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HEALTHCARE EDUCATION HEALTHCARE EDUCATION HEALTHCARE EDUCATION

FIU Masters in Health Services Administration Expanding Program

by Seeking Students 'From All Over the World'

BY LOIS THOMSON Approximately 8% of the population has obtained a Master's degree in
the United States. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that health-
Dr. Mariceli Comellas last year moved
from New York to Miami to accept a care is the fastest-growing occupation (+18%), which generally requires a
position at Florida International Master's degree. This growth is mainly attributable to the concentration of
University as assistant professor in these occupations in the healthcare and social assistance industries, which,
Health Services Administration. Three combined, are projected to add 255,000 of the 448,500 new jobs in occupa-
months ago, she was also named assis- tions that require a Master's.
tant chair for the Master of Health Health service managers' careers are expected to increase 20% between
Services Administration (MHSA), and 2016 to 2026 – a growth that is faster than the average of all other occupa-
since that time her mission has been to tions. One of the reasons for the growth of the career is the aging of a
expand the program. Baby Boomers population that remains active later in life; therefore, health
"The goal for me is to bring students service demands are expected to increase as well. In Florida, where
not only from Florida, but also from most senior retirees live, health service managers capable of handling
throughout the nation. Our student pop- Dr. Mariceli Comellas the demand in health centers are needed. The advanced Master's program
ulation is predominantly coming from in Health Services Administration at Florida International University (FIU),
Florida, and we want to expand nation- under the Nicole Wertheim School of Nursing and Health Sciences, offers a
wide, and internationally. So the ultimate Comellas told of the time when she was pipeline for trainees that focuses on providing current training and experi-
goal is to have students from all over the teaching a finance course and took her ence related to the field for future health care administrators.
world, because that way students would students to one of the biggest hospitals The FIU MHSA 48-credits degree program is also one of the few such
find solutions that benefit health care in South Florida. "We met with the hos- programs in the United States that offers an internship, where graduate
providers and patients from different per- pital's vice president of community rela- candidates are 'matched' to a health organization to work under a precep-
spectives and realities." tions, along with outreach coordinators, torship as part of their culminating experience. This type of experience
In 2011, the MHSA transitioned from and took a tour of the new facilities." ensures the students are well-prepared and exposed to real-world health-
the School of Public Health to the Nicole Dr. Comellas believes that as the pop- care challenges and solutions. The residency exposes students both to dif-
Wertheim College of Nursing and Health ulation ages, the Master's program is
Sciences, and was then revamped in important because of the increased need ferent health services administration, such as finance, accounting, manage-
2016 with the first Hybrid program for health care services. "We feel there's ment, and other areas, and to professionals in healthcare.
track. A year later, to satisfy the demands definitely a need for health administra-
of the working adult, the college added tors to take on those responsibilities for
the fully online MHSA degree program, implementing new programs and execut-
accepting its first students in the fall ing new regulations and trends that the
2017 semester. government implements, which organi- Building an Academic
Dr. Comellas explained that in the zations must follow to run their busi-
Hybrid program, students spend part of nesses. In our program, we have courses Medical Center
their time coming to campus for tradi- that are geared toward the latest trends –
tional class meetings, which gives the for example, information technology and In the span of roughly five years, Memorial
opportunity to interact in-person with how it helps organizations streamline Healthcare System’s Graduate Medical Education
the instructor and other peers; and the programs." (GME) program is expected to go from seeking
other part interacting in online classes, When Dr. Comellas lived in New York, initial accreditation to pursue a residency pro-
which provides the opportunity to learn she worked full-time and was also a part- gram to training the next generation of doctors in
remotely from anywhere. time student, and she came in contact 11 specialties. We’re expanding as an academic
"The online program is what we're with students from different parts of the medical center, and it comes at the perfect time
looking to have international students world, where health care systems are def- for South Florida’s growing and aging population.
benefit from. This program allows all initely different. Students in FIU's MHSA Anesthesia and OB/GYN residents will join our
students to take 100% of all classes program learn about policies and how program next summer, followed by medical
remotely; and even though they won’t the U.S. health care system works and is school graduates specializing in cardiology, hema-
have the opportunity to meet their peers changing constantly. "I think that's a tology/oncology, and emergency medicine, pend-
in person, they will interact with more very valuable skill that (international) ing certification by the Accreditation Council for
international audiences." students can grasp in this program, Graduate Medical Education. Most importantly, BY SAIMA CHAUDHRY,
Both programs offer options for practi- where they can understand how to do a five of the eight currently accredited programs in MD
cal applications in the final semesters. quality assessment of a health care Memorial’s system – anesthesia, OB/GYN, neurol-
"One is having students focus on a organization and find meaningful ways ogy, psychiatry, and general surgery – are special-
research program – at the beginning of in which the United States solves prob- ties where the State of Florida has identified a shortage of physicians.
the first semester they assess the health lems. I believe that would be a key take- Our Pembroke Pines-based academic medical center is also training doctors in
care needs of the organization, which away from our program." pediatrics, physical medicine and rehabilitation, and internal medicine, with the
could be anything from the organization The program has a very high gradua- expectation that many of those residents will remain in South Florida after train-
itself or the needs of patients – and the tion rate, with students already working ing, meaning there will be additional specialists practicing in the region in the
next semester they write up specific rec- in management positions, including as years to come.
ommendations for what they found that directors or heads of departments. For We’ve become a major academic player in the southeast and a place medical
was most needed." Dr. Comellas said instance, she said the same day they were school graduates want to do their training. Within the next few years we expect to
many of the graduate students are taking the tour in the Miami Hospital, have nearly 300 residents enrolled in programs and serving the community at our
already working in the field, so they may one of the managers, who joined the tour hospitals.
choose to focus on the organization to welcome the students, had graduated One distinguishing feature of the programs we’ve launched is the emphasis on
where they work or have a relationship from the program; another day, when she educational innovation. MHS prioritizes teaching trainees about the business of
with. was a patient in a doctor's office, the medicine and includes skills not traditionally taught elsewhere. Residents learn
Another option is for the students to administrator was taking down her infor- about financial toxicity in health care, unconscious bias, advocacy, population
do an administrative residency, which mation, and when she heard that Dr. health, and the quadruple aim, skills that will help them succeed in a rapidly
gives them the opportunity to be placed Comellas worked for the program, she changing healthcare delivery system.
within an institution. "We engage with said she graduated from that program. The GME program at Memorial has also been approved to provide podiatric res-
all types of health care organizations, and "It is wonderful, and I felt so proud of idency training by the Council on Podiatric Medical Education and pharmacy res-
the students work with them throughout them." idency training by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.
the semester. That could mean interact-
ing with the director of finance, or work- Dr. Saima Chaudhry is Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chief Academic Officer
ing with different departments, depend- For more information, call at Memorial Healthcare System in Hollywood. To learn more, visit mhs.net.
ing where the students match." Dr. (305) 919-4466 or visit www.fiu.edu.

South Florida Hospital News southfloridahospitalnews.com November 2019 17