Program Director Katie Carow discusses how UIC’s Online Master of Healthcare Administration Degree Prepares Future Healthcare Leaders

Katie Carow, the Program Director of UIC’s online Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) program, is shaping the next generation of healthcare leaders. She is dedicated to building a strong, reputable online program that prepares students for leadership roles in hospital administration, healthcare organizations, and physician groups nationwide.

Carow is committed to supporting each student’s professional journey, whether they’re looking to move into a new role or take the next step into a leadership position in the healthcare industry.

Can you share an overview of your background and experience?

For the first 20 years of my career, I worked in hospitals throughout the Chicago area, including academic hospitals, community hospitals, and a pediatric hospital. I held various roles across different departments, from accounting to operations, but most of my time was spent in healthcare strategy.

About 16 years ago, I started my own consulting firm, focused on strategic planning, service line development, facility planning, and physician alignment. Eleven years ago, I began teaching in UIC’s Residential and Executive MHA programs, while coaching the UIC MHA Case Competition team.

Beyond teaching, I frequently speak at healthcare conferences and industry events. I often serve as a moderator at Becker’s Healthcare conferences, a leading organization in the healthcare space. Additionally, I’m a Fellow and faculty member for the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), where I teach national courses to healthcare executives on population health, service line planning, and value-based care.

What sets UIC’s online Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) degree apart from others?

One thing that sets our program apart is that the same faculty teach across both our full-time and part-time tracks. They not only bring real-world healthcare experience but also a background in research, offering students a well-rounded perspective in the classroom.

Another significant advantage is our accelerated eight-week semester format, which enables students to earn their healthcare administration degree in as little as 16 months. This format works particularly well for working professionals balancing their education with a career, family, and personal responsibilities.

Finally, the peer-to-peer interaction in our program is a huge advantage. Since this program is designed for individuals who already have experience in the healthcare industry, students are not only learning from instructors but also from their classmates. Engaging with and learning from other professionals in different areas of healthcare makes for a rich and dynamic learning experience.

What key skills do you believe students develop in the MHA program that makes them highly competitive in the healthcare job market?

Many professionals in the industry have extensive clinical experience but lack exposure to the healthcare financing and leadership aspects of the field. Our program helps bridge that gap by equipping students with a deeper understanding of how healthcare leadership teams and boards operate and how financial structures impact the industry. This skill set is crucial for those stepping into leadership roles in healthcare.

A key highlight of the program is the Capstone course, HPA 546: EMHA Capstone, which I will be leading. This course allows students to apply everything they have learned and put it into practice by tackling a real-world healthcare challenge. Students choose a problem they want to focus on, formulate solutions, create an operational plan, quantify targets/metrics, and study outcomes. By outlining an operational plan to drive change and analyzing the impact on a healthcare system, students gain valuable hands-on experience on change management, leadership, and interacting with stakeholders.

What are the current trends in healthcare, and how does the MHA program prepare students?

Some of the biggest trends in healthcare administration involve shifting risk from insurers and government payors to healthcare organizations. In the past, insurance companies and payers primarily bore the financial risk of patient care expenses. Hospitals and healthcare organizations now play a more significant role beyond just treating illnesses but keeping individuals healthy to minimizing expenses. This shift is the result of Medicare and Medicaid transferring more financial responsibility onto providers.

Another significant change is the increasing emphasis on delivering care in home and outpatient settings. More patients are receiving treatment outside of traditional hospital settings, meaning that when they do come into the hospital, they are often much sicker and have multiple comorbid conditions that need to be addressed. This shift makes technology and enabling devices increasingly important in delivering high-acuity care in home and outpatient environments.

At the same time, academic medical centers and inpatient facilities must elevate their skill sets to care for these more complex patient cases.

UIC’s online Master of Health Administration program helps prepare students for these evolving trends by educating students about at-risk-based payment models, population health, alternative care delivery sites, and applications of cutting-edge technologies to improve care and outcomes.

Can you share your experience coaching MHA students in case competitions and the benefits they gain from participating?

We typically participate in at least two MHA case competitions per year. These competitions present real-life healthcare challenges, which could occur at a hospital, health system, skilled nursing facility, within a physician group, or at another healthcare entity. MHA teams from schools across the nation have two to three weeks to analyze the problem, develop solutions, create an operational and financial plan.

The competition provides significant networking opportunities. Participants connect with peers from other universities and professionals in the field. One of our competitions, hosted by the National Association of Health Service Executives (NAHSE), occurs during their annual conference, attracting hundreds of healthcare professionals. Attending offers students a head-start in securing fellowships or job opportunities post-graduation. Participation in the case competition is also open to online MHA students.

What advice would you give prospective students considering UIC’s online MHA program?

Before starting the program, evaluate your current commitments because it will take time and dedication over the next 16 to 28 months. It’s better to go into the program knowing where you want to expand your knowledge and be vocal about your interests. Let our faculty know so we can ensure those subject areas are covered in our instruction.

Another important piece of advice is to engage with your classmates. Be open to discussion and share what you know, as it can strengthen everyone’s learning. You can often learn just as much from your peers in the class as you can from the faculty by sharing your work experiences.

It doesn’t matter if you’re not an expert today in something; if somebody poses an opportunity for you, make “yes” your answer all the time. Our program will teach you research and problem-solving skills, increasing your confidence in handling any challenge. If you can’t do it yourself, it will teach you how to identify people through your network who have that expertise. Developing diverse skills and abilities will help you tackle any problems.