Health Care Management certificate program starts strong

By Matthew Biddle

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- As national leaders grapple with health care reform, an increasing number physicians and health care administrators are looking to strengthen their business skills to improve the patient experience and the value of care delivered in their organizations.

Fifteen regional health care leaders will spend the next nine months acquiring vital business skills and learning how to spur effective change in their organizations, thanks to the new Executive Development in Health Care Management certificate program in the University at Buffalo School of Management.

Launched in September, the program is part of a growing portfolio of health care management offerings in the UB School of Management that contribute to UB’s overall theme of health. Other school initiatives include a new Accelerated MBA for Medical Residents/Fellows program, several dual and collaborative programs with the UB School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, a health care management concentration for full-time and Professional MBA students, and customized corporate programs in health care.

“The dynamic nature of the health care industry demands that physicians, administrators and other clinicians develop a new set of business skills to improve clinical outcomes, make sound financial decisions and effectively manage others,” says Arjang Assad, dean of the School of Management.

“With this program and other initiatives, the School of Management is helping to address the needs of current and future health care leaders, while contributing significantly to the university’s overall vision,” Assad says.

During the first session, participants received an overview of the main challenges and trends in the health care industry. Future sessions will cover budgeting and accounting, marketing, communicating with patients, organizational strategy and design, negotiation and information technology. In addition, participants will learn to identify their strengths and limitations and to better motivate and manage those around them.

The class runs biweekly through May 2015 and is taught by School of Management faculty who will draw upon their own experience in the health care sector, as well as other regional health care leaders and experts.

Speakers for the opening sessions have included: Jurriaan de Jong, PhD, assistant professor of operations management and strategy; Nallan C. Suresh, PhD, UB Distinguished Professor and chair of operations management and strategy; and Dr. Peter Winkelstein, executive director of the Institute for Healthcare Informatics and chief medical informatics officer for UBMD and Kaleida Health.

The UB School of Management is recognized for its emphasis on real-world learning, community and economic impact, and the global perspective of its faculty, students and alumni. The school also has been ranked by Bloomberg Businessweek, the Financial Times, Forbes and U.S. News & World Report for the quality of its programs and the return on investment it provides its graduates. For more information about the UB School of Management, visit mgt.buffalo.edu.

The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, the largest and most comprehensive campus in the State University of New York. UB’s nearly 30,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is a member of the Association of American Universities.