Dennis Joseph, MSW, MPhil, CPHQ, CPPS, CLSSBB and Maria Dennis, MDS | Safety, Quality, Informatics, and Leadership
Dennis Joseph, MSW, MPhil, CPHQ, CPPS, CLSSBB, serves as the director of quality at Royale Hayat Hospital in Kuwait. His daughter, Maria Dennis, MDS, is a dentist specializing in periodontics and implantology. Motivated by a desire to refine his analytical and leadership skills and to manage international health care quality and safety initiatives, Dennis enrolled in Harvard Medical School’s Safety, Quality, Informatics, and Leadership certificate program. Inspired by her father’s journey and eager to strengthen her own expertise in safety and quality, Maria joined the program as well. Though they came from distinct backgrounds—one administrative, one clinical—their shared experience enriched their learning and provided complementary perspectives.
Applying Their Learnings
With a background in hospital administration and human resources, Dennis has long been dedicated to improving health care delivery. His pursuit of excellence led him to earn a Master of Philosophy in Hospital and Health System Management, alongside multiple professional certifications. The emphasis on analytics and informatics in the Safety, Quality, Informatics, and Leadership program particularly resonated with him. “The significance of converting data into information and using it for improvement is imperative for future health care leaders,” he says.
For Maria, coming from a clinical background as a dentist, the program opened her eyes to the power of data and informatics in enhancing patient care. “The first step I took back to my organization was to invest in a hospital management system,” she explains. “The Safety, Quality, Informatics, and Leadership program provided the foundational knowledge to assess requirements and make informed investments tailored to my practice.”
Beyond informatics, both Dennis and Maria gained a deeper understanding of patient-centered care and the importance of involving families in treatment planning. “The concept of people-centeredness—engaging patients and their families in designing individualized care plans—is a significant move in the right direction,” Dennis notes. Maria has already implemented these principles in her practice, witnessing firsthand their impact. “I didn’t realize that such a simple step could drastically improve patient satisfaction,” she says.
Redefining Leadership Development
The Safety, Quality, Informatics, and Leadership program goes beyond technical and analytical skills, fostering leadership and communication development—essential competencies for professionals transitioning into health care administrative roles.
After completing the program, Maria was promoted to administration and clinic coordinator at her practice. “The perspective this program gave me raised my platform and directed me to lead with an empathetic approach,” she says. “It redefined my understanding of what it means to be a leader, helping me navigate decision-making with confidence.”
Dennis, too, found the leadership training instrumental as he advanced in his career. “As I take on the role of an international health care accreditation surveyor, I know that I have the leadership skills and tools to navigate complexities with confidence,” he says. “The program provides a comprehensive approach to leadership development, as well as an appreciation for different leadership styles.”
Joining a Global Community
For both Dennis and Maria, one of the most valuable aspects of the program was the opportunity to engage with a global network of professionals. “I was amazed at the level of experience and insight my peers brought to the program,” Maria shares. “Learning from their challenges and approaches reinforced how universal our goals in health care are.”
Despite the time-zone challenges of participating in virtual workshops from Kuwait, they found the collaborative projects engaging. “Finding time to attend lectures late at night and into the early morning was a challenge,” Dennis admits, “but the group discussions and thought-provoking assignments kept us motivated.”
These workshops honed their teamwork skills while exposing them to a wealth of diverse perspectives. “Our group assignments reinforced the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration—leveraging different strengths, adopting new technologies, and working toward a common goal,” Dennis says.
Their connections extended beyond the virtual classroom. As an alumnus, Dennis has attended multiple networking events at the Harvard Club in Kuwait, strengthening ties within the Harvard community. “Wherever I go, I find someone from Harvard,” he says. “It’s incredible to be part of such a far-reaching network.”
Encouraging and Empowering Peers
At the program’s graduation ceremony, Dennis was honored by his peers, who selected him to deliver the class speech—an especially meaningful moment, as his daughter was among the graduates. “It was a proud moment as a daughter to be part of such a memorable event,” Maria reflects.
Beyond supporting his daughter’s professional growth, Dennis sees the program as a platform for empowering others. “This program provided me with the tools to help my peers identify and bridge gaps, fostering both personal and professional development,” he says.
Through their shared journey, Dennis and Maria have demonstrated how collaboration across disciplines—and even generations—can drive meaningful advancements in health care quality and patient safety.