Overview
The vision of the Master of Health Administration and Policy (MHAP) Program is to be the premier provider of health policy and administration education for the Military Health System (MHS), federal health policy partners and Allied Host Nation personnel through a sustained commitment to leadership in academics, practice, research, and scholarship. The program provides an innovative approach to graduate education and training by offering access to top policy-making federal government agencies, think-tanks, universities, and speakers in the National Capital Area. Graduates of this program are uniquely suited for significant leadership roles in health administration and policy within the MHS, federal healthcare organizations and beyond.
The MHAP Program consists of both a didactic and residency phase, each one-year in length. The first (didactic) year, students are engaged in an in-depth approach to the study of health policy, health systems, management science, healthcare economics, financial management, quantitative methods applied to health systems administration and policy, managerial epidemiology, healthcare law and leadership. The didactic year concludes with an integrative capstone poster presentation. The second (residency) year of the program consists of an administrative residency in the National Capital Area (NCA). It is meant to provide practical experience in health administration, policy, and leadership. Preceptors, along with the Residency Director of the MHAP Program, collaborate to provide students with a customized residency experience that meets both the requirements for graduation and the professional development needs of the individual resident. Mentoring and guidance of the student are vital components of the residency phase of the program, not only to assess performance but to provide academic oversight of the student's Graduate Management Project (GMP). Possible residency opportunities are available at sites, including major tertiary healthcare facilities (both private and public sector institutions), major research facilities, DoD and federal health/policy agencies, and policy think-tanks.
Outcomes
The USU MHAP program aims to prepare uniformed service members and federal government employees for mid-level healthcare management, leadership, and policy advising positions within the Military Health System (MHS) and federal healthcare organizations. The program is designed so that students work towards targeted competency levels throughout the two-year program. There are 23 individual competencies covering five domains- leadership, execution, policy, transformation, and readiness. The design of the program’s curriculum ensures that course learning objectives and assignments support individual competency proficiency. Upon completion of the program, graduates will have achieved competency proficiency at either intermediate or advanced levels (competency targets vary for each competency).
Leadership:
L1 - Understand the art and science of leadership in healthcare administration and policy making and be prepared to take on the role of a healthcare leader and mentor.
L2 – Create an organizational climate that values diversity and fosters interpersonal Understanding, professionalism, and development.
Execution:
E1 – Evaluate and use various financial and economic tools and methods in order to optimize distribution of finite resources over infinite healthcare needs.
E2 – Demonstrate ability to collaborate, communicate, and work cooperatively with others.
E3 – Recognize and evaluate HR practices and talent management strategies that optimize the performance of diverse and changing workforce.
E4 – Investigate the use of data analysis and information technology and its potential in process and performance improvement.
E5 – Evaluate formal and informal organizational decision-making structures and power relationships in an organization.
E6 – Exhibit project management techniques including planning, execution, evaluation, and oversight.
Policy:
P1 – Critically analyze the political, legal, financial and/or social framework of U.S. health policy.
P2 – Assess and develop policy options for achieving agency/program objectives.
P3 – Analyze and interpret legislation, administrative regulations, judicial opinions and agency rulings.
P4 – Formulate plans for advocating and influencing key stakeholders and implementing agencies.
P5 – Understand the government resource environment, including Planning, Programming, Budgeting, Execution (PPBE), contracting, and appropriations.
Transformation:
T1 – Apply models to develop structures and systems to support team functions, effectives, and patient outcomes.
T2 – Comprehend and critique cause-effect relationships and unanticipated consequences when making decisions or developing strategies.
T3 – Demonstrate community engagement in aligning priorities with the needs and values of the community.
T4 – Design and critique methodology for measurement of processes, quality, program, and policy outcomes.
T5 – Assess and assemble the diverse backgrounds and perspective of others when making decisions or developing strategies.
T6 – Synthesize information to make evidence-based decisions in the presence of uncertainty.
Readiness:
R1 – Understand and assess the complex roles and relationships between inter-agency partners, international organizations and Host Nations.
R2 – Evaluate the impact of value missions, programs, and policies on populations, organizations and/or desired outcomes.
R3 – Appraise the different types of diplomacy and bases of power that may affect global health policy decision-making.
R4 – Understand the concept of readiness in the context of structures and policy as they relate to humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and contingency operations and military capability.
Degree Requirements
Complete the following:
| PMO 401 | Essentials of Graduate Education in Health Administration and Policy | 0.75 |
| PMO 530 | Social And Behavioral Sciences Applied To Public Health | 3 |
| PMO 1010 | Diversity And Leadership | 1.5 |
| PMO 592 | Health Care Information Technology | 1.5 |
| PMO 103 | Fundamentals Of Health Care Finance | 1.5 |
| PMO 526 | Health Systems | 3 |
| PMO 528 | Global Health I | 3 |
| PMO 533 | Decision Making In Health Services | 1.5 |
| PMO 1011 | Quantitative Analysis & Methods For Health Leaders And Executives I | 2.25 |
| PMO 1034 | Patient Safety for Health Systems Leaders and Executives | 1.5 |
| PMO 523 | Fundamentals Of U.S. Health Policy | 2.25 |
| PMO 527 | Principles Of Health Care Management | 1.5 |
| PMO 535 | Health Care Law | 1.5 |
| PMO 598 | Introduction to Healthcare Economics | 2.25 |
| PMO 1012 | Quantitative Analysis & Methods For Health Leaders And Executives II | 1.5 |
| PMO 1033 | Accreditation for Health Systems Leaders and Executives | .75 |
| PMO 529 | Health Care Financial Management | 1.5 |
| PMO 532 | Quality Assessment & Improvement In Health Care | 1.5 |
| PMO 576 | Human Resource Management In Health Care | 2.25 |
| PMO 1007 | Advanced Seminar In Global Health Policy | 2.25 |
| PMO 1026 | Current Issues In Health Care Administration And Policy | 1.5 |
| PMO 1027 | Managerial Epidemiology | 2.25 |
| PMO 1035 | MHAP Program Capstone | 1.5 |
| PMO 998 | Foundations of Leadership | 0.75 |
| PMO 1005 | Strategic Planning And Marketing For Health Care Systems | 2.25 |
| PMO 1015 | MHAP Residency | 9 |
| PMO 1015 | MHAP Residency | 9 |
| PMO 1015 | MHAP Residency | 9 |
| PMO 1015 | MHAP Residency | 9 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 81.00 |