Lipscomb launches first Master of Health Administration degree in Nashville
Kim Chaudoin | 615.966.6494 |
Lipscomb University officials announced today the launch of Nashville’s first Master of Health Administration program, considered by national accrediting organizations and industry professionals as the gold standard for preparing mid-careerist who want to build a successful career in health care leadership.
According to MHAdegree.org, professionals with an MHA degree who work in medical and health service management should see their employment prospects grow by 22 percent by 2020. In addition, a study by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education indicates that 90 percent of graduates from accredited master’s degree programs go on to jobs in health care management within three months of graduation.
Lipscomb University’s College of Business administration developed the new graduate program after collaborating with an executive advisory board for nearly two years to develop the institution’s Master of Management in Health Care program and now the Master of Health Administration degree. The advisory board is comprised of 17 industry executives including senior leaders of hospitals and health systems, health technology companies, outpatient clinics, home health agencies, health care support services as well as experts in information technology, data science, finance, operations, human resources and clinical services among others who represent for-profit, nonprofit and government sectors. Lipscomb’s program, which has a curriculum that is intentionally integrated, interactive and immersive, is designed to meet the growing workforce needs in health care industry in Nashville and nationwide.
“Health care education is a major focus at Lipscomb University, and it is important to not only train the health care practitioners at the highest level but also those who are leading these organizations so they are meeting the needs of their patients, clients and customers effectively,” said Ray Eldridge, dean of Lipscomb’s College of Business. “This program takes an innovative look at not only how healthcare works today, but where it is going in the future.”
According to a Nashville Health Care Council report released in September, the health care industry in Nashville contributes an overall economic benefit of $46.7 billion and more than 270,000 jobs to the local economy annually. The Nashville health care sector comprises more than 500 health care companies and nearly 400 professional service firms connected to the industry in the region.
“The health care industry is the single-largest sector contributing to wage growth in the Nashville region, supporting over $26.9 billion in labor income annually,” said Hayley Hovious, president of the Nashville Health Care Council. “Along with that is a great demand for professionals who are highly qualified to continue to grow and lead this industry. Lipscomb University is a great partner as they continually look to develop innovative programs that will meet the needs of the community. This new program will strengthen the health care industry in Nashville by equipping the next generation of leaders with the knowledge and vision they need to be successful.”
Mitch Edgeworth ('95), CEO, adult hospitals and clinics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said Lipscomb’s Master of Health Administration degree is designed to do just that.
"There is a need for young professionals to be prepared at the highest level to lead the health care organizations of tomorrow especially in a health care hub such as Nashville,” said Edgeworth. “Lipscomb has made a tremendous impact in health care education for generations, preparing its graduates for medical school, careers in health care and many other fields. The new Master of Health Administration degree blends that solid program with Lipscomb’s College of Business for an integrated program that will equip its graduates with the skills to solve problems creatively, lead organizations and teams effectively and drive disruptive change in health care.”
Bart Liddle ('94), assistant dean for health care programs in Lipscomb’s College of Business, said students in this program will spend time immersed in health care organization, visiting leaders across the health care continuum in their environments expanding the traditional borders of the classroom.
“Classes could be held at hospitals, in a corporate office or at the state capitol among other locations depending on the topic of study. Examining how the various aspects of health care work together is also a key component of the program,” he said.
In addition to targeting mid-careerists who want to build a successful career in health care leadership, Lipscomb’s Master of Health Administration degree is also designed for clinicians who want to learn the business of health care and progress in leadership roles within their organizations and individuals from non-health care industries who want to transition their experience and skills to a career in health care. Courses are offered in a hybrid of in-person and online format and may be completed in six semesters. Classes will begin in Fall 2019.
Lipscomb University’s College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences, which houses a School of Nursing and School of Physician Assistant Studies, offers undergraduate degrees in nursing, kinesiology, nutrition and exercise science; master’s degrees in exercise and nutrition science, health informatics and physician assistant studies; and a Doctorate of Pharmacy degree. The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences offers a variety of undergraduate programs preparing students for medical school and other pre-professional programs. In addition to the new MHA program, Lipscomb’s College of Business also offers a Master of Management: Health Care degree designed for recent graduates and early careerists who want to advance in the health care industry.
The College of Business at Lipscomb University offers 16 undergraduate and four graduate programs, touting a 95 percent overall job placement rate for 2016 and thousands of alumni around the world. It has been recognized nationally as a leader in business education. The college has been named the No. 1 Undergraduate Business Program in Tennessee two years in a row by both Bloomberg Business Week and Poets & Quants and the No. 2 part-time MBA program in Tennessee in 2016 by Bloomberg Business Week. In addition, it was been named the No. 1 accounting program in Tennessee and No. 2 in the nation in 2017 by Christian Universities Online. Earlier this month, 2018 College Factual ranked Lipscomb’s accounting program the number one accounting program in Tennessee for the second consecutive year and one of the top 50 programs in the nation. The department of accounting also earned a ranking of 12th in the nation and number one in the state of Tennessee for the second consecutive year for Best Accounting Programs for Veterans. For more information visit business.lipscomb.edu.
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