturers are drawn from several faculties at the University of Gothenburg and from Chalmers University of Technology, complemented by guest speakers from both the public and private sectors.

The first cohort includes participants from AstraZeneca, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, and Mölnlycke Healthcare. A decision on the next program cycle, planned to start in autumn 2026, will be made around the turn of the year. The next round will welcome leaders across all healthcare and life science organizations.

Read more: Executive Medical Management | GU Executive Education

For further information:

Håkan Ericson
Senior Associate Business Development Director
hakan.ericson@handels.gu.se
+46 709 50 63 35

GU Executive Education operates in close collaboration with the School of Business, Economics and Law and other faculties at the University of Gothenburg, as well as with a global network of partner universities and researchers. GU Executive Education offers advanced leadership programs that combine evidence-based knowledge with practical relevance, fostering innovation, strategic thinking, and sustainable development for leaders in both the private and public sectors.

https://www.guexed.com/