Welcome back! Like you, I am busy preparing for incoming student orientation, updating syllabi, and coping with the many meetings that crop up as a new semester begins. As the academic summer ends, I want to share with you some reflections about AUPHA, the recent annual meeting, and what to expect this fall.
At the beginning of August, three new board members visited the AUPHA headquarters and engaged in a half-day board orientation conducted by Lydia and me. This orientation session is one of several best practices in governance that AUPHA has adopted over the past few years. New board members learn not only about the various board committees, officer roles, and duties, but also have time to reflect upon AUPHA’s mission and vision. It also is a chance for all participants to question and better understand the history of the association.
Since its inception, AUPHA has grown from 7 graduate programs to over 180 programs, both graduate and undergraduate. Moreover, the annual meeting in Portland this past June included 70+ new attendees and had the second highest attendance of any annual meeting. This growth of membership in the association has contributed to AUPHA’s fiscal well-being. For example, this year we will maintain about 6 months of cash reserves in excess of operating expenses. But more importantly, AUPHA is clearly being seen by new and by established programs as the source for excellence in healthcare management education. And the annual meeting continues to be a critical and fulfilling event for our members.
From the opening session, to the closing moments, I was impressed by not only the passion of the key note speakers, but also by their insights about the importance of healthcare management education for shaping the field and the future of health care in the US and elsewhere. I was also struck by both the membership engagement in the faculty networks meetings, and by the dialogue that was established with the AUPHA staff for strengthening the benefits of the AUPHA Network for members beyond the annual meeting. These dialogues help ensure you can maximize your benefits from AUPHA. For example, if you haven’t signed on to the AUPHA Network, please see the Get Started Guide that Kristi Donovan developed because of feedback and suggestions at the annual meeting. If you need a copy, you can contact her at kdonovan@aupha.org.
So what’s next? The board has several matters it will be considering between now and January, including the feasibility of an application service provider for graduate program applications, preparation for the strategic planning that will begin in January under Peter Fitzpatrick’s leadership, and further ways to strengthen the AUPHA Network. As I look back over the summer and the past year, I am happy to see the growth in our membership, a sustained focus on benefits to our members, and a clear commitment by all members of the board and the staff to fulfill our vision – to improve health by promoting excellence and innovation in healthcare management education.