Faculty and staff at the Division of Health Administration at The U of M have new healthcare officials on the advisory board who will provide them with relevant advice on keeping the administration's programs "on track."
Areas in the division include the graduate program in Health Administration and the Center for Health Services Research.
U of M professor Paul Fitzgerald is the new director of the Division of Health Administration this semester.
The selection process began this summer, and the board of health care professionals was chosen by Fitzgerald and University faculty. The members of the board serve on a volunteer basis.
Fitzgerald is excited about the renewal of the board and the caliber of members chosen.
"They are outstanding people. All of them have achieved significant accomplishments professionally," Fitzgerald said. "They are good people to volunteer their time to help us build this program. It is a reflection of the high quality of individuals involved in the healthcare business in Memphis."
The Division of Health Administration is part of the new School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy at The University.
"A major reason for forming this new school is to have programs that reach out to the Memphis community," Fitzgerald said. "We feel that this board helps to achieve that."
The board is currently involved in two projects, beginning with a mentoring program for students with professionals in the Health Care Administration. They are also currently reviewing the curriculum.
Fitzgerald said, "We believe it will be very good for our students and faculty in making sure that the graduates, and our program, meet the needs of the Memphis health care market."
Current Board Members
- Steven Burkett, CEO of the UT Medical Group
- William Delamater, Associate Medical Center Director for the Veterans Administration Medical Center
- Patricia Turner, Associate Administrator for the Central Hospital of Methodist Healthcare
- LaDon Jones, PhD, Vice President for Metro Memphis of the Baptist Memorial Healthcare Corp.
- Beth McCullers, MHA- Director of Telemedicine of the University of Tennessee Medical Center (Program Alumnus)
- Ian McFadden, Chief Operating Officer of the Regional Medical Center at Memphis
- David Mirvis, MD, Director of the U.T. Center for Health Services and Policy Research
- Mark Pressman, CNHA, Executive Director of the Memphis Jewish Home
- Jim Shmerling, DHA, CEO of the LeBonheur Children's Medical Center
- Henry Smith, Vice President of Marketing for Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Tennessee
- Ronald L. Smith, Administrative Director of the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- Christi Travis, CEO of the Memphis Business Group on Health
- Delores Voigt of the St. Francis Medical Center (Tenet Health).
