By Danielle Ellerbe, DNP, FNP-BC, RN
Vibrant, colorful, rich in culture, diverse in population, burgeoning in innovation, hub for entrepreneurs and business, gateway to the world—these phrases encapsulate the essence of Miami, and our institution is honored to bear this dynamic city’s name. This is fitting because the University of Miami reflects and fosters the very characteristics that define our city in the fabric of its education, faculty, and student population. As one of only 71 research universities recognized by the Association of American Universities (AAU), we attract students from across the globe who seek to explore the world of healthcare through the unique lens that only our institution can offer.
This is distinctly represented in the Health Management and Policy programs at Miami Herbert Business School (MHBS). MHBS has recently climbed to spot #22 among the top nationally ranked undergraduate programs in the country according to Poets&Quants. Our triple crown accreditation status (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, EQUIS EFMD Quality Improvement System, and the Association of MBAs)—a feat achieved by less than 1% of business schools worldwide—demonstrates the high-quality standards to which we aspire. Departmentally, our business-based healthcare programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME), achieved by less than 150 other healthcare management programs in the nation.
The Health Management and Policy undergraduate programs are thriving, attracting students interested in both the business side of healthcare and pre-clinical medicine. Our approach recognizes the need for astute students who aspire to lead healthcare entities to understand the complexities of the industry. We also emphasize the importance of future clinicians understanding the business side of healthcare, as it ultimately enhances their clinical care, rounds out their decision-making, and improves patient outcomes. Thus, our classrooms are filled with students from diverse disciplines—economics, law, finance, health management and policy, global health studies, biology, chemistry, nursing, and pre-medical studies—creating a collaborative learning environment. These students absorb the complexities of healthcare evolution, insurance programs, healthcare personnel, health policy, and more. The number of students declaring Health Management and Policy majors and minors is expected to grow, highlighting the importance of our business school-based health education in shaping the future of healthcare.
At the graduate level, the Health Management and Policy department offers three distinctive programs designed to equip students with the skills needed to be transformative leaders in healthcare. True to the Miami Herbert Business School motto, our Master of Health Administration (MHA) program, Health Executive MBA (HEMBA) program, and our MD/MBA program all aim to shape leaders who will drive innovation, impact, and scholarship. Our competency-based curricula in each of these programs prepares future healthcare leaders for success by integrating health management and policy education with evidence-based experiential learning and professional development through team-based and individual learning, guided by highly qualified faculty engaged in practice and scholarship. The Master of Health Administration program has grown to its largest cohort yet, attracting a diverse group of recently graduated undergraduates and future mid-to high-level administrators from various healthcare sectors. We are proud to be one of the few MHA programs in the country with a business-first approach to healthcare, which has contributed to our 100% job placement rate within four months of graduation for the class of 2023. The Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification our MHA students earn equips them to be effective assets in improving processes systematically during their internships, fellowships, and future employment. The Health Executive MBA program continues to draw students with an average of fifteen years of professional experience, representing a spectrum of healthcare leaders, clinicians, and professionals from outside the industry. The three-day weekend format, once a month, allows students from across the country and the globe to convene on campus, learn, and grow. This program, now in its 46th year, has graduated over 1,000 alumni. The MD/MBA program, attracting its largest cohort yet, is a collaboration between Miami Herbert Business School and the Miller School of Medicine. This program offers physicians in training the opportunity to augment their medical education with an MBA, fulfilling the important goal of influencing healthcare delivery through their clinical practice.
Despite the growth of our programs, students consistently tout the intimate classroom sizes that foster formative discussion, debate, and the exchange of ideas, deepening their application of classroom knowledge. Health Management and Policy faculty and staff foster a culture of inclusivity, excellence, and belonging through various professional growth opportunities, social gatherings, and mentorship. These relationships extend into a tight-knit network of thousands of alumni who serve as advisors and industry connectors for current students. Our esteemed HMP advisory board, made up of representative leaders from distinguished local and national health care organizations and companies, facilitate the connection between our curriculum and industry practice. Our annual Business of Healthcare Conference attracts thousands of industry experts to converge, learn, and network in an era of rapid change and transformation. Our students consistently perform at the top of their cohorts in case competitions hosted by professional healthcare organizations, showcasing their knowledge and practical application. We cherish these close partnerships and collaborations in and outside of the classroom with professional organizations including the American College of Healthcare Executives and the National Association for Health Services Executives.
The city of Miami is bustling and growing, and so is its beloved University of Miami. We follow the city’s dynamic lead, while also making our own mark on the city, the nation, and the world through the growing expertise of our faculty, students, and alumni.
Danielle Ellerbe is an Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in the Department of Health Management and Policy at the University of Miami Herbert Business School. She is the Academic Director of the MHA program. For more information, visit www.bus.miami.edu.
