Get the insider perspective of Union’s new Healthcare Leadership degree program
The new Masters of Science in Healthcare Leadership degree program will focus on the people skills and leadership insights that catalyze organizational transformation and social change. It will also include the most important determinant of long-term leadership success: mentoring. In the Q&A below, Dr. Jennifer Ossege, director of the new MS in Healthcare Leadership program, discusses the significance of the new degree to the healthcare professional.
Q. Why did Union decide to implement the Masters of Science in Healthcare Leadership?
A. Union decided to implement the MS in Healthcare Leadership to facilitate transformation of health care organizations from an emphasis on administration or management to a focus on social justice, leadership, and advocacy, addressing the needs and concerns of vulnerable populations and their ability to access health care systems.
Q. What makes this degree unique for healthcare professionals?
A. Each student is matched with a mentor prior to beginning the program. Mentorship is believed to be the most important determinant of long-term leadership success. Mentors will guide and demonstrate through example how to understand one’s own skills, limitations, and ambitions while fulfilling the needs of the healthcare organization. Mentors will be in regular contact with the student and help the student with many aspects of professional development.
Q. Do you know who some of the mentors are?
A. Mentors may come from a variety of sources. Students may be matched with mentors from the ACHE (American College of Healthcare Executives), or from other qualified mentors working in the field who are interested in professional development of a student, or in some cases, the student may nominate someone to apply as their mentor. The needs of each student will be assessed and the student will be matched up accordingly. The goal is for all mentors to have a minimum of 10 years in the field of healthcare leadership in order to work with our students.
Q. Why is this degree needed?
A. To successfully lead today’s healthcare systems into the future, emerging leaders need more than technical management expertise. They need people skills and leadership insights that catalyze organizational transformation and social change.
Q. What will this degree offer to the healthcare executive they don’t have already?
A. The MS-HCL Program trains participants to be financially successful and innovative healthcare leaders. It will provide the necessary knowledge and skills in administration and management, as well as fostering creative problem solving, ethical considerations, and a strong focus on leadership to assist them in achieving success for their organizations.
Q. What makes the degree exciting and innovative?
A. The healthcare field is changing rapidly and many professionals want to keep up with the trends, and continue to advance their careers. Students will have experience within the healthcare field, which allows for a rich educational experience, particularly as we are using a cohort model, where students will be interacting and learning from one another quite a bit in addition to the more traditional learning environments. The mentorship aspect of the MS-HCL program is particularly appealing and unique, as this allows the students to customize their education and needs, engage in more in depth professional growth and work with leaders in the healthcare field.