Speaker 1: One of the common questions that I get frequently is why do I need an MHA? As I think about 10, 12 years ago, and I think about my middle management team, the majority of those probably didn't have an MHA or an MBA, any kind of graduate degree. But as I evaluate the management team that we have present and at the other hospitals I've worked at, I'd say 90 to 100% of those have graduate degrees. And the majority of those are MHA degrees.

Speaker 2: Well in the 30 years that I've been doing hospital administration in Utah and throughout the Intermountain West, I've never seen change at the pace that we're experiencing currently. And whether that be government regulation, or whether it be market dynamics, it seems to me that the most prized commodity that we can really find to help us navigate through that change is great leadership, and it's hard to come by.

Speaker 1: Well the healthcare industry is obviously very dynamic right now, lots of changes happening in the healthcare environment. Some of those we understand, some of those we still don't understand what it means. I really think MHA programs right now are creating those innovative leaders that can help us find the solutions to fix our healthcare system.

Speaker 2: An MHA graduate who's done well in a program and has the right personality and a temperament, who can grasp the ambiguous nature of generalities and then at the same time demonstrate skills in specific areas across that wide spectrum of disciplines, they do very well. And there's a huge demand for that.

Speaker 1: As I think about what the healthcare graduates offer the healthcare system, I think it is innovation. I think it's seeing things differently. Those folks like myself that have been in the healthcare system for a long time, while I think we have great ideas, I think there's better ideas and things that are out there. And I think that's what I look for, for students.

Speaker 2: I think the single most important thing that an MHA person can be equipped with is the ability to think critically and to be able to take a wide variety of opinions and diverse points of view and bring them together into a common vision and have it well articulated and then widely supported. I think that's a very, very precious and hard to find skill.

Speaker 1: The thing that I think makes Weber State's MHA program so unique is really the students that you have in the MHA program. Unlike other programs, I think you get a really good mix of seasoned individuals that have diverse work experience and I think that allows a greater learning environment than you get in other MHA programs.

Speaker 2: My experience with Weber State MHA graduates has been fairly robust. I've had the good fortune of working with them side by side here at St. Mark's Hospital as administrative interns and as residents. We have some full-time employees here at this facility who are also enrolled in the MHA program. Without exception, it's been a good experience for them in terms of their program, their curriculum and their academic pursuits, but also it's been in the best interest of our hospital as well.

Speaker 1: As I've met with individuals and looked at what they qualified for graduating from an MHA program, a lot of them qualified for nice management level positions in hospitals, in physician practice management, in long-term care administration, but just lots of great opportunities at that supervisor-manager level and then usually shortly thereafter, a very nice progression on to executive fields.

Speaker 2: Being successful in this field means that you get to encounter a wide variety of problems and challenges every day. And I think our industry is unique in its complexity as well as its diversity.

Speaker 1: Healthcare administration is a very dynamic field, definitely somebody who can handle stressful situations, handle difficult situations, likes to have a lot of different things happen in their day-to-day work. If they like to do one thing in a routine, it's probably not for them, but if they're definitely interested in a dynamic work environment with lots of different potential for advancement and personal development, it's definitely a great career.

Speaker 3: Whether you're looking to advance your own career or you want to make a difference in the lives of others, Weber State University's new Executive Masters of Health Administration degree can help take your healthcare career to the next level. Designed for working professionals, this accelerated hybrid program offers all the convenience of an online program with the benefits of classroom instruction. The entire program is just five semesters long. Students spend a day and a half in the class each semester, and the rest of the work is done online. Tuition for the EMHA program is all-inclusive. One flat rate covers tuition, fees, and books. And tuition is no higher for out-of-state students. Weber State's EMHA program is conveniently located at our new campus center in Farmington, Utah. Station Park is Utah's premier outdoor retail and dining destination. It's just off I-15 in Farmington and only 30 minutes from the Salt Lake Airport. The demand for qualified healthcare professionals has never been greater. With a Masters of Health Administration degree from Weber State, you'll be qualified to take a leadership role in this dynamic industry. Seating is limited each semester, so sign up today. You can learn more at weber.edu slash EMHA.