MBA Creates Healthcare Career Opportunities
By William Newton
June 6, 2023
When people think of careers in healthcare, they typically think about becoming a nurse, doctor or radiologist. However, healthcare administration (HCA) is often called a “hidden career.” While not a medical professional, a healthcare administrator plays a vital role in smoothing the often-stressful environment of healthcare organizations.
Recognizing the projected 28% job growth in healthcare administration, JBU added an MBA concentration in 2019.
“Students pursuing an MBA with a healthcare administration concentration learn the skills necessary to effectively and efficiently lead, manage and oversee healthcare services, workers and facilities such as hospitals, private medical practices and nursing homes,” said Melanie Peddicord, director of graduate and online undergraduate business programs. “Obtaining the broad business skills offered in an MBA program can help potential employees stand out from others who have solely clinical healthcare experience.”
The MBA is offered entirely online to provide maximum flexibility for working professionals working professionals while also providing regular opportunities to meet with program faculty and classmates on projects throughout the program. Jon Grant ’21, operations manager for Arkansas Urology and alumnus of the program, affirms this.
“I found that the JBU MBA/HCA program provided a beneficial online learning platform that afforded me the same value as in-person instruction,” said Grant. “The flexibility and convenience allowed me to balance my academic pursuits with a full-time job without sacrificing the quality of my education.”
Grant had no difficulty in deciding to attend JBU to study healthcare administration healthcare administration, confident that the program would integrate naturally into his current schedule and elevate his capacity as a working professional. He specifically credits the program for three distinct components that enhanced his experience in the program – diverse collaboration, fostering service-oriented mindsets and a people-centered approach to leadership.
While integrating faith can be more challenging in online coursework, faculty are fully committed to JBU’s Christ-centered education philosophy.
“We have to be intentional about it, but all faculty are committed to integrating their faith in their courses and are dedicated to the spiritual formation of their students,” Peddicord said.
Grant specifically admired the program’s emphasis on integrating servant leadership into the course load, initiated through faith integration workshops and discussions.
“I recall a class called healthcare law and ethics, in which our professor, Mark Bever, challenged us to engage in discussions on real legal cases from a variety of perspectives. This experience was eye-opening and demonstrated the nuance and complexity of the healthcare industry,” said Grant. “Bever consistently reminded us of our shared mission – to pursue Christ and to prioritize relationships over profits. I gained valuable insights on how to integrate my faith into my professional life and became a more compassionate and conscientious healthcare administrator.”
Bever is just one of the adjunct professors teaching in JBU graduate programs. Peddicord said that one of the advantages of the online format is bringing on talented adjunct instructors with business healthcare backgrounds to teach some of the courses.
Although a medical background is not necessary to pursue the degree, Peddicord said the MBA with a concentration in HCA complements a medical background for those medical professionals who wish to move into administrative or management roles within their organizations.
For more information, visit www.jbu.edu/mbahealthcare.
