SPHIS program earns CAHME accreditation

One of the newest graduate degrees at the University of Louisville School of Public Health and Information Sciences (SPHIS) has received high distinction, as the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) this month accredited the Master of Science in Health Administration (MSHA) program.

“Our academic programs are producing tomorrow’s leaders. Achieving CAHME accreditation is a testimony to the excellence of our MSHA curriculum and UofL’s commitment to excellent health management education,” said Beth A. Boehm, PhD, UofL executive vice president and Provost.

To earn CAHME accreditation, UofL SPHIS submitted a rigorous examination of the MSHA program purpose, curriculum, student experience and information about the success of its graduates, along with a CAHME site visit. The school will be required to submit periodic self-studies followed by review of an outside panel of experts in order for the MSHA to remain a CAHME-accredited program.

“As a research university, we seek ways to integrate innovative research within instructional programs. A strength of our MSHA program is the unique opportunity for students to engage in research through our NSF-funded Center for Health Organization Transformation (CHOT), an industry/university cooperative research center,” said Craig Blakely, PhD, MPH, dean of the UofL School of Public Health and Information Sciences.”

“Our proximity to local health care organizations gives our program an advantage in establishing relationships that benefit our faculty, staff, students and health delivery system partners. Health industry leaders have engaged with us to inform the competencies of our MSHA curriculum, adding distinction to our overall program,” said Christopher E. Johnson, PhD, chair, Department of Health Management and Systems Sciences and CHOT site director.

The Department of Health Management and Systems Sciences designed the MSHA to deepen knowledge of environments, processes, structures and strategies in health care. Students learn about broad principles and key influences of leading health care organizations. They also examine evidence-based frameworks for strategic leadership and effective management of health care organizations. An analysis of policies that influence population and community health care management also is part of the 57-credit-hour program. The first cohort of UofL MSHA students, pictured above, graduated this month.