AUPHA Exchange: Program News
University of Washington – Seattle
University of Washington MHA Program Announces New Director
In July, Christopher E. Johnson, PhD, joined the UW MHA Program staff as Director. He comes to the UW MHA Program from the School of Rural Public Health at Texas A&M University Health Science Center, where he was Department Head and Associate Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management. He was also a Research Health Scientist with the South Central Mental Illness, Research, Education and Clinical Center and VA Houston Center for Quality of Care and Utilization Studies. Dr. Johnson is best known for work that seeks to understand how health care organizations and communities impact health care outcomes for veterans, underserved populations, and the elderly. As an organization theorist, he examines how organization structure impacts health care quality and litigation within the long-term care setting. He has also examined quality and information technology relationships within medical group practices and academic health centers. He received his PhD in Health Services Research, Policy, and Administration, with a PhD minor in Business Administration (organization theory concentration) from the University of Minnesota in 1998.
Dr. Johnson is a member of the editorial board of Health Care Management Review, an officer in the Health Care Management Division of the Academy of Management, and was recently selected as a Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Management Education (CAHME) Fellow for 2011-2013.
Douglas Conrad Appointed to WA State Health Benefits Exchange Board
Douglas Conrad, PhD, Professor of Health Services; was recently appointed by the Governor to the WA State Health Benefits Exchange Board, he is one of 9 members of the Board. The Board will be developing policy recommendations for the Governor and state legislature relative to the implementation of the Health Insurance Exchange under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The purpose of the Exchange is to enhance health insurance coverage for persons in small group and individual markets. This is a two year term, effective December, 2011.
Health Information Technology Research
Health Services Professor Douglas Conrad, PhD, in collaboration with the University of Washington, Washington State University, and Inland Northwest Health Services of Spokane, is leading an ongoing research project investigating Health Information Exchange and improved care coordination for diabetes patients. The project is funded by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology.
New Health Economics Faculty Recruits
The UW Department of Health Services has hired three new, full-time, faculty members.
Anirban Basu, PhD, who arrived in January 2011 from the University of Chicago, has contributed considerable leadership in the field of health economics. His interests in comparative effectiveness of different treatment modalities and health system arrangements already have spawned major research initiatives. Anirban’s background in pharmacoeconomics and health policy have fortified the research and teaching portfolio throughout the Health Sciences Department.
Norma Coe, PhD, will join the faculty in the 2012-13 academic year. Formerly Associate Director of Research at Boston College’s Center for Retirement Research, her interests in the economics of aging and labor economics bring new insights to our health management research and teaching. Her studies include family structure, informal care, and long-term care insurance, as well as life and disability insurance.
Nathan Tefft, PhD, joins us in July 2012, from Bates College in Maine. An experienced teacher and accomplished researcher, he is currently collaborating with Professor Doug Conrad, MHA’73, on a strategic pricing grant proposal for submission this fall. He will be active in health economics-related teaching. His research applies cutting edge applied microeconomic and econometric tools to answering questions regarding health-related behaviors and outcomes.
Employment Placement of Graduating Class
As of July, the placement of the UW MHA graduating class of 2012 stands at 100%. Twelve students, comprising over half of the graduating class, received administrative fellowship placements in health care institutions throughout the United States. Other students have filled analyst, consultant, and management positions in organizations such as Huron Consulting, Group Health Cooperative, EPIC, Providence Health & Services and the US Navy.