The healthcare landscape is defined by its lack of permanence, where change is the only constant. Within this sustained fluctuation, the need for visionary leaders who can navigate complex challenges and drive meaningful change has never been more crucial. The Master of Health Science (MHSc) in Health Administration program is leading the charge in cultivating the next generation of healthcare leaders.
By: Marielle Boutin
Situated in the vibrant research and practice community at IHPME, the program has a strong reputation for driving evidence-informed practices and policy, providing a personalized learning experience to students. The program has cultivated strong relationships with the field by leveraging a rich community of alumni and faculty and ensures relevance and accessible learning for working professionals drawn from the front line of health care practice and industry.
According to Program Director Karen Born, the Health Administration program goes beyond a traditional academic learning experience by actively integrating real-world applications and drawing on not only faculty expertise, but guest speakers, mentorship, and networking opportunities from diverse healthcare organizations and leaders.
Born was first introduced to the MHSc program during her PhD studies at IHPME, where she served as a teaching assistant for Dr. Ross Baker.
“It was there that I first experienced the magic of the MHSc classroom,” says Born. “As a doctoral student, I learned so much from the professional learners and was particularly inspired by the rich discussions in the classroom where learners shared and reflected on their experience.”
The classroom extends beyond the walls of IHPME into various healthcare organizations through an applied learning experience: the tailored practicum course.
“It is highly personalized,” says Born. “Learners receive one-on-one mentorship to identify their competency goals in the program and work through them step by step in a guided, self-driven process based on their career stage and aspirations.”
Practicum placements are facilitated through IHPME and are usually completed with adjunct faculty or program alumni who are familiar with the ways in which the practicum can propel career development and expand learners’ networks. Practicum placements range from academic hospitals to non-governmental organizations in countries around the globe.
“As all MHSc students are working professionals, the practicum offers an opportunity to explore a new organization or field of the health care sector without leaving their job.”
Health Administration students also benefit from mentorship opportunities through the Senior Fellow program, which allows them to engage with seasoned industry leaders, executives and decision-makers.
The program brings in faculty and guest speakers from a wide range of health sectors including government, hospitals, community care and industry, who infuse real-world experience into the curriculum and reflect the ever-evolving healthcare landscape.
For example, Imtiaz Daniel, Chief Innovation and Transformation Officer at the Ontario Hospital Association leads a core course in health care accounting, while Jeremy H.M. Veillard, senior health specialist with the World Bank based in Bogota, instructs a virtual course on global quality of care, leveraging speakers from around the world who serve as global health leaders.
Collaboration is also top of mind in the program. Learners who have diverse clinical, organizational and professional experiences work together on group assignments across courses, mirroring the very workplaces they are being prepared to lead.
While many students credit the program for equipping them with strong foundational knowledge of managerial skills such as strategic thinking and problem solving, they consistently highlight that the most rewarding aspect of participating in the program is the relationships they build along the way.
“Learning alongside a diverse group of classmates from various sectors of the healthcare system, engaging in thought-provoking discussions on current health system challenges through group projects, and learning from faculty and guest lecturers, all of whom are current health system leaders, was incredibly enriching,” says Siraj Khan, a pharmacist and recent MHSc graduate who is currently a Drug and Related Products Advisor at Canada’s Drug Agency.
“MHSc learners build trust,” says Born. “The program is intense, and a close-knit cohort becomes a community of practice where learners support each other.”
Graduates of the program have highlighted its crucial role in transforming their careers, taking them to new heights as leaders in the field.
From spearheading innovative clinical programs and partnerships to guiding organizations, MHSc graduates are making an impact across the health system and beyond.
“The program has provided me with the tools and confidence to transition from frontline care into my first leadership position,” says Tye Ahmadi a radiation technologist and recent MHSc graduate working as a Project Manager of Clinical Operations at Mackenzie Health. “My experience in the program was truly transformative. I not only gained valuable skills and knowledge but also built lifelong connections that continue to enrich my professional life.”
Applicants to the Health Administration program stand out by their curiosity, desire to contribute to improving healthcare and willingness to dig into problems and learn from others and collaborate on thoughtful solutions.
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Communications
Marielle Boutin
Email Address: ihpme.communications@utoronto.ca