Health Administration and Policy, MHAP

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 health care 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 phase 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.

Optionally, students may elect to complete a concentration in Global Health.  This concentration will prepare globally minded military professionals who will be able to plan and execute health engagement in support of security cooperation, stability operations, complex humanitarian emergencies and medical crises around the world, in wartime and peacetime. This area of concentration incorporates the global health competencies of capacity strengthening, collaborating and partnering, ethical reasoning and professional practice, health equity and social justice, program management, socio-cultural and political awareness, and strategic analysis as described by the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health. This concentration also provides a strategic and operational perspective of global and international health issues as applicable to US national security. Health systems are examined from the international perspective looking at resources, access, policies, current challenges, potential solutions and opportunities for reform. The student will have knowledge of US government global health policy and engagement through both the lenses of civil society and joint operator.

Degree Requirements

Complete the following:

Global Health Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements