Master's in Leadership of Healthcare Organizations

The Master’s degree in leadership of healthcare organizations (MAS) is jointly sponsored by the School of Medicine and the Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, the Graduate Studies Division and the Division of Extended Studies. This new degree program will permit a student to complete the Doctor of Medicine curriculum and studies leading to a Master’s Degree in the Leadership of Healthcare Organizations in a total of five years. It is the first approved Master’s of Advanced Studies program under a statewide project of the University of California to expand the career potential of individuals and bring academic rigor to California’s professionals in various fields. Offered to medical students and residents at UCSD and physicians and others in our community, the goal of the program is to prepare clinicians to exert greater influence over the business decisions that determine how patients receive their care.

Students will be introduced to the topics studied in the degree program by participating in the HEALTH EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM (HELP) sponsored by UCSD Extension. This program, which grants a certificate of completion, brings physicians, nurses and administrators together for eight weekends of intensive instruction by experts in health systems organization, managed care, medical information systems, law, organizational behavior and change management and others topics. Sessions are held once per month over September to May. Medical students will participate in HELP before taking the master’s curriculum, if possible. If not, HELP will be part of the year of master’s classes. For those who can complete the program early, HELP will serve to introduce students to the more formal course work of the master’s degree and will allow them to determine if they wish to pursue the degree. Brochures describing the HELP program are available in the Office of Student Affairs or by clicking the link below.

• HELP Introductory Letter - [55 kb], from Dr. Charles Mittman, M.D., Dean for Clinical Affairs  (PDF)
• HELP Brochure - [644 kb]
• HELP Seminar Schedule - [238 kb]

To complete the formal MAS requirements (36 credit hours of work), medical students typically will utilize the fall, winter and spring quarters in year four. Students will have the option of taking other electives simultaneously and then completing the MD curriculum in a fifth year. On completion of the five years, students will receive both the MD and MAS degrees from UCSD. For the master’s degree classes, medical students work side by side with practicing professionals who have completed HELP; physicians, nurses and administrators working in clinical areas. This exposure to professionals actively involved in managing healthcare organizations will enhance the value of the classroom for the medical student.

The UCSD School of Medicine expects students to complete an Independent Study Project (ISP) as a graduation requirement. Students in the Healthcare Leadership Program will be required to select an ISP topic related to management but will have no other ISP requirement. The Program has an External Advisory Committee made up of physician leaders and senior executives from local healthcare organizations. There will be opportunities to pursue ISP projects in UCSD Healthcare and these community organizations.

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