Boehringer Ingelheim announced the launch of its University of Medicine Excellence (UME). The company has officially launched UME and appointed the world-renowned Harvard Medical School (HMS) to deliver its inaugural program, ‘Accelerate’. Until the end of next year, Boehringer Ingelheim will invest US $ 3.4 million into the program.

UME supports the company in attracting and developing the next generation of leading experts in clinical development and medical affairs. It will be a place where learning focuses on giving people the skills to achieve Boehringer Ingelheim’s transformation goals, aimed at bringing innovative treatments to patients faster than ever before.

“Working with HMS will help us equip our internal medical professionals with the perspectives, tools and insights needed to create more value amid this complex and changing health care landscape”, says Guido Scholze, Head of UME.

Boehringer Ingelheim’s Corporate Senior Vice President of Medicine and Chief Medical Officer, Dr Mehdi Shahidi is equally confident that UME can boost the company’s transformation goals. “We believe investing in our people is fundamental as we strive for excellence and to achieve our ambitions of successfully developing new medicines”, he said. “Working together with HMS, UME’s inaugural program will help us to accelerate progress in areas of unmet medical need and deliver breakthrough therapies to patients around the world.“

The program combines state-of-the-art clinical development, cutting edge medical affairs and advanced business management training in a live setting with interconnected peer development.  Approximately 1000 learners will embark on the four-month program over the next year and a half. Working together to develop the curriculum for Accelerate has brought to light a shared passion for excellence and positive patient outcomes.