A Message From The Dean

SOM Launches New MBA Health Care Certificate

I am delighted to announce that the SOM has joined with the Simmons School of Health Sciences to launch a new MBA Certificate in Health Care Management.

Similar in design to our Entrepreneurship Certificate Program, the MBA Certificate in Healthcare Management enables our MBA students to supplement their general MBA education with more in depth study and experience in healthcare policy and management.

Healthcare is the largest industry nationally and is a dominant employment sector in the Greater Boston area. Aging populations, advances in medical technology, increased complexity of integrated health systems, and the demands for quality healthcare are all driving growth in this sector. Seven out of 20 of the fastest growing occupations nation-wide are healthcare related. i At the same time, complexity has increased as patients are becoming more empowered and financing and delivery models are changing in the effort to control escalating costs. ii More than ever, strong knowledgeable leaders are needed to manage the unique and demanding requirements of this critical and rapidly evolving industry.

We designed the Certificate in Healthcare Management specifically to meet this pressing need. Our program is designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and networks necessary to accelerate their careers and become industry leaders. By augmenting the rigorous business skills of the MBA program with specialized knowledge gained from four courses in healthcare policy, strategy, economics, and best practice business models, the graduates of our Certificate program will be well equipped to tackle the opportunities and challenges that face managers today in non-profit, for profit, and governmental health care related organizations. Integral to the Certificate Program is a 10-week practicum at one of the area's many highly respected health care organizations.

This is a unique product offering and one that will continue to enhance the value of the Simmons MBA.

Best,

Dean Deborah Merrill-Sands

i. U.S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. www.bls.gov
ii. M. Harrington, A. Bookman, L. Bailyn, and K. Kellogg (2001). "Workforce Issues in the Greater Boston Health Care Industry: Implications for Work and Family." Working Paper, #WPC0001, MIT Workplace Center.