I would like to thank Dr. Tracy Farnworth for his thoughtful leadership as Chair of the AUPHA Board, acknowledge Dr. Dan Gentry and the AUPHA team for running another excellent Annual Meeting, and express my gratitude for the significant commitment by faculty across the globe to exchange ideas.
The events of the last seventeen months have highlighted our understanding that the intersection of health administration, policy, research, and higher education is dynamic and will continue to experience significant changes. The need to respond to demographic trends, downward pressures on healthcare margins, polarized policy environments, and a host of additional factors presents a remarkable opportunity to meet those changes. As we collectively and individually navigate these challenges, AUPHA looks to add value by executing on a strategic plan that includes:
-updating and adding to the Body of Knowledge with associated curricular ideas and examples,
-developing leadership training that builds capacity among our academic peers,
-working with industry and other organizations to develop a trend analysis for the healthcare and education fields,
-devoting time and effort to teacher training, certificates, and recognition, and
-ensuring adherence to good board governance, financial sustainability, and personnel development.
Moving forward, AUPHA will continue to reach out to programs where healthcare administration and policy is taught. The association is keen on being inclusive and meeting individual members and programs where they are-- long established programs, individuals just entering the profession, newly founded programs, and individuals who have spent their entire career as an educator should experience benefits from their interactions with AUPHA.
I look forward to working with you, the board, and the AUPHA team to advance the interests of the field. As always, please feel free to reach out to share your thoughts.
Respectfully,
Jason S. Turner, PhD