The Masters of Science Health Services Administration Program recently held its first alumni event on campus. The wine and cheese party was a complete success with more than 80 attending. Attendees included alumni from all areas of the healthcare industry, including representatives from South Miami Hospital, the Cleveland Clinic and Memorial Hospital. Alumni in attendance included former students dating back to the class of 1997.

(l-r) Dr Alan Whiteman, Associate Dean of Master in Health Services Administration Program; Maria Pacheco, alumna; Tom Sliney, Esq., R.A. Ritter Foundation; Carol and Charles Felix, South Florida Hospital News.

Tom Sliney, Esq., President, R.A. Ritter Foundation, Inc. was presented with a recognition plaque in honor of the foundation’s continued scholarship awards to health services administration graduate students. Modern Healthcare, in the November 14, 2005 edition, ranked Barry’s MS/HSA program as the 12th largest of the 25 largest in the nation, based on enrollment.

The Master of Science Health Services Administration is designed to meet the needs of busy healthcare professionals. Students in our program have varied backgrounds including physicians, nurses, therapists, social workers and a wide variety of other backgrounds. They have chosen healthcare because it provides challenges and rewards not available in other careers.

(l-r) Dr Evelio Velis; Dr Jeff Ritter; Sr John Karen Frei, Dean of the Health Services Administration Program; Dr Alan Whiteman and Adrianne Levin, sponsor from American Association of Dispensing Physicians.

The Master of Science Program Health Services Administration growth attests to the potential career opportunities existing in the marketplace. The program enrollment has tripled over the past 3 years and courses are offered in 6 locations, in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties.

Graduates work in ambulatory care settings, hospitals, long-term care, home health, hospitals, managed care organizations and public and governmental agencies. In addition, a number of our graduates have used this degree as a stepping stone to further their education. Currently, alumni are enrolled in medical school, doctoral programs, and law school studying health law.

Sitting l-r: Julia Thompson, Health Services Administration staff; Maria Pacheco; Jared Peroune, Pianist; and Urmala Roopnarinesingh, alumna. Standing l-r: Alumni Dorothy Mills, Michael Durr, Carmen Rodriguez and Sandra Bolden

Remember, the need for health professionals is not regulated by the economy. People get sick and require care in well managed facilities providing state-of-the-art quality care.