School of Business Administration Launches Executive MBA for Physicians

In fall 2001, the Wayne State University School of Business Administration will launch an Executive Master in Business Administration for Physicians program. A joint initiative of the business school, the WSU School of Medicine and the Detroit Medical Center, the intense 16-month program is designed to provide doctors with the skills they need to be effective administrators in today’s highly competitive health care environment.

“Our goal is to offer an executive MBA program that is not only advanced and beneficial, but convenient as well,” said Harvey Kahalas, PhD, dean of the business school. “The School of Business Administration has been a leader in distance education on the Wayne State campus, and we will be tapping into that technology to ensure that the physicians in our program can continue their careers without interruption, while earning the degree.”

Between 20 and 30 physicians with some supervisory experience will start the program in the fall 2001 semester. The 36-credit program’s courses center on fundamental skills, including accounting, statistics, information systems, finance and service operations; 21^st century delivery systems for health care; structuring for the future through strategic planning and marketing; and competing in a dynamic environment with emphasis on organizational design, managing modern technical health care professionals, and legal and risk analysis.

Faculty members who will be teaching in the program received summer research grants to further develop courses in their disciplines with an emphasis on health care. “We’re also bringing in practitioners, so it is going to be a nice balance between academics and practitioners in the program – the theory side and the practice side,” explained Timothy Butler, PhD, director of the program.

“The future of health care delivery will be shifted toward physician leaders. Programs such as this will be crucial in preparing physicians for the complexities of the business community,” said medical school dean, Dr. John Crissman. “Recognizing this need, the WSU School of Business, with support from the Detroit Medical Center and the School of Medicine, hopes to prepare medical doctors to assume these important leadership roles.”

If you would like more information about the Executive MBA for Physicians, please contact Timothy Butler at (313) 577-2243.