The Master of Health Administration (MHA) program at the University of British Columbia (UBC) provides executive-style education for health care leaders. The two-year modular weekend format allows working professionals to study while maintaining their careers. Courses taught by UBC and Sauder School of Business faculty cover health policy, management, leadership and business skills. Students complete an independent research project and network with peers, faculty, and industry leaders. Graduates of the program work in key leadership roles within the health care sector in BC, Canada and around the world.

1. Master of Health Administration
Executive style education program for leaders in health care
School of Population and Public Health

2. Message from the Director
Welcome to the Master of Health Administration in the School of
Population and Public Health at The University of British Columbia.
We strive to provide an amazing student experience, both in the way you
will learn and with whom you’ll be learning from. Our courses are taught
by UBC professors who are leaders in their field, bringing their research to
life with case studies and discussions of contemporary health care issues.
With our modular weekend course format, you don’t need to put your
career on hold. You can keep a full-time work schedule while also gaining
new insights to bring back to your organization, benefiting students and
employers alike.
The MHA is challenging and is not for everyone. The ideal student
envisions a career and future in health care and is committed to invest
academically and professionally to realize this goal. Whether you are just
entering the job market or are a health care manager or clinical leader looking to advance your career,
UBC’s MHA program should be high on your list. Through teaching in, and directing this program, I
have been truly impressed with the students’ enthusiasm for learning and their individual aspirations to
improve the health care system.
Craig Mitton, PhD
MHA Program Director
UBC MHA at a glance
Over 350 graduates working
in leadership roles around the
world
Full-time program.
Finish in 26 months
Applications
• Open: November 1
• Close: February 1
Compressed weekend format.
Class every 3-4 weeks
Tuition Fees $27, 354.78
Canadian citizens & permanant
residents. Subject to change.
35-40 students
admitted each year
24 courses +
independent research project
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3. Discover the Master of Health Administration
Uniquely designed for
leadership roles in health care
administration, the UBC Master
of Health Administration offers
training in advanced business,
management and health care
concepts.
The two-year full-time
professional program is perfect
for those seeking solutions
to today’s complex health
delivery issues. Co-delivered by
the School of Population and
Public Health within the Faculty
of Medicine, and the Sauder
School of Business, students
benefit from the professional
experience and expertise of
instructors who are leaders in
health care and business.
The weekend modular format
allows working professionals to
study while continuing to build
their careers. In the compressed
format, students attend class
every 3-4 weeks at UBC’s
Robson Square campus located
in downtown Vancouver.
The MHA is a cohort-based
program allowing students to
build their professional network
from the moment they step into
the classroom. Connections
with other like-minded students
support our students through
the challenges of the program
and their future careers.
MHA students are from diverse
backgrounds, sharing their
experiences as physicians,
nurses, pharmacists, dieticians,
and professionals in health care
and related fields.
MHA graduates are innovative
thinkers and natural leaders,
with an eye toward the future
of health care. Graduates of the
program work in key leadership
roles within the health care
sector in BC, Canada and
around the world.
Professsional Designation
UBC’s MHA program, in partnership with the Canadian College of
Health Leaders (CCHL), provides MHA graduates with advanced
standing towards earning their Certified Health Executive (CHE)
designation, Canada’s only professional credential available to
health leaders.
Learn more - www.mha.spph.ubc.ca | Page 3

4. Weekend 1 Weekend 2
Friday - 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm Course one begins Course two continues
Saturday - 9:00 am to 1:00 pm Course one continues Course two concludes
Saturday - 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm Course two begins Course one continues
Sunday - 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Course two continues Course one concludes
PROGRAM SCHEDULE
The MHA program runs from September to June. In July and August of their second year, students will work
on an independent capstone project. Classes are taught on Friday afternoons and weekends with two courses
covered over two weekends, see sample schedule below. Students are also required to complete individual and
group course work outside of class.
The MHA program
Designed for working professionals
The MHA is a challenging comprehensive program that is designed for those who envision a career and future
in health care. The program teaches skills and concepts unique to health care administration, giving students
the tools to take on leadership positions within health care management.
OUR PROGRAM
Our interactive courses involve small group discussions, case studies and simulations that enable students to
learn from each other as well as instructors.
The MHA is a 42-credit program which consists of:
• 24 courses that offer a breadth and depth of topics that spans health care
• An independent capstone project oriented to problems and issues in health care administration
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5. Build skills and competencies for every stage of your career
The MHA curriculum provides the educational and professional foundation needed for leadership in health
care. During the program, students will complete courses that provide the big picture of health care and gain
the essential skills for health care management and leadership.
Year One
September to June
Gain exposure to a breadth of
health policy and management
courses that spans the health
care sector.
Year Two
July and August
Complete a capstone project,
that brings together course
work and connects it to real-
world leadership challenges in
health care.
Year Two
September to June
Apply knowledge from
foundational courses and
advance understanding with
courses that investigate issues
confronting the health care
industry.
Complete the MHA in 26 months
Career Management
Workshops, events and one-on-one coaching designed to support and advance your career.
Networking with students, alumni and faculty
During the program, students will engage with faculty from business and health care fields along
with guest speakers, projects, and case studies from local hospitals and health care organizations.
Curriculum
Learn more - www.mha.spph.ubc.ca | Page 5

6. The big picture of health care
FEATURED FACULTY - DR. CHRIS LOVATO
Instructor, SPHA 553 Program Planning and Evaluation
Co-Director and Professor, School of Population and Public Health
Founding Director, Evaluation Studies Unit
Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia
Dr. Lovato’s primary areas of expertise are in health promotion, population
health and program evaluation. Her research focuses on evaluating the
impact of health programs and policies, particularly in the areas of cancer
prevention and health services. She is also conducting studies to evaluate
the impact of medical school initiatives implemented in response to
health care professional shortages in rural, remote and northern regions
of Canada.
• Epidemiology
• Canadian Health Policy
• Health Economics
• Health Care Priority Setting
• Social Determinants of Health
• Quality of Care
• Program Planning and Evaluation
• Health Care Law
• Ethics and Ethical Decision Making
• Economic Evaluation
Our dedicated curriculum prepares students with a system-level understanding which will allow them to lead
complex issues in public and population health.
Topics include:
FEATURED COURSE - CANADIAN HEALTH POLICY
Understanding the way the Canadian health care system has evolved and how it’s currently structured
helps to broaden students understanding of policy dilemmas we face.
SPHA 510 Canadian Health Policy (Year One) examines Canadian health care policy and forces that shape
it. By the end of this course, students will be able to describe the main features of the Canadian health
care system, and able to identify key historical, political, and legal factors that influence health policies in
Canada.
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7. The skills of a leader
FEATURED COURSE - OPERATIONS LOGISTICS
Operations management considers how systems work and how you can make them better. SPH 542
Operations and Logistics (Year Two) provides a series of techniques to help students recognize
and remove bottlenecks and waste in health care systems and do more with the same resources.
The course begins and ends with the ‘home nurses game’ – a simulation where students are put into
teams and given a role that mimics an inefficient system for treating elderly patients in their home.
Through a series of five sessions, students are presented with theories and methods to identify waste
and bottlenecks as well as strategies and tools to improve health care systems. Students then redesign
the home nurses system and play the game again to see how it can be improved.
• Accounting
• Basic Finance
• Government and Policy
• Organizational Behaviour
• Human Resources
• Strategic Management
• Operations and Logistics
• Statistics
• Leadership
• IT for Management
• Health Informatics
Delivered by instructors from the School of Population Health, Sauder School of Business and industry experts,
you will get a broad understanding of business and management within a health care setting.
Topics include:
FEATURED FACULTY - DR. DANIEL SKARLICKI
Instructor, SPHA 521 Organizational Behaviour
Edgar Kaiser Professor of Organizational Behaviour
Sauder School of Business
Dr. Skarlicki is the Edgar Kaiser Professor of Organizational Behaviour
at the Sauder School of Business, where he teaches courses in
Leadership Development and Negotiation. He is an Academic
Co-Director and teaches in the Physician Leadership Program at the
Sauder School of Business, and is a visiting professor at HEC in Paris.
He has taught executive programs in organizations across North and
South America, Europe and Asia. His clients include Cathay Pacific, the
Government of Canada, VanCity and Glaxo. An active educator, he has
won numerous teaching and research awards.
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8. Independent research project
At the end of the second year of the program, students have an opportunity to work one-on-one with a faculty
supervisor to explore a problem or issue and present a detailed written report.
Topics can be drawn from any aspect of the MHA program or professional experience and plans, and tend to be
oriented to problems and issues of professional practice in health care administration.
Past projects include:
• Organizational Culture and Quality Improvement in Heart Health
• Fee-forServiceandAlternatePaymentPlanModelsinFraserHealthAuthorityUrbanEmergencyDepartments:
An Environmental Scan
• Giving the Community a Voice in Research: An Evaluation of International Public Engagement Methods for
Biobanks
• Improving the BC Quality Academy Professional Development Program
Explore your passion
Clifford Lo, Class of 2013
Provincial Pharmacy Lead, Special Projects & Initiatives,
British Columbia Provincial Renal Agency
Topic: The impact of automated dispensing devices
For his project, Clifford focused on a new technology that automates
the stages of drug distribution in hospitals, including ordering,
dispensing, delivery, and administration of medications. Decentralized
Automated Dispensing Devices or ADDs have been implemented in
Canadian hospitals as a way to reduce medication errors and save
costs but the system itself is very expensive.
Clifford wanted to know if they were actually having their intended
effect, in a way that’s cost-effective. Clifford first reviewed the literature
and found little evidence supporting claims that these devices
improved patient safety or reduced costs in Canadian hospitals. He
then went into the field to investigate the use of ADDs in three hospitals in British Columbia, applying a
method called timing analysis. With significant resources already invested into these devices, Clifford’s
goal was to determine their optimal use by comparing medication error rates, nurse’s preferences,
nurse’s practice patterns and, finally, efficiency.
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9. Advance your career
Career management workshops and networking opportunities
The MHA is more than advanced training and new health care management strategies, it’s also about preparing
graduates for their career after the program. MHA students come to the program with diverse experiences
and career goals. Some have plans to progress within their current organization, while others are looking for
opportunities to transition into a new role or company. Students build their career plan throughout the program
with a series of dedicated career workshops, guidance, and networking with others in the health care sector.
MANY PATHS WAITING FOR YOU
Most of our students complete the program as mid-career professionals working in the health care sector.
The MHA degree allows graduates to explore new areas of work in a leadership capacity within their
current organization or with another employer.
Below are just a few examples of roles held by MHA graduates:
• Facility Engagement Lead, Doctors of BC
• Executive Director, SafeCare BC
• Director, Mental Health Program, Providence Health Care
• Supervisor, Echocardiography Lab, Vancouver Island Health Authority
Shanti Gidwani, Class of 2006
National Senior Director, Healthcare Cisco Canada
Healthcare has always been part of Shanti’s life. After being raised in a household
of physicians, Shanti began her career as a nurse, working across a number
of clinical areas. While she loved being at the bedside, she saw the broader
spectrum of population health.
With a passion for leadership and policy initiatives, Shanti discovered the MHA
while enrolled in a Master of Science in Nursing. She immediately felt that she
had found the right fit, which offered formal training in healthcare and business.
At Cisco, Shanti uses her background and education to advise chief medical
officers and hospital administrators on how technology can advance the goals
of their organization.
“During my time in the MHA, I literally applied what I learned on the weekend to my job. It was a true translation
of knowledge between my education and my day-to-day.”
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10. The future of health care
Join our class of MHA graduates
MHA graduates are innovative thinkers and natural leaders, with an eye toward the future of health care.
Graduates leave the program with competencies uniquely designed for health care leadership across three
domains – transformation, execution and people (National Centre for Health Care Leadership), preparing
them to:
• Lead change processes through analytical and financial thinking in a strategic orientation
• Translate vision and strategy towards optimal organizational performance with communication skills,
performance measurement and project management
• Create collaborative environments with human resource and change management
Dr. Marcus Blouw - Class of 2015
AssistantProfessorofMedicine,President,MedicalStaffAssociation,St.BonifaceHospitalandMedical
Director, Respiratory Inpatient Unit and Internal Medicine Procedure Service, Health Sciences Centre
Marcus is a physician at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg with clinical appointments in Adult
Respirology and Critical Care Medicine. Marcus also conducts clinical
research. He is active in numerous quality improvement and patient safety
initiatives, with an interest in improving patient care through more efficient
workflow and improved workplace communication.
Marcus continued to work full-time while completing the MHA program,
commuting between Winnipeg and Vancouver for classes.
Since completing the MHA program, Marcus has taken on considerably
larger administrative roles in the workplace. The MHA cultivated both
the broad knowledge base and the mindset required to serve as a leader
in a variety of health care settings. Working with clinical teams, leading
administrative groups, collaborating for research projects and serving as a
board member for one of Winnipeg’s two tertiary care centres all became
part of Marcus’ post-MHA weekly routine.
“The most rewarding aspect of the MHA was my relationship with my classmates. Nowhere else can you have
such intelligent, lively discussion in the classroom followed by hilarity outside of the classroom.”
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11. How to apply
Admission requirements and tuition
Applicants are asked to provide the following
information for review by our admissions
committee.
Academic requirements*
• Bachelor’s degree (equivalent to four-year
degree at UBC)
• GPA B+ (76% or higher) in 3rd & 4th year level
coursework
• B+ (76%) in an approved university-level math
or stats course or minimum scores from a
Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
*International applicants – academic requirements
vary, please visit website for details.
Details of your work experience
• Letter of Intent – Tell us why you are interested
in the MHA and how it fits with your goals
• A copy of your latest CV
• Three letters of reference
Application deadlines:
• Applications open: November 1
• Applications close: February 1
Fees
• Tuition: $27,355 (Canadian citizens and
permanent residents); $32,934 (Study permit)
for a two-year program (2015-16 fees)
• Fees are paid in three instalments per year, at
the beginning of September, January and June
• Program fees include tuition, textbooks and
course materials
• Student fees approx. $850 (U-Pass and Health
Insurance)
For more information and to apply online, visit
www.mha.spph.ubc.ca
Questions? Contact us by email
mha.program@ubc.ca or call +1 604.822.2366
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12. Contact us today to discuss the program.
Phone: +1 604.822.2366
Email: mha.program@ubc.ca
Website: www.mha.spph.ubc.ca
MHA Program Office
School of Population and Public Health
2206 East Mall
The University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3
School of Population and Public Health