Career Roles for Healthcare Executives

Demand for healthcare professionals is growing, especially as the U.S. population ages and new technology improves access to health services.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects jobs for medical and health service managers to grow by 28% from 2021 to 2031, compared to 7% for other management occupations,¹ making it a great time to change or further your career.

With an online doctorate in healthcare administration (DHA), you can become a visionary leader and social change agent in today’s dynamic healthcare environment. Healthcare executives with a DHA degree manage services and staff, design and enforce policies, and support medical providers in a variety of settings, including ambulatory care facilities, home health agencies, hospitals, managed care organizations, medical group practices, public health departments, and universities or research institutions.

Here are a few examples of careers you can explore as you pursue a DHA degree.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Also known as an executive director or president, the CEO is the top administrator and is responsible for almost every aspect of how the organization performs. Along with ensuring quality patient care, CEOs may hire and retain staff; ensure compliance with local, state, and federal health departments; develop and implement policies and strategic plans; take actions to ensure the system’s financial stability and success; and serve as the public face of the organization.

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) – CFOs of health care organizations have a hand in strategic planning, budgetary oversight, and personnel management. They oversee the quality of their organization’s financial reports, make decisions regarding debt, formulate strategies to boost revenue, work with the CEO and other executives on policy decisions, and help build the organization’s future. A hospital CFO typically oversees a finance department.

Chief Operating Officer (COO) – Hospital or health system COOs typically report to the CEO and oversee all daily administrative and operational functions. The COO may also work to ensure the organization’s quality of care matches its overall goals and mission. COOs often collaborate with CEOs and CFOs to design and implement policies that promote the organization’s culture, as well as drive the organization’s growth. Other titles for this position include director of operations and executive vice president of operations.

Professor – Healthcare administration professors teach the next generation of healthcare leaders. Professors instruct undergraduate and graduate students on a range of topics, including evidence-based leadership approaches, public policy, corporate strategy, health equity, data-driven decision-making, and risk management in healthcare. Professors may also have the opportunity to conduct their own research and mentor doctoral students.

Advance Your Career by Earning a Doctor of Healthcare Administration Degree

Walden University’s online DHA program can prepare you to pursue a range of executive-level and leadership careers in medical and health service management, as well as administrative services management.

The multidisciplinary curriculum blends theory with research, teaching students how to effectively use communication and public relations knowledge, adopt data-driven approaches for executive-level decision-making, and execute practice-based research. Class topics include global health and issues in disease prevention; healthcare quality management; and governance, law, and policy for healthcare leaders.

Walden’s DHA program offers two tracks to completion:

• TRACK I – A program of study for students who have a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA). This track allows a student to forgo foundational healthcare administration courses and complete the program in a shorter amount of time.
• TRACK II – Designed for students who have a master’s degree in a discipline other than healthcare administration who start at the beginning of the term.

Both tracks include two face-to-face residencies and a doctoral capstone project.

At Walden, an accredited university, it’s more convenient than ever to earn your degree. With our online education programs, you have the freedom to take classes whenever—and wherever—you choose. All you need is internet access.

Walden University is an accredited institution offering a Doctor of Healthcare Administration (DHA) degree program online. Expand your career options and earn your degree in a convenient, flexible format that fits your busy life.

¹Source: www.bls.gov/ooh/management/medical-and-health-services-managers.htm#tab-6

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.