For more than 50 years, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Health Services Administration (HSA) has developed leaders to shape health care. In fact, 1 in 3 HSA alumni has served in a C-Suite position.
Maybe even more impressive, is the number of C-Suite and other rising leaders who choose UAB for advanced education in healthcare leadership, quality, and informatics.
“Look at any of our executive program cohorts and you will see that 75 percent of the students are vice presidents and up, bringing together years of work experience as clinicians and administrators. Practicing healthcare leaders choose UAB to learn from our world-class faculty and from each other,” said Christy Harris Lemak, Ph.D., Chair, UAB Department of Health Services Administration.
UAB’s advanced leadership education approach provides continuity and a strong network for students who come from diverse professional backgrounds. It also develops a closeness and comfort level among classmates that continues beyond the program.
“Perhaps the most valuable take away for me is that senior level executives need a safe place to learn, grow and build relationships with others, from a wide variety of sectors,” said UAB HSA alumnus Virginia Razo, DSc, CEO, Curry Health Network. “You get all of that and more as an executive student at UAB.”
In the rapidly changing world of health care, people need a program that is smart enough to adapt, nimble enough to adjust, and futuristic enough to advance as the environment evolves.
UAB HSA offers five programs designed for those who wish to lead in today’s dynamic healthcare system. Each offers a unique and engaging learning experience where students do not have to quit their job or relocate their family in order to enhance their career opportunities.
Some of the courses are offered in a unique blended method (offered online with only a few campus visits required each year), while others are completed totally online. Either way, each program combines excellence with convenience for working healthcare leaders.
Deborah Grimes, Chief Diversity Officer and Associate Vice President, Quality / Chief Compliance Officer, UAB Hospital, has an RN, a JD and several certifications so she is no stranger to continued education. When she decided to earn her Master’s degree in healthcare quality and safety, she chose UAB HSA because of the caliber of everyone involved.
“I learned so much that enhanced my knowledge about evidence-based practice on how healthcare quality is defined, measured and improved,” said Grimes. “Overall, it strengthened the emphasis of cultivating a culture of excellence in patient safety and that is something that will help those I work with and those we ultimately work for – our patients.”
Many UAB programs include an integrative capstone project where a student works for multiple semesters to solve a complex healthcare problem that could be a challenge they are facing at work. This is a distinct opportunity for students to apply what they are learning in class, collaborate with classmates, and showcase their leadership and problem solving abilities in their own organizations.
“My capstone project resulted in a true quality improvement for our Emergency Department,” said Kathy Monroe, M.D., Medical Director, Children’s of Alabama Emergency Department and UAB HQS alumnus. “The skills I gained during the program were instrumental in getting this project to success.”
Thomas R. Hunt, III, DSc, M.D., whose UAB executive doctoral dissertation looked at patient care outcomes related to nurse Magnet designation, agrees with Monroe and believes an advanced education is critical for anyone who wishes to make a difference at the highest levels.
“The DSc credentials allow me as a physician to be considered for administrative health system posts,” said Hunt, Chair, Joseph Barnhart Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine. “These same credentials allow my voice to be heard around the board table.”
The UAB Health Services Administration’s advanced education programs include:
• Masters in Health Administration (uab.edu/EMSHA)
– Preparing clinicians and administrators for senior management.
• Masters or Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics (uab.edu/HI)
– Online core/track model of Data Analytics or User Experience.
• Masters or Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Quality & Safety (uab.edu/HQS)
– Completely online programs offering multi-disciplinary perspectives on best practices.
• Executive Doctor of Science (DSc) for healthcare leaders (uab.edu/EXECDOC)
– Sharing diverse experiences, learning and developing together, exchanging ideas that move the industry forward
• Masters in Healthcare Simulation (uab.edu/SIM)
– Creating leaders where all healthcare disciplines intersect to improve outcomes.
