New U of M Degree Program to Serve Healthcare Industry in Rochester and Surrounding Communities

ROCHESTER (July 20, 2006) -- On Wednesday, July 12, the University of Minnesota Board of Regents approved a new academic program in healthcare administration to be offered by the University's School of Public Health. The new program will serve healthcare professionals in Rochester and surrounding communities.  It is designed for individuals who desire to advance their careers in healthcare management and health services delivery.  The new Master of Healthcare Administration will start admitting students immediately for a fall start in Rochester.

The new program is organized for working adults allowing students to take courses online, giving them great flexibility in organizing their professional, personal and academic lives.  The program also includes face-to-face courses offered in the evening and on weekends, allowing students to travel from a distance to attend.

“Healthcare is a business with interdisciplinary connections,” according to Faith Zimmerman, University of Minnesota Rochester program director for health sciences.   “Online courses have been organized to provide flexibility and the face-to-face courses have been included to aid students in making invaluable connections to other providers and to expand the sharing of ideas and concepts,” Zimmerman continued.

John R. Finnegan, Jr., assistant vice president for public health at the University of Minnesota and dean of the School of Public Health, said this new offering was designed as a result of extensive research with prospective students, the organizations they serve, and past graduates of other programs offered by the School of Public Health.  Finnegan said the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health and the healthcare administration programs are consistently ranked among the top in the nation.

This new program in Rochester represents another milestone in that it is the first new academic program requested and financially supported by legislative funding acquired by the Rochester Higher Education Development Committee.  The goal of this committee is to expand the University of Minnesota presence in Rochester, focusing on the needs of the committee and industry as they relate to the economic drivers of the region.  The healthcare industry and this educational opportunity for healthcare administration were two areas highlighted by the committee.  

For more than 60 years, the University of Minnesota School of Public Health has been among the top accredited schools of public health in the nation.  With a mission focused on research, teaching, and service, the school attracts nearly $70 million in sponsored research each year, has more than 100 faculty members and more than 900 students, and is engaged in community outreach activities locally, nationally and in dozens of countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.sph.umn.edu. The School’s Centers for Public Health Education and Outreach promotes lifelong learning to bridge academic and public health practice communities.

Contact: Jay Hesley, University of Minnesota Rochester, 507-280-2837
Diana Harvey, School of Public Health, 612-625-7134