The Best Healthcare Management Programs in Washington DC
Healthcare management is among the fastest growing jobs in the United States today. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a 20 percent increase is expected for jobs the field of medical and health service management over the next ten years. Given that the average growth rate for all other occupations is just 7 percent, this reveals a significant boost expected within this field.
Given how quickly this field is growing, jobs in healthcare management can be competitive. One of the best ways to set yourself apart in the job market is with a specialized degree in healthcare management, demonstrating to employers that you have the specific skill set the job requires. If you are eager to join this growing industry, or looking for a career path that allows you to combine a passion for business with a love of medicine, you may want to pursue a degree in healthcare management.
Many business schools offer MBAs with specializations in healthcare management, or offer other options for customizing your degree to gain credentials in the field.
The Top Washington DC Healthcare Management MBA Programs.
George Washington University School of Business
The School of Business at the highly ranked George Washington University offers an online healthcare MBA program, which combines the generalized business foundation learned during the school’s MBA program with healthcare focused electives. The program explores the most important concepts in business and healthcare amidst a rigorous and hands-on educational environment. In addition to earning an MBA in healthcare management, students may also choose to pursue an additional certificate in fields like Clinical Research Administration, Clinical & Translational Research, Health Care Quality, Integrative Medicine, and more.
The online healthcare MBA at George Washington is 55.5 credit hours, divided among core courses (31.5) and healthcare focused electives (24), offered through the university’s School of Medicine and Health. Students may also petition to have 12 of their elective credits made up of GWU graduate-level healthcare courses outside of the medical school.
Just a few of the many healthcare elective courses offered through SOMHS are listed below:
- Patient Safety Systems
- Issues and Trends in Health Systems
- Introductions to Global Regulatory Affairs
- Regulatory Strategy in the Development of Drugs and Biologics
McDonough School of Business – Georgetown University
The McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University takes their healthcare and business education combo to a new level with the dual MBA and MD program. Within just five years, students will graduate with two degrees; one in medicine and one in business.
The program is broken down with different requirements each year, focused primarily on MD courses at the start, but including at least one MBA core course during the evening each semester. Students will take MBA elective courses throughout the fourth and fifth years, eventually completing the Global Business Experience in the final year. Students interested in the joint MBA/MD program at McDonough must be accepted both by the School of Medicine as well as McDonough before enrolling.
Georgetown University’s precious mascot, Jack, shortly after earning his degree at the School of Medicine / Photo via Georgetown
Student testimonials comment on the way the program has shaped their way of thinking and creatively problem solving. “I am confident that much of what I have gained at the business school will aid me in my career as a physician and will certainly enhance opportunities to improve the healthcare system as a physician-leader,” commented Mark Matza, MD/MBA 2014.
University of Maryland R.H. Smith School of Business
While the R.H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland does not offer an MBA concentration in healthcare management, they offer students the opportunity to jointly pursue an MBA and a Master of Science (MS) with a Health Services Leadership and Management specialty. The degree is designed to prepare students for a role as an administrator within a health care system, with the ability to make management-level decisions on a variety of fronts, including strategic planning, governance, and finance. The business education provided by the MBA will also provide students with a strong foundation in leadership and innovation that will allow students to take the lead in designing new approaches to healthcare services. Students with this degree could serve in a variety of roles within the healthcare field, such as a chief nursing officer, consultant, finance officer, and more.
The 68 credit program will be completed over the course of four years, with the MBA requirements mostly being completed in the first two years, and the MSN courses in years three and four.
Healthcare Management MBAs in Los Angeles
California’s healthcare systems are under a lot of stress. According to the Orange County Register, the state’s healthcare staffing shortages are projected to widen as the population grows and doctors retire. Continue reading…
USC Marshall MBAs Found Startup Aimed at Sharing Surgical Advancements
Brian Conyer, MBA student at USC’s Marshall School of Business had a ‘Eureka!’ moment during a busy time in his life. He was pursuing his studies part-time at the school and juggling a successful career in healthcare sales.
Conyer will graduate from the program in 2017. His serves as a perfect example of what happens when one’s career and MBA studies synthesize at just the right moment.
Applications for Simmons New Online Programs Now Available
The Simmons School of Management has announced that applications for its newly designed online MBA and online Healthcare MBA programs are now available. Both of the programs have been developed in to 100 percent online delivery methods. The first intake of students will begin the programs in March 2016. The new online design for the programs will feature weekly live virtual classes and self-paced course content as well as occasional weekend immersion events at the Boston campus as well as various locations nationwide and abroad.
Although the programs are being transitioned in to an online format, Simmons assures prospective students that it will maintain its focus on women’s leadership. The Simmons website states that although the programs will now be offered online, the school will be increasing its focus on women’s leadership “through important educational initiatives that will help keep our expertise in women’s leadership and business education relevant and competitive in today’s marketplace.”
Healthcare Professionals: Healthcare MBA or MHA?
Healthcare professionals who decide to return to school for an advanced degree have one important decision to make- choosing between the Masters in Healthcare Administration (MHA) or the Healthcare MBA. When deciding which program to choose, it is important to know the differences between the two types of programs and how each degree will benefit your future career goals and expectations.
The main difference between the two degrees is the focuses of their curriculums. The MHA degree focuses on the business of the healthcare industry. The MBA degree gives students an extensive but broad insight into the business world as a whole. Healthcare MBA programs do offer students healthcare industry-specific courses, but most programs only require students to complete a few courses to complete the concentration, track, specialization or minor.
Affordable Healthcare Initiatives Help Healthcare MBA Grow
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has estimated that employment for Medical and Health Services Managers will increase by 23 percent from 2012 to 2022. This increase can be attributed to President Obama’s Affordable Care Act, as well as new mandates by the Supreme Court for affordable healthcare. The new standards set by these government acts, will change how the health care industry, insurance companies and private practices will deal with healthcare.
With the increase in employment opportunities, the need for qualified healthcare managers will also increase. An MBA in healthcare management can help you to learn the skills necessary to be a successful manager in the healthcare industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare managers work to improve efficiency and quality in delivering healthcare service, supervise assistant administrators, manage finances of the facility, schedule employees, serve as representatives at meetings and on governing boards and work with members of medical staff and different heads of departments.
