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Feature Article

MBA Program Created Exclusively for Health Care Professionals

Nurses of color are still drastically underrepresented in health care management positions.

A 1992 study conducted by the American College of Health Care Executives and the National Association of Health Services Executives revealed that minorities make up 20% of hospital employees but only 1% of hospital management. Nearly a decade later, nurses of color are still drastically underrepresented in health care management positions.

But if you’re a nurse with eight to ten years of work experience, are highly motivated and are seeking to break through the glass ceiling into the management area, the Health Care Executive MBA program at the University of California, Irvine’s Graduate School of Management may be of interest to you.

 

The program is designed to offer a complete MBA curriculum and degree in as little as two years. Students in this program represent a broad range of medical, biotech and pharmaceutical fields, including nurses, pharmacists, physicians and allied health workers. To accommodate busy health professionals, classes meet once a month, from Thursday evening to Sunday noon, on the UC, Irvine campus.

 

The Health Care MBA program, which is accredited by the International Association for Management Education and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, strives to develop business and decision-making skills in its graduates. Using case studies and group projects, students have the opportunity to apply their knowledge to the practical world of health care management. In addition, health care executives, policy makers and professionals participate in the HCEMBA Executive Speaker Series, bringing even more of a real-world perspective to the curriculum.

Since its inception in 1996, the Health Care Executive MBA program has graduated five classes. The most recent graduating class (December 2001) included four nurses: one African American and three Caucasians.

Admission to the program is based on an applicant’s work experience, demonstrated leadership abilities and a history of professional successes. For more information, visit the program’s Web site at www.gsm.uci.edu/hc or contact Patrice Werschmidt of the UCI Graduate School of Management by phone at (949) UCI-4MBA or via email, pwerschmidt@gsm.uci.edu.

Valerie Anderson and Maureen Vaught are editors at Minority Nurse magazine.