Healthcare Workforce Development

Master of Health Administration program wins award for excellence in innovative education from CAHME

Taylor Thomas — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 14:45:12 +0000

Master of Health Administration program wins award for excellence in innovative education from CAHME Taylor Thomas Mon, 01/27/2025 - 09:45

Explore the Award-Winning MHA Program

In This Story

Brenda Helen Sheingold, PhD, RN, FNAP

��AV’s Master of Health Administration program has been honored for pioneering innovative education and instruction.

The Master of Health Administration (MHA), Health Systems Management program won the prestigious Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) award for innovative health care education.

Each year, the CAHME/George and Regi Herzlinger Innovation Education Award for the Development of Educational Skills Focusing on Invention, Evaluation, and Adoption of Innovation in Healthcare honors a CAHME-accredited program that has set the standard for inventive academic rigor and preparation of the next generation of health care administration professionals.

Graduate students enrolled in HAP 704 Contemporary Issues in Healthcare visit Capitol Hill. Read more.

“Our Master’s in Health Systems Management (MHA) program empowers students with the real-world skills and insights needed to excel in the competitive health care industry,” said Brenda Helen Sheingold, associate professor and division director of health administration and policy. "By graduation, our students possess hands-on experience that directly aligns with employers' needs and positions them as leaders in the field. This award recognizes how evolving innovative education with faculty colleagues, community partners and alumni contribute to successful and productive graduates. We are committed to a trajectory of success for the next generation by continually originating new education models and techniques."

This accolade includes a $10,000 grant to further innovation efforts in health systems education. The award will be presented March 23, 2025, at the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Congress in Chicago.

CAHME is the only organization formally recognized as the accrediting body for master's level health care management programs in the United States and Canada. The MHA prepares students to become leaders in evolving health systems and health-related organizations by guiding them to develop strategic, business, analytic, and decision-making skills needed to navigate the rapidly changing health care industry successfully. The program is ranked at #32 by U.S. News and World Report.

Read more about George Mason and College of Public Health program rankings.

Topics

Master of Health Administration

MHA

Awards

Department of Health Administration and Policy

Graduate programs

Healthcare Workforce Development

Campus News

Ageism research helped prepare these social work grads for the workforce

Shayla Brown — Tue, 21 May 2024 20:42:16 +0000

Ageism research helped prepare these social work grads for the workforce Shayla Brown Tue, 05/21/2024 - 16:42

In This Story

Emily Ihara, PhD, MSW, FGSA

While working on their master’s degrees in social work at ��AV, College of Public Health alumni Kendall Barrett, Madeline Holden, and Harveen Pantleay took part in field research on ageism in health care and are now using those skills in their careers.

They are also co-authors on the paper “’Don’t treat us like fragile babies:’ Mentors’ perspectives of an intergenerational mentoring program for medical students,” which was published online in the Journal of Intergenerational Relationships in February 2024.

��AV is a leader in graduating workforce-ready students, and its College of Public Health—the first in Virginia—is dedicated to helping meet the critical need for health workers in Virginia.

Kendall Barrett. Photo provided.

The three, working under the guidance of Emily Ihara, professor and chair of the Department of Social Work, and co-PI of George Mason’s Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program, studied the effects of ageism in health care and how both education and intergenerational contact can decrease this form of discrimination. As the students learned, the research improves empathy and understanding from both younger and older individuals within the health care system.

For the study, the students went to assisted living facilities to interview residents using open-ended questions and took detailed notes.

“This was a very important research project to me because there was a lot of focus on alternative and creative ways to support older people, which is a particular interest of mine,” said Barrett, MSW ’22, who was paired with Ihara as a student research assistant at George Mason’s Social Work integrated Research Lab (SWiRL).

“It was very interactive, and we were trying to show that we heard them and that their contribution was important,” said Barrett, who is now works as a psychotherapist with people of all ages.

Harveen Pantleay. Photo provided.

“I was really nervous in the beginning because we were going into somebody's private space and didn't always know what [to expect], but it ended up being a wonderful experience and great for my own personal growth about sitting with things that can be uncomfortable,” said Barrett.

Both the George Mason students and the older adults benefitted from the Senior Mentor Program approach, and Ihara said the college hopes to expand it to other health professional students.

“One of the biggest things that I took away from my time in George Mason’s social work program was seeing people as individuals before you see whatever their struggle is,” said Barrett.

Pantleay, MSW ’22, also worked alongside Barrett and Ihara in SWiRL and was involved in many projects specifically focusing on gerontology.

“I gained a lot of valuable knowledge about qualitative data and how to classify that data into categories [through] analyzing the data and identifying what codes would be associated with the responses that were given by the mentors and participants,” said Pantleay.

Pantleay’s favorite part about the research project was learning about gerontology as it was a part of social work that she did not have much experience in at the time, she said.

Madeline Holden. Photo provided.

“A lot of what I learned through the work and research in SWiRL wasn't covered in my classes necessarily, so this experience allowed me to learn a lot more about this community and the negative effects of ageism in health care,” said Holden, MSW ’22.

“I think the main takeaway from the research is that people make a lot of assumptions about older adults that they shouldn’t,” said Holden, who also conducted clinical research for Inova Hospital for three years before enrolling for her master’s of social work at George Mason.

Holden said now uses her experience from this project in her work at an affordable housing corporation. “I work with all ages, including seniors, providing wraparound services to them. The empathy and understanding the team had for their participants throughout this project was great practice for that.”

Topics

College of Public Health

Students

Department of Social Work

Research

Healthcare Workforce Development

CPH research

master of social work

CPH Experience

School of Nursing and MedStar Health partner to develop health workforce

Mary Cunningham — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 14:39:25 +0000

School of Nursing and MedStar Health partner to develop health workforce Mary Cunningham Tue, 11/22/2022 - 09:39

Future Nurse Program provides financial assistance for Accelerated Second Degree Bachelor of Science Nursing students

Fairfax City, VA - ��AV’s School of Nursing, in the College of Public Health, and MedStar Washington Hospital Center have established the Future Nurse Program to prepare nurses for clinical practice and to address critical nursing workforce shortages in the region.

MedStar Health will cover in-state tuition for Mason Accelerated Second Degree Bachelor of Science Nursing (ABSN) students accepted into the Future Nurse Program for students who agree to work for three years as a full-time licensed registered nurse at MedStar Washington Hospital Center after graduation.

“This partnership with MedStar Washington Hospital Center will help bolster the nursing workforce in our area, which in turn will support the health and well-being of our local communities. The program makes becoming a Mason nurse more accessible to more people and will allow students to learn critical care skills in the environment they will work,” said Cheryl Oetjen, Interim Chair of the School of Nursing.

Students will complete the required academic coursework at Mason and complete most of their clinical coursework at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

“Mason Nurses are extraordinary. Not only are they prepared with the required technical skills, Mason nurses are kind, caring, and able to adapt to ever-changing situations. We are thrilled to partner with Mason and their ABSN students to develop and train future nurses who can make a difference in our patients' lives and improve our community,” said Catherine Reisenberg, Ph.D., FNP-BC, Director of Academic Practice Partnerships at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

The three-year agreement between the School of Nursing and MedStar Health began in Fall 2022.

Mason’s Mason Accelerated Second Degree Bachelor of Science Nursing program is a 12-month, full-time, pre-licensure program for applicants who have earned a bachelor’s degree prior to the start of the program. The program provides successful applicants an opportunity to experience nursing in a variety of clinical settings throughout the National Capitol area. Learn more here.

For more information about the Mason School of Nursing and MedStar Washington Hospital Center, contact Jennifer Sawyer at jsawyer6@gmu.edu.

About Mason

��AV, Virginia’s largest public research university, enrolls 39,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason has grown rapidly over the last half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity, and commitment to accessibility. In 2022, Mason celebrates 50 years as an independent institution. Learn more at http://www.gmu.edu.

About the College of Public Health

The College of Public Health at ��AV is the first and only College of Public Health in Virginia combining public health transdisciplinary research, education, and practice in the Commonwealth as a national exemplar. The College enrolls more than 1,900 undergraduate and 1,300 graduate students in our nationally recognized programs, including six undergraduate degrees, eight master’s degrees, five doctoral degrees, and six professional certificate programs. The College is comprised of the School of Nursing and the Departments of Global and Community Health, Health Administration and Policy, Nutrition and Food Studies, and Social Work.

About MedStar Health and MedStar Washington Hospital Center

At MedStar Health, we use the best of our minds and the best of our hearts to serve our patients, those who care for them, and our communities. Our 30,000 associates and 4,700 affiliated physicians are committed to living this promise through our core SPIRIT values—Service, Patient first, Integrity, Respect, Innovation, and Teamwork—across our more than 300 locations including 10 hospitals, ambulatory, and urgent care centers. As the medical education and clinical partner of Georgetown University, MedStar Health is training future physician leaders to care for the whole person and is advancing care through the MedStar Health Research Institute. From our telemedicine and urgent care services to the region’s largest home health agency, we’re committed to providing high-quality health care that’s also easy and convenient for our patients. At MedStar Health—It’s how we treat people. Learn more at MedStarHealth.org.

MedStar Washington Hospital Center is a not-for-profit, 912-bed, teaching and research hospital in the nation’s capital, and is a major referral center for treating the region’s most complex cases. Its cardiology program is highly acclaimed, and its cardiac surgery program has consistently earned the highest national rating–three stars–from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. MedStar Washington Hospital Center operates the region’s first Comprehensive Stroke Center and the District’s only Cardiac Ventricular Assist Device program, both certified by The Joint Commission. The hospital is also home to MedSTAR, a nationally verified level I trauma center with a state-of-the-art fleet of helicopters and ambulances and operates the region’s only adult Burn Center. Learn more at MedStarWashington.org.

In This Story

Cheryl Oetjen, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC

Topics

College of Public Health

School of Nursing

Healthcare Workforce Development

Campus News

Press Release

Press Releases

Meet Melissa J. Perry, the new dean of the College of Health and Human Services

Colleen Rich — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 17:21:29 +0000

Meet Melissa J. Perry, the new dean of the College of Health and Human Services Colleen Rich Mon, 08/29/2022 - 13:21

Melissa J. Perry, the new dean of ��AV’s College of Health and Human Services, recently sat down to discuss her personal and academic background, her vision for the college, and her approach to lifelong learning.

Dean Melissa J. Perry joined Mason August 1. Photo by Ron Aira/Creative Services

Perry served as professor and chair of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health in the George Washington University Milken School of Public Health. She also recently completed an assignment in Albania as a Fellow in the Fulbright International Education Program for Global Scholars working to build public health capacity in that country.

CHHS is in the process of becoming a college of public health. Why is this transition important to Mason, the region, and the world?

Having a College of Public Health in the commonwealth will benefit those who live in the state and the region in many tangible ways. We will continue to engage with communities to improve health equity and access; foster workforce readiness and expand the pipeline of health care workers; and generate groundbreaking interdisciplinary research. Equity and inclusion will be at the center of all we do.

There’s no doubt in my mind that Mason is the place to launch the first College of Public Health in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

How has the pandemic underscored the impact that a College of Public Health could have?

The timing of launching the College of Public Health is essential. Infectious disease experts predicted decades before that we would face a pandemic. But in the United States, we were caught off guard because over the past two decades the jobs in public health have been reduced by at least 200,000. So investments in public health had been deteriorating. This pandemic has now made epidemiology, emerging infections and public health household terms that are fully recognized and that the importance of which are understood.

The pandemic also brought to the forefront long-standing disparities in access to health care in underserved populations who were severely impacted by COVID-19. While public health practitioners and care providers have recognized and sought to address health equity for decades, the pandemic increased awareness within the public.

The college has extensive outreach into the greater community. What role does and should the college play in the region?

During COVID, the university’s ability to respond in a health crisis, and the college’s ability to respond to community needs as it related to testing and vaccinations, has just been remarkable. And that is just one example of the significant example of the role the college can and will play within the region.

Imagine in five to ten years being able to reflect on the growth in leaders in public health having been trained here—leaders in health care, nursing, social work, nutrition, epidemiology, community health, and global health. Imagine being able to say, yes, the arrival of the College of Public Health was the conduit through which a whole generation of new public health leaders were equipped to provide care and advise on policy, and make decisions about how to keep the population as healthy as possible, and how to make it accessible and equitable.

Has the pandemic increased student interest in pursuing careers in public health?

In the last two years, applications to programs and schools of public health across the country have increased by 16%. So that’s an inordinate number of students nationally who have decided based on the upheaval and the profound disruption of the pandemic to go into public health. Public health and health care careers are the fastest-growing occupations in the country, with a projection of an increase in more than 2 million jobs in the next decade.

In terms of locally and within the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is a nursing crisis, and there is a health care provider crisis. That is why the college is integrally involved in several workforce initiatives to prepare the next generation of leaders across many disciplines, including health informatics, nursing, public health, and social work. We’ll be able to rise to even more of that demand, caring for disenfranchised and marginalized communities, as well as addressing preventive care and the mental and behavioral health problems that most of the country has experienced.

You’ve said that the college has an important role to play in advancing health as a human right. How so?

��AV is about inclusivity. The university welcomes at least a third of students who are low income, at least 40% who are first-generation college students. That is very unique. And that’s, I believe, a reflection of innovation and forward thinking. What better a way to achieve health as a human right than to ensure anyone who wants an education in public health, anybody who is interested in being part of the solution, to have access to a top-notch education?

You grew up in rural Vermont, six miles from the Canadian border, and attended the University of Vermont on a Pell Grant. Could you have envisioned this career arc, with stops at Johns Hopkins and Harvard and now becoming a dean?

My teenager friends and I would sit around in our tiny town and we would say: Can you imagine ever driving in Burlington? And I would say, no way, I’m not going to drive in Burlington! That’s going to be too scary and too complicated. So it was a really transformative experience to step foot on the University of Vermont campus to study psychology and soon be turned on to the idea of public health and mental health and the prevention of mental disorders. My experiences help me appreciate the variety of perspectives that our students bring to their education.

As your career has advanced you’ve sought training in management and leadership and now you’re completing your MBA at Mason. Why is this important to you at this stage of your career as an accomplished scientist and public health leader?

What I’ve learned is that oftentimes researchers and academics get hired into positions of leadership not based on their leadership skills or even their attitude but solely for their aptitude. If you want to be a good leader you should be willing to continually learn and adapt. Everything I’ve learned throughout my career and more recently through my MBA program has a direct impact on my daily approach to leadership. If one has a spirit of inquiry, a thirst for new knowledge and curiosity about ways of approaching new problems, then lifelong learning becomes the catalyst for both happiness and success.

The College of Health and Human Services is now the College of Public Health

The College of Public Health at ��AV brings an inclusive approach to public health education, research, and practice. More than 60% of the College of Public Health student body is from historically underrepresented groups, and 38% of its undergraduates are first-generation college students.

Learn how Mason is advancing public health for Virginia and beyond

In This Story

Melissa J. Perry, Sc.D., MHS

Topics

Campus News

College of Health and Human Services

Public Health

Healthcare Workforce Development

College of Health and Human Services Receives $2.6 Million Grant as Part of AmeriCorps and CDC Partnership

Mary Cunningham — Mon, 16 May 2022 19:24:32 +0000

College of Health and Human Services Receives $2.6 Million Grant as Part of AmeriCorps and CDC Partnership Mary Cunningham Mon, 05/16/2022 - 15:24

In This Story

Rebecca Sutter, DNP, APRN, BC-FNP

Janusz Wojtusiak, PhD

Rebecca Sutter, Director of Mason and Partner Clinics

The grant is part of the first-of-its-kind Public Health AmeriCorps, which will meet public health needs of local communities and help rebuild the nation’s public health sector

The College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) has been awarded $2.6 million over three years as part of the new Public Health AmeriCorps program, an interagency agreement between AmeriCorps and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

The College’s project is led by Rebecca Sutter, Director of the Mason and Partner (MAP) Clinics and recently-promoted professor of Nursing, and Janusz Wojtusiak, Director of the Center for Discovery Science and Health Informatics and associate professor of Health Administration and Policy. With the grant funding, the College aims to increase community-based connections and improve patient referrals to both health and social determinants of health needs through the use of data analytics and community-based relationships.

“Mason is uniquely positioned to lead the way at this intersection between the CDC and AmeriCorps because of our expertise in health informatics, dedication to health equity, and long-standing relationships in our local communities,” said Sutter. “These AmeriCorps volunteers will be our next public health leaders, and we are excited to prepare them to use data to guide public health strategy and create stronger connections to underserved Northern Virginia families.”

Janusz Wojtusiak, Director of the Center for Discovery Science and Health Informatics

The project, "Mason Data and Technology Driven Public Health AmeriCorps Training Program," will receive $2,662,000 over three years.

Under the grant, Mason will train 30 AmeriCorps members to strengthen health connections to the community and learn how to use data analytics to improve care communication, care coordination, triage, and patient surveillance across two communities in Northern Virginia. AmeriCorps members will increase referrals to health and social services for under/uninsured community members.

This community-based training program is critical to building the public health workforce and serving underserved communities that are strained for support. With dedicated training, future leaders can become confident and comfortable with the variety of ways to support people in their health and wellness journeys. The training program also will help address broader public health needs that have been exacerbated by the pandemic, including mental health.

“Public Health AmeriCorps is a first of its kind response to the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and social determinants of health. These new AmeriCorps members will add capacity to strained public health systems and build a career pathway for future public health leaders from underserved communities,” said Michael D. Smith, AmeriCorps CEO.

Public Health AmeriCorps will include a 400-million-dollar investment, over five years, to many organizations, including CHHS, from the American Rescue Plan Act workforce funding that will enable the recruitment, training, and development of a new generation of public health leaders who are ready to respond to the public health needs of the nation by providing public health service in communities.

Topics

Healthcare Workforce Development

Workforce Development

workforce training

College of Health and Human Services Hosts Transforming Public Health Workshop

John Brandon Cantrell — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 19:25:14 +0000

College of Health and Human Services Hosts Transforming Public Health Workshop John Brandon C… Wed, 03/23/2022 - 15:25

Convening area leaders to rebuild public health infrastructure

As the region approached the second anniversary of declaring a state of emergency for the COVID-19 pandemic, the College of Health and Human Services convened academic, health department, and philanthropy leaders to discuss the current public health priorities and opportunities to partner in transforming the region’s public health infrastructure.

“The College believes in the power of partnerships to deliver and promote the public’s health and that no one discipline has all the answers,” said Germaine Louis, Dean of the College, in her opening remarks. “Partnerships in Northern Virginia will be a win-win strategy as we work together to develop the much-needed health workforce and harness the power of data.”

The workshop was designed to bring the three critical stakeholder groups together to discuss the role of data and technology, workforce development, and philanthropy in addressing the most pressing priorities shared by the health department directors. The conversation was the first step in identifying solutions and developing actionable plans for the near future.

Michael Fraser, CEO of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, expressed his gratitude for the commitment of the health directors throughout the pandemic as well as his optimistic view that “transformation is possible.” Fraser shared that the pandemic has reinforced state, local, and federal commitment to transform in the areas of health equity, public health infrastructure, and data modernization—and now is the time to act!

Area Health Department Directors Share Priorities

In the first of three panels, the participating health directors discussed workforce challenges, including the shortage of nurse practitioners, particularly in rural areas, and the pervasive need for mental and behavioral health services. The need for on-going workforce development for the current health workforce was a common theme, including opportunities for just-in-time training, workforce retention initiatives, and effective communication strategies.

The group discussed health equity-related challenges, including the demand for a public health workforce that strives for equity in all policies and that helps stakeholders understand the “why” behind health equity initiatives. Participants examined the mind set shifts needed to bring health equity to the region as well as implications for policy, service delivery, and community members in traditionally over-represented populations.

Communication and education about the social determinants of health and their impact on community health were also cited as challenges that health directors seek to address, noting the need to simplify scientific information for the public’s benefit. The health directors explored the rapidly expanding role of data in public health and the increased need for analytical and decision-making skills in the public health workforce as well as the ability to clearly and accurately communicate the meaning behind the data.

Perspectives on Addressing Challenges

The second panel comprising faculty from the College and Advisory Board Members explored strategic opportunities to address the Health Department’s priorities for transforming public health relative to workforce development; health equity; and data, analytics, and technology.

From a workforce development perspective, the panel explored opportunities for collaboration between health departments and academe. Participants discussed providing students with real-world experience via internships and practica, as well as partnerships to identify the evolving skills, capabilities, and credentials the workforce will need in the future. The College is offering and will continue to develop accessible degree programs that deliver career ready graduates. The College can help with ‘upskilling’ the current workforce through specific training or by offering focused certificate programs or micro- credentials for the current workforce desiring more targeted training.

The health equity panel noted that a multi-level approach is needed and discussion focused on the many stakeholders involved in equity beyond a strict health focus. The Panel discussed the importance of technology in delivering health equity, the central role of community health workers, and the important role that academia plays in informing interventions and economic policies to address inequities in care delivery and policy. Faculty discussed their role in developing system-level thinkers who can approach today’s challenges, such as health equity, with complex analytical and problem-solving skills.

In terms of data modernization, panelists raised questions about what the public health data infrastructure is and how modern analytics and technology can offer solutions

moving forward. Discussion focused the importance of a data-ready and analytically-prepared workforce that gathers meaningful data for curation and harmonization into public health applications that positively impact the public’s health rather than keeping data in silos. The panel discussed the need to ask the right questions and to understand who will be using the data. Also, interdisciplinary collaborations are needed to prepare future public health leaders for decision-making, including the rapid emergence of technologies, like telehealth and artificial intelligence, witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Role of Philanthropy in Meeting the Moment

The third panel featured philanthropic leaders who shared their vision for how foundations and non-profits can partner in the transformation process with contributions that span well beyond their grant-making capabilities. Coalitions, convenings, relationship-building, data, and research are all benefits of partnering with the philanthropic sector to transform public health. Another emerging opportunity for foundations is helping to articulate the message, and funding the initiatives of community coalitions.

The workshop concluded with a call for further collaboration in service to the many opportunities identified throughout the day. For those who wish to learn more about opportunities to partner in the transformation of public health, please contact Dean Germaine Louis at glouis@gmu.edu.

Summary and Next Steps

During the open discussion following the panels, a number of great points were made and several themes emerged relative to a new conceptual basis for public health through the design and implementation of innovative initiatives centering on workforce, health equity and data modernization, as noted below.

Public Health

Sentiments were articulated that called for all to be proactive in remaining connected with public health and in telling our story, including what does and does not work well. We need to continue to show up, to listen and strategize, and to share power and responsibility amongst stakeholders. Both biomedical and social drivers of health and well-being need to be incorporated into public health initiatives and that will mean new collaborators from non-traditional public health disciplines, including: agriculture, housing, transportation, parks and recreation (built environment), urban planners, and businesses/employers. Philanthropy can use its voice to support of public health in their role as trusted neutral brokers.

Moving forward, we need strategies to prepare for the next pandemic as well as the impact of macro stressors such as climate on health. Such initiatives might engage multicultural advisory committees for perspective and to ensure stakeholders have a voice. Sustainable funding along with nimble contracting procedures are essential in maximizing the impact of public health, and in helping to ensure we maintain our identity in the context of friction. Lastly, moving forward will require leveraging existing and new resources and expertise to put principles into practice to ensure health and wellness, coupled with an accompanying safety net to deliver health equity.

Workforce

A new skillset is needed for both the current and future public health workforces as are strategies for upskilling the existing workforce and ensuring career ready graduates. Academe can prepare students for public health careers but bidirectional communication is needed to ensure needed skillsets aligns with coursework and practicums, while meeting accreditation standards. Academe can develop and offer credit-bearing (or not) certificate programs or micro-credentials to address current workforce needs, such as the forthcoming Master of Public Health concentration in health equity and social justice. Repeated calls were made to ensure the future workforce has contemporary skills reflecting best practices for data analytics including visualization and interpretation, communication with native and non-native English speakers, health literacy, community engagement and trust, policy, and advocacy.

Health Equity

Recognizing the many disciplines that comprise public health and equity, the field will need new partners to tackle systemic and structural factors that impede social and health equity. Best practices are needed and communicating the specifics and impact of health equity to decision makers is needed. It is timely to be designing equity impact plans targeted to communities and to gather support from stakeholders.

Data, Analytics, and Technology

Data modernization techniques are needed to design the public health data structure and to leverage available and non-traditional databases (e.g., administrative) along with more typical public health registries and databases (e.g., vital registration, cancer registries). We can be thinking about digital health innovation opportunities so that initiatives can be designed to be effective, efficient, equitable, and safe. Telehealth opportunities are an excellent way to reach underserved populations and are likely to remain post-pandemic and become an acceptable component of clinical care. In terms of health informatics, there are exciting opportunities to use AI and machine-learning tools to design and deliver equitable health.

Workshop Agenda & Participants

Panel 1: Health Directors’ Panel Discussion – Top 3 Priorities Moving Forward

Gloria Addo-Ayensu, M.D., M.P.H., District Director, Fairfax Health District *
Alison Ansher, M.D., M.P.H., District Director, Prince William Health District*
Michael Fraser, Ph.D., M.S., Chief Executive Officer, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
David Goodfriend, M.D., M.P.H., District Director, Loudon Health District
L. Trice Gravatte, M.D., Health Director, Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District
Christopher Revere, M.P.A., Deputy Director for Innovation and Planning, Fairfax County Health District
David Rose, M.D., M.B.A., Director, Alexandria Health Department
Robert Sharpe, Chief Operations Officer, Arlington Health District
Reuben Varghese, M.D., District Director, Arlington Health District

Panel 2: Mason Faculty & Advisory Board Response – Possible Strategic Initiatives for meeting Health Department Needs

Workforce Priority

Carolyn Drews-Botsch, Ph.D., M.P.H., Chair & Professor, Department of Global & Community Health, College of Health & Human Services, ��AV
Michael Fraser, Ph.D., M.S., Chief Executive Officer, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials*
Emily Ihara, Ph.D., M.S.W., Chair & Associate Professor, Department of Social Work, College of Health & Human Services, ��AV
PJ Maddox, Ed.D., Chair & Professor, Department of Health Administration & Policy, College of Health & Human Services, ��AV
Robert Weiler, Ph.D., M.P.H., Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Health & Human Services, ��AV

Health Equity Priority

Robert Blancato, M.P.A., President, Matz Blancato & Associates*
Gilbert Gimm, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Health Administration & Policy, College of Health & Human Services, ��AV
Sharon Lamberton, M.S., Deputy Vice President, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America*
Michelle Williams, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Global & Community Health,
College of Health & Human Services, ��AV
Hong Xue, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Health Administration & Policy, College of Health & Human Services, ��AV

Data Platforms, Analytics, and Technology Priority

Anton Arbatov, M.H.A., Senior Vice President Customer Success, Clarity, Inc.*
Alicia Hong, Ph.D., M.P.H., Professor, Department of Health Administration & Policy, College of Health & Human Services, ��AV
Praduman Jain, Chief Executive Officer & Founder, Vibrent Health*
Rebecca Sutter, D.N.P., Associate Professor, School of Nursing, College of Health & Human Services, ��AV
Jinshan Tang, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Health Administration & Policy, College of Health & Human Services, ��AV
Janusz Wojtusiak, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Health Administration & Policy, College of Health & Human Services, ��AV

Panel 3: Philanthropic Leaders’ Response – Intersection of Philanthropic Missions with Public Health

Eileen Ellsworth, J.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia
Susie Lee, M.P.H., Executive Director, Potomac Health Foundation*
Patricia Mathews, B.A., President and Chief Executive Officer, Northern Virginia Health Foundation
Robin Mockenhaupt, Ph.D., M.P.H., Robin Mockenhaupt Consulting, LLC*

* indicates Dean’s Advisory Board Member

Topics

CHHS

Healthcare Workforce Development

Public Health

��AV establishes the Mason Center for the Health Workforce

Melanie Balog — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 14:06:47 +0000

��AV establishes the Mason Center for the Health Workforce Melanie Balog Mon, 02/14/2022 - 09:06

Fairfax, VA – ��AV has established the Mason Center for the Health Workforce to address the shortage of and immediate need for health workers in Virginia. Directed by PJ Maddox and Caroline Sutter, the Center will support the development and delivery of public/private strategies to optimize physical and behavioral health careers education and post-graduate skill training. The Center will also serve as a technical assistance center for health workforce research, program evaluation, planning and analysis for government agencies, academic entities, and professional organizations.

“A competent health workforce is a critical asset for fielding essential health/public health services in all communities,” said Maddox, Professor and Chair of the Department of Health Administration and Policy. “Mason’s commitment to providing access to higher education and its commitment to service to the Commonwealth make it the right home for the Virginia Health Workforce Center.”

The center will build on work currently funded by the Claude Moore Community Foundation for early health workforce development, supporting the Claude Moore Scholars program and providing technology and services that enhance existing education and training pathways to employment programs in Virginia. The Scholars program, which works with 46 school systems in Virginia, is designed to introduce young people to healthcare careers and help them get the necessary education and training that will enable them to become employable in meaningful jobs upon completion of high school.

The Center also provides data on health workforce, supports teachers, and does program evaluation. It is poised to take on a larger role in support of healthcare workforce in the Commonwealth.

“The current health workforce crisis in Virginia—exacerbated by COVID-19—demonstrates the need to think strategically about how we attract talent to healthcare, how we educate and train workers, and how we make healthcare jobs more appealing in terms of work environment and career opportunities,” said Bill Hazel, Senior Deputy Executive Director of Claude Moore. “The Center for Health Workforce is a collaborative effort that will provide support to leaders around the Commonwealth as these issues are addressed.”

The Mason Center for the Health Workforce will grow the Virginia (physical and behavioral) health workforce pipeline, support public/private agency, cross-sector commitment and resource sharing for workforce development; develop innovative curricula, training and delivery methods that support increased access to education for (physical and behavioral) health careers and career advancement; and evaluate the impact of workforce development programs relative to demand and investments for expanding workforce supply.

“The need for well-trained health professionals, across disciplines and among fields, is one of the most critical issues facing communities in Virginia and throughout the nation. These challenges have been exacerbated during the COVID crisis,” Mason Provost and Executive Vice President Mark R. Ginsberg said. “I am confident that our new Center will help to address these critical challenges and also provide opportunities for continuing professional education for the health workforce in the Commonwealth.”

Moving forward, the Center will provide robust administrative support and infrastructure for core work activities that are conducted through data analysis and research; training and education; and integration and innovation. Learn more at the Center’s website: http://vahlthwf.gmu.edu/

About Mason

��AV, Virginia’s largest public research university, enrolls 39,000 students from 130 countries and all 50 states. Located near Washington, D.C., Mason has grown rapidly over the last half-century and is recognized for its innovation and entrepreneurship, remarkable diversity and commitment to accessibility. In 2022, Mason celebrates 50 years as an independent institution. Learn more at http://www.gmu.edu.