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    Mentoring in Health Care Administration

    There are many ways to define Health Care Administration and what a health care administrator does, but one broad definition suggests that it is “the practice of managing, leading, overseeing and administering the operation of dynamic, complex health care entities including hospitals, long-term care facilities, health care systems, pharmacies and health insurance providers."

    The person who engages in health care administration is a leader who guides staff and organizations through change (sometimes drastic, as we have seen with the pandemic), growth and strategic initiatives. Having leadership skills are thus critical to serve in this type of role.

    Having a mentor with administrative experience can facilitate professional development, enhance personal effectiveness, teach new strategies to improve interpersonal communication and develop skills to lead individuals and teams, as well as to manage change and measure outcomes and effectiveness of implementations.

    Leadership

    In the speech John Kennedy gave in Dallas in 1963, he said “Leadership and learning are indispensable from each other.” To that end, having resources available to teach and enhance leadership skills are critical in becoming an effective healthcare administrator.

    Highly effective leaders need to have certain qualities or key skills. Among them are the ability to: communicate, set goals, motivate others, build teams and trust, lead change, manage conflict, empathize, and have a passion for the work.

    Conducting a self-assessment to identify the skills you have versus the skills you want to develop can be an initial step in identifying an appropriate mentor, in the area of administration in which you are interested.

    Many people currently develop mentorship teams, with different members selected for various knowledge areas, subject matter expertise or career advice. These can be individuals who provide career and institutional support, teams who offer a project focus, or even networks of peers.

    Resources

    Early Opportunities in Administrative Roles in Psychiatry for Medical Students, Residents and Fellows

    Multiple early opportunities exist for both administrative and leadership experiences in psychiatry for all levels of trainees. Some of these are at the local medical school/training program level, others can be through the affiliated hospitals, and others still through professional organizations.

    • Service on Medical School Committees: Medical students can participate on medical school admissions committees. Activities may consist of hosting candidates, hosting accepted trainees, conducting medical school tours, interviewing candidates, as well as setting up schedules, coordinating volunteers and being part of interview process. Service on other medical school committees (specific name may vary based on the school) include curriculum, diversity & inclusion, learning environment, wellness, and medical student governance/council.
    • Resident Service on Training Committees: Residents can participate in training program committees including admissions, graduate medical education, residency/fellowship governance, and research. Participation on American Psychiatric Association (APA) Council on Medical Education and Lifelong learning provides opportunities to address the educational needs of post-graduate physicians, develop interventions to guide trainees through all stages of their career development from medical school though clinical practice.
    • Service on Affiliate Hospital Committees and Accreditation Site Visits: Residents may participate in a variety of focused groups depending on the institution such as the Faculty Leadership Committee, Committee on Equal Opportunity & Diversity, Scientific and Research Affairs, Ethics and Treatment Committee and Curriculum Committee, and Quality Improvement. Residents may also volunteer to attend various aspects of accreditation site visits at the affiliate hospitals, including Joint Commission, Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical education (ACGME), Office of Inspector General Comprehensive Healthcare Inspections, and Long-term Care Institute.
    • Chief Resident: This position entails being an advocate for junior residents, making the call schedule, supervise junior residents, teach medical students one-on-one, manage the daily problems of an inpatient unit, liaison with nursing staff on all issues related to the residents and attend administrative meetings with nursing, hospital administration, departmental administration.
    • Chief Resident in Quality and Patient Safety: This position (which may be unique to the VA) is designed to help early-career physicians develop leadership skills and advance quality improvement methodologies to decrease medical errors and increase the quality of care delivered of VA health care systems.
    • APA District Branches: District branches may offer committee positions and reduced membership fees for Resident Fellow Members/ Early Career Psychiatrists
    • Regional/National Professional Organization Committees: Resident participation may include membership in the American Psychiatric Association (APA), Resident-Fellow Member (RFM) Trustee, Committee of Resident Fellow (RFS) and being a resident representative to the AMA-RFS committee. Further, residents can apply for one of the many APA Fellowship slots

    Resources

    Early Opportunities in Administrative Roles

    • residency class representative to departmental training committee
    • service on medical school committees
    • service on hospital committees
    • service on regional/national committees
    • Chief resident and/or Chief Fellow
    • Quality Management Fellowship

    Types of Administrative Roles

    • Government (county, state, federal)
    • Academic (section/division chief; vice chair; chair; training/med student/fellowship director)
    • Professional organization – APA
    • Clinical Services Management – could be mental health or general health care
    • Nonprofit (CEO, executive director)
    • Managed Care and Healthcare Insurance Industry
    • Administrative Insurance – errors and omissions

    How to Identify an Administration Mentor(s)

    • Set professional goals for yourself – start thru conducting a self-assessment of strengths, weaknesses and preferences
    • Accomplish goals and be really good at your job
    • Prepare for administrative meetings and tasks
    • Establish a professional network
    • Volunteer to work on an administrative project or committee in your place of work
    • Be involved in administrative site visits (CARF, Joint Commission, OIG CHP surveys, Long-term Care Institute, CMS, ACGME visits)
    • Volunteer to serve on professional organization committees – APA (national and district branch), sub-specialty organization
    • Identify colleagues who may be a few years ahead of you for recommendations
    • Identify an individual with whom you share values/goals and whose leadership style you respect
    • Establish regular meeting times, identify topics to discuss and goals

    Advanced Leadership Training

    Below are opportunities to pursue advanced leadership training with masters level degrees, federal and state organizations, and other health care organizations.

    Masters Level Degrees

    Masters of Business Administration (MBA)

    • Scope of Degree: Focus is on learning a wide and comprehensive knowledge of business principles, building leadership skills and management training. Many programs have options for a focus on health care administration.
    • Prerequisites: Most schools require GMAT.
    • Duration: Typically, two years in length but some are accelerated one-year programs especially those earned in combination with a medical degree. Most traditional programs are full time but many are offered part time with online options.
    • Career Opportunities: Graduates pursue careers in a broad range of industries and positions to include health care: CEO, COO, Medical and Health services manager, Marketing/Financial/Business Operation Manager, or Business Analyst.

    Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA)

    • Scope of Degree: Focus is similar to an MBA, but it is aimed at business executives with five years or more of managerial experience and is designed to help business professionals, including health care leaders, to advance their careers.
    • Prerequisites: No entrance exam required.
    • Professionals usually have at least five years of work experience, and most have 10-15 years of experience.
    • Duration: Typically, two years in length, but courses are generally part-time during evenings and weekends. Generally, part time on evenings and weekends with online options as most applicants are working while earning this degree.
    • Career Opportunities: Graduates pursue careers in a broad range of industries and positions to include health care: CEO, COO, Medical and Health services manager, Marketing/Financial/Business Operation Manager, or Business Analyst.

    Masters in Public Health (MPH)

    • Scope of Degree: Focus is on the science of creating good health in communities by promoting good health practices through education and research.
    • Prerequisites: Most schools require GRE or MCAT. Some programs will accept GMAT for combined MPH/MBA degrees.
    • Duration: Typically completed in one-to-three years with full- or part-time options. Some are accelerated one-year programs especially those earned in combination with a medical degree.
    • Career Opportunities: Graduates typically go on to work with policy, services and initiatives that impact public health by using their public health knowledge in careers to include: Healthcare Administrator, Public Health Education, Research, Policy Advisor, Epidemiologist, or Biostatistician.

    Masters in Healthcare Administration (MHA)

    • Scope of Degree: Focus is on a comprehensive understanding and specific needs, opportunities and challenges of health care administration with less focus on aspects of business that are not applicable to health care organizations.
    • Prerequisites: Most schools require GMAT or GRE.
    • Duration: Typically completed in two years with some accelerated one-year programs.
    • Career Opportunities: Graduates typically go on to work on the business side of health care by using their organizational leadership and management skills in careers to include: Hospital Administration, CEO/COO of healthcare organizations, Group practice managers, or Health care finance.

    Masters in Health Services Administration (MHSA)

    • Scope of Degree: Focus is on providing health care policy, law, business and leadership skills needed for health care leaders/ managers/ analysts to better operate health care facilities.
    • Prerequisites: Most schools require GRE.
    • Duration: Typically completed in two years with full- or part-time options.
    • Career Opportunities: Graduates typically go on to be managers, analysts, planners and contribute to better operating health care facilities in careers such as Health care Administrators, Practice Managers, Directors of Risk Management and Directors of Patient Safety.

    Masters in Public Administration (MPA)

    • Scope of Degree: Focus is on management and administration public sector and nonprofit organizations.
    • Prerequisites: Most schools require GRE or GMAT.
    • Duration: Typically completed in two years with full- or part-time options.
    • Career Opportunities: Graduates typically go on to pursue careers as Administrators of Nonprofit Organizations (charities or activist organizations), Policy Analysts or Government positions within city, county, state or federal offices.

    Federal Programs

    Federal Executive Institute Leadership for a Democratic Society

    • Purpose: The purpose of the Institute is to learn strategic leadership alongside high-performing, high-potential U.S. and international public service executives.
    • Participants: GS-15, Senior Executive Service members, or their equivalent to many federal agencies; not limited to health care. The institute recently opened its doors to executives from the corporate, education, and non-profit sectors as well.
    • Duration: Four-week course.
    • Career Opportunities: Various leadership positions in federal government to include Senior Executive Service (SES) health care positions. A smaller percentage of participants will pursue leadership positions in the private sector and nonprofit organizations.

    Interagency Institute for Federal Healthcare Leaders

    • Purpose: The purpose of the Institute is to provide an opportunity for the seasoned, practicing federal health care executive to examine some of the current issues in health care policy and management and to explore their potential impact on the federal health care system.
    • Participants: Health service executives are named by their sponsoring agencies (Departments of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Veteran Affairs and the US Public Health Service) to attend each Institute. Representation of a variety of graduate and professional degrees including Ph.D., M.D., D.D.S., M.A., M.H.A., M.P.H., M.B.A., B.S.N. All participants share a record of demonstrated competence in health care executive management.
    • Duration: Two-week course.
    • Career Opportunities: Various health care leadership positions in federal government to include Senior Executive Service (SES) positions in areas of management and health care policy.

    Organizations

    Association of American Medical Colleges

    • Purpose: Faculty development and leadership programs for future deans, chairs, CMO’s, other senior leaders.
    • Leadership Program: Career-specific and general leadership skills programs.
    • Mentoring opportunity: Peer Mentoring.

    Group on Faculty Affairs (GFA)

    • Purpose: The Group on Faculty Affairs (GFA) sustains faculty vitality in medical schools and teaching hospitals by supporting faculty affairs deans and administrators as they develop and implement institutional policies and professional development activities.
    • Leadership Program: GFA Professional Development Conference Webinar.
    • Mentoring opportunity: GFA Mentoring Circles.

    American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry

    • Purpose: National association representing and serving its members and the field of geriatric psychiatry. AAGP promotes the mental health and well-being of older people through professional education, public advocacy, and support of career development for clinicians, educators, and researchers in geriatric psychiatry and mental health.
    • Leadership Program: Resources for faculty; opportunity for training directors to participate as mentors.
    • Mentoring opportunity: Honors Scholars Program for Residents.

    American Association for Psychiatric Administration and Leadership

    • Purpose: The premiere educational, networking, and support resource for psychiatrists interested in leadership and psychiatric administration.
    • Leadership Program: Physician Leadership Program.
    • Mentoring opportunity: Mentoring for medical students, residents and early career psychiatrists.

    American Association for Physician Leadership

    • Purpose: Professional organization which provides physicians the knowledge and skills required to become better leaders, and that solely focuses on providing leadership education, management training and career development designed for the physician workforce.
    • Leadership Program: Certified Physician Executive.
    • Mentoring opportunity: Mentorship Program for early career and experienced physician leaders.

    American College of Healthcare Executives

    • Purpose: The professional society for health care leaders committed to improving health.
    • Leadership Program: Executive and Senior Executive Programs and Physician Executive Program.
    • Mentoring opportunity: Leadership Mentoring Network.

    Executive Leadership Academic Medicine (ELAM)

    • Purpose: The Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine® (ELAM®) program is a year-long part-time fellowship for women faculty in schools of medicine, dentistry, public health and pharmacy. The program is dedicated to developing the professional and personal skills required to lead and manage in today's complex health care environment, with special attention to the unique challenges facing women in leadership positions. More than 1,000 ELAM alumnae hold leadership positions in institutions around the world.
    • Leadership Program: Intensive one-year fellowship of leadership training for senior women faculty at the associate or full professor level.
    • Mentoring opportunity: One-year fellowship program offers mentoring opportunities.

    American Association of Chairs of Departments of Psychiatry (AACDP)

    • Purpose: The AACDP organization represents the leaders of departments of psychiatry in all of the medical schools in the United States and Canada. The organization is committed to promoting excellence in psychiatric education, research, and clinical care, as well as to advocating for health policy to create appropriate and affordable psychiatric care for all.
    • Leadership Program: Leadership training for Associate Members.
    • Mentoring opportunity: Peer mentoring for Associate Members.

    Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

    • Purpose: Clinical Scholars Programs and other grant programs support projects to enhance leadership growth while addressing a health care gap in the community. MD’s can join interprofessional teams.
    • Leadership Program: Clinical Scholars Program offers three years of evidence-based curriculum consisting of both onsite training and distance learning.
    • Mentoring opportunity: Mentorship for Clinical Scholars Fellows.

    Resources

    Organizations for Administrative Psychiatry

    • Association of American Medical Colleges Faculty: development and leadership programs for future deans, chairs, CMO’s, other senior leaders.
    • Group on Faculty Affairs (GFA): The Group on Faculty Affairs (GFA) sustains faculty vitality in medical schools and teaching hospitals by supporting faculty affairs deans and administrators as they develop and implement institutional policies and professional development activities.
    • American Association for Psychiatric Administration and Leadership Physician Leadership Program: the premiere educational, networking, and support resource for psychiatrists interested in leadership and psychiatric administration.
    • American Association for Physician Leadership: Certified Physician Executive Professional organization which provides physicians the knowledge and skills required to become better leaders, and that solely focuses on providing leadership education, management training and career development designed for the physician workforce.
    • American College of Healthcare Executives – including the Executive and Senior Executive Programs, and a Physician Executive Program: The professional society for health care leaders committed to improving health.
    • Group on Women in Medicine and Science (GWIMS): The Group on Women in Medicine and Science (GWIMS) advances the full and successful participation and inclusion of women within academic medicine by addressing gender equity, recruitment and retention, awards and recognition, and career advancement.
    • Group on Diversity and Inclusion (GDI): The Group on Diversity and Inclusion (GDI) supports the efforts of AAMC-member institutions and academic medicine to realize the benefits of diversity and inclusion in medicine and biomedical sciences.
    • Executive Leadership Academic Medicine (ELAM): The Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine® (ELAM®) program is a year-long part-time fellowship for women faculty in schools of medicine, dentistry, public health and pharmacy. The program is dedicated to developing the professional and personal skills required to lead and manage in today's complex health care environment, with special attention to the unique challenges facing women in leadership positions. More than 1,000 ELAM alumnae hold leadership positions in institutions around the world.
    • American Association of Chairs of Departments of Psychiatry (AACDP): Welcome to the web site of the American Association of Chairs of Departments of Psychiatry. Our organization represents the leaders of departments of psychiatry in all of the medical schools in the United States and Canada. As such, we are committed to promoting excellence in psychiatric education, research, and clinical care. We are also committed to advocating for health policy to create appropriate and affordable psychiatric care for all.
    • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Clinical Scholars Programs and other grant programs support projects to enhance leadership growth while addressing a healthcare gap in the community. MD’s can join interprofessional teams.

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