Why Choose the University of Michigan for Your HMP Education?
We call it the Michigan Advantage. In real terms, it's a one-of-a-kind experience for all Michigan HMP students. The Michigan Advantage includes:
- excellence in research and teaching,
- excellence in theory and practice,
- integration of management and policy,
- a focus on leadership,
- assistance in establishing valuable, lifelong relationships
- exceptional mentoring through H-Net
Excellence in Research and Teaching
Our faculty are nationally recognized for their cutting-edge, policy-relevant research
on the major issues affecting health management and policy. Whether it's developing
payment systems for long-term care, designing new health insurance products, examining
and improving the value of public health services, or designing more effective health
systems in both the U.S. and abroad, you will find our faculty at the forefront of
exciting research that is used by policymakers and practitioners.
We recognize that high-quality research enhances effective teaching, and that high-quality
teaching enhances research ideas and agendas. Thus, we view teaching and research
as synergistic. All HMP faculty teach courses, and serve as academic advisors to students.
Our faculty bring their research expertise to the classroom, and also hire students
to work as research assistants on their projects.
Excellence in Theory and Practice
For many years, HMP has set the standard in the field for innovation in graduate health
management and policy education. To prepare students to be successful professionals
and leaders in the field, our curriculum combines theory and practice. The essence
of our curriculum is its focus on both theoretical foundations and the skills/competencies
needed to meet the demands of a rapidly-changing field.
Summer internships are a key practice component of the educational experience. We
work closely with each student to secure a summer internship in a high-quality organization
that involves meaningful assignments with real value to the organization, mentored
by an experienced practitioner with an interest in developing professionals at an
early career stage. Throughout the school year, students also have opportunities to
work on research or practice projects with faculty members, or to obtain part-time
jobs with organizations in the Southeast Michigan community.
Integration of Management and Policy
All Masters degree students in the Department of Health Management and Policy receive training in both health management and health policy. Successful leaders in the field will attest to the fact that one cannot be successful as a health care executive without a savvy understanding of legislative, regulatory and organizational policy realms and of health politics. In turn, one cannot achieve success as a policy analyst, policy advisor or organizational advocate without developing the skills needed to manage financial, human and other resources and to lead organizations. Our core curriculum emphasizes the synergies between health management and health policy, and requires that all students develop the analytical, communication and leadership skills to be successful in this broad field.
Focus on Leadership
We prepare all students for career success and leadership, and expect that our graduates will become the leaders of the various health fields they enter. We emphasize leadership and professional development in the core curriculum, in student organizations and extracurricular activities, and through the Griffith Leadership Center. This has been our aspiration and our tradition for several decades. The outstanding achievements of our alumni demonstrate that the tradition remains as strong and vibrant as ever.
Establishing Long-Term Relationships
Beyond providing students with the highest-quality educational experience available,
we take great pride in maintaining a student-friendly environment that encourages
long-term relationships. We are investing in your career, not just in your graduate
education. Students are represented on all governing committees and provide feedback
on all courses and department activities at the end of each academic year. In addition,
student cohorts are supportive and collegial, with life-long friendships and professional
relationships emerging from the time together in the program.
HMP actively promotes a loyal and effective alumni network. We've been training health
services executives and policy makers for more than 50 years, and have alumni in top
administrative and policy positions in every sector of American health care and health
policy and throughout the world. HMP alumni are currently working in all 50 states,
in Washington, DC, and in over 30 countries. Our alumni have a long-standing record
of helping and supporting new graduates. HMP has established a mentoring program called
H-Net to link current students with alumni who act as mentors throughout the graduate
program and beyond.
Exceptional Mentoring through H-Net
Our world-class mentoring program, H-Net, connects HMP students to some of the most successful mentors in the world: U-M HMP alumni who are established leaders in their fields. All first and second-year master's students are matched with alumni who can help them in their program from start to finish. The alumni and the students love it! Learn more about this great program.