Jefferson Expands AI Education With New Online Healthcare-Focused Master’s Program

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming healthcare, from helping physicians document patient visits to streamlining administrative work. As the technology becomes more deeply embedded across the industry, Jefferson is preparing students not just to use AI but to lead its responsible implementation.

The newest addition to that effort is the MS in Health AI, a fully online program launching this fall semester through the Jefferson College of Population Health. Designed specifically for healthcare professionals and aspiring leaders, the program prepares graduates to harness AI to improve patient care, healthcare operations and population health while emphasizing ethics, governance and real-world application.

The program builds on Jefferson’s commitment to AI education, giving students another pathway to develop the skills needed to navigate one of healthcare’s fastest-changing fields.

“AI adoption in healthcare is increasing at a dramatic rate, spanning clinical operations, patient-facing services, administrative functions and much more,” says Dr. Billy Oglesby, Humana Dean of the Jefferson College of Population Health. “Program graduates will not only position themselves as leaders in their organizations, but as architects of how to implement person-centered AI solutions responsibly and ethically.”

Preparing Healthcare for the Next Generation of AI
While AI degree programs are becoming more common, Jefferson built the new program specifically around healthcare.

“This is not a computer science or engineering program for programmers,” Dr. Oglesby says. “It’s specifically designed for people who want to learn how to leverage AI to improve healthcare.”

Jefferson will help address two workforce gaps with the new degree, says program director Dr. Richard Hass.

“One is training data scientists who now need AI expertise because it’s becoming part of nearly every analytics job,” says Dr. Hass, also program director for Jefferson’s PhD in Population Health Science and MS in Health Data Science. “The other is preparing healthcare leaders to understand how these technologies work, how to evaluate them and how to use them responsibly.”

Rather than focusing only on classroom concepts, the capstone project allows students to solve practical healthcare problems, whether that’s improving operational workflows, supporting clinical decision-making or developing research tools using AI.

“The idea is that students walk away with something they can talk about in an interview or bring back to their current employer,” Dr. Hass says. “It connects everything in the curriculum back to the real world.”

Jules Vigliotti will pursue the health AI degree to strengthen her role as senior director of revenue and risk intelligence at Jefferson’s Office of Enterprise Corporate Compliance.

“I’m often asked to provide guidance and feedback on a variety of healthcare AI initiatives,” she says. “As AI continues to become more integrated into the healthcare industry, I recognized the importance of developing a deeper understanding of the technology to remain relevant and provide informed, strategic advice.

“My primary interests are understanding how AI products are designed, developed and monitored throughout their life cycle, as well as the ethical and regulatory responsibilities associated with creating compliant AI solutions,” Vigliotti continues. “Earning this degree allows me to bridge the gap between technology, compliance and governance, helping ensure that AI innovations are both effective and responsible.”

Designed for Busy Professionals
The program is one of only a handful of its kind nationwide. During Jefferson’s market research, faculty found it to be the only fully online, asynchronous master’s program that combines health data science, statistics and AI with a healthcare-specific curriculum and direct access to an academic medical center.

Faculty built the executive-style curriculum with flexibility in mind. Students take one accelerated course at a time, allowing them to complete the degree in approximately two years while continuing to work full time.

“The program is designed for early- and mid-career professionals looking to leverage their talents and interests in this new frontier of healthcare transformation,” Dr. Oglesby says.

Graduates will be prepared for a wide range of roles in healthcare analytics, data science, AI implementation and healthcare leadership, bringing expertise that’s becoming increasingly valuable as organizations integrate AI into everyday operations.

For professionals looking for a shorter introduction to the field, Jefferson also offers a health AI analytics advanced practice certificate. The three-course certificate provides foundational AI knowledge, and the credits can later be applied toward the master’s degree.

Part of Jefferson’s Broader AI Strategy
The new master’s program represents just one piece of Jefferson’s expanding commitment to AI education and fluency.

Earlier this year, Jefferson launched a handful of introductory, self-paced AI modules on Canvas for students. The site now features 13 curated LinkedIn Learning courses organized into three modules covering AI foundations, responsible AI practices and hands-on Microsoft Copilot skills, including prompt writing and using Copilot in Excel and Outlook.

Designed as an entry point rather than a formal course, students can explore topics at their own pace, whether they want a quick three-minute overview or a deeper dive. Course completion is tracked, allowing students to monitor their progress, but participation is optional and available at no cost using their Jefferson campus credentials. The University also plans to expand the offerings over time based on student feedback and demand.

Jefferson’s growing portfolio of AI-focused programs also includes the MS in Data Analytics & Artificial Intelligence (AI) and MS in Business Analytics & Artificial Intelligence (AI). Together, they provide educational opportunities for everyone from students seeking foundational AI literacy to professionals looking to become leaders in healthcare transformation.

“You will get experience using this next-generation technology, but you will also have important conversations about its place in society,” Dr. Hass says. “Students leave with valuable technical skills and the ability to think critically about how AI should be used responsibly in healthcare.”