The annual Preceptors’ Conference kicks off the administrative residency search process for UAB MSHA second-year students. It provides a unique three-day opportunity for preceptors, students, alumni, and faculty to network. The first day includes a Preceptors' Reception where second-year students, faculty and alumni network with preceptors from across the United States.

The intensity picks up with an all-day roundtable event during the second day. Designed like speed dating, each student spends a few minutes at each organization’s table answering and asking questions. More than 40 organizations from around the country participated at the 2018 event. At the end of the second day, preceptors and students each submit their top interests. A sophisticated computer system matches the preceptors and students for longer format interviews on Friday. On that day, students have several individual interviews with preceptors in an effort to gain an on-site interview for an administrative residency.

The Student Workforce program provides part-time (10 hours per week), paid work for first-year MSHA students at the UAB Health System (UABHS). It is a mutually beneficial program with students participating in a variety of value-added and meaningful projects at UABHS. Examples of projects from the students include planning for rural emergency medicine support via telemedicine and creating a strategic marketing plan for a new patient navigation program. It truly adds to our department’s mission of “Developing leaders to shape tomorrow’s health care through an exceptional master’s level educational experience.”

The UAB Health Administration Case Competition, held annually in Birmingham provides graduate students from CAHME-accredited programs an opportunity to put what they have learned into practice with a real-life, real-time case. Teams present their recommendations before a national panel of judges in this event that is designed to be a capstone experience for graduate students across the United States and Canada.

In addition to the UAB Health Administration Case Competition, our students have participated in the NAHSE and Cleveland Clinic Case Competitions and have won first place in both the Ohio State and Baylor University Case Competitions. In 2019, our team placed 2nd in the UAB Health Administration Case Competition.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is a value of the UAB MSHA Program. The program strives to ensure that all three components of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are intertwined within the curriculum and displayed by all faculty, staff, and students. The MSHA DEI Council was founded in 2020 by MSHA students and serves as a safe space for 1st and 2nd year residential students to have open dialogue and work within subcommittees to learn from each other. The council shares information throughout the cohorts on cultural competency, inclusive language, and health equity topics that are crucial in today’s health care system. The council is committed to sharing personal experiences and empowering each other to grow as future health care leaders.

First-year students are encouraged to attend the American College of Healthcare Executive’s Congress on Healthcare Leadership. The conference serves as both a great learning and networking opportunity and provides a valuable experience for students.

All students are encouraged to complete a 9-12 week summer internship between their first and second year. This is currently required of single-degree MSHA students. Dual-degree students are not required to complete a summer internship; however, the majority of students do. View our most recent list of internship placements.

The MSHA Program hosts a disaster preparedness week each year in the fall semester. Activities during that week have included a guest panel of health care administrators that shared their experiences responding to anything from natural disasters to mass-shooting incidents. Each class is dedicated to a different aspect of disaster preparedness and management. The week typically concludes with a simulation that models a disaster event a health system could face at any time.

Each Monday during the school year, UAB MSHA invites executives from local and national healthcare organizations to discuss their career path and tell students about their current role and institution. This also serves as a great networking opportunity for students in their internship and residency searches.

Every year, our Residential Master of Science in Health Administration students host the MSHA Classic. Visit the MSHA Classic website to learn about the next event.

In addition to being a wonderful day of networking, the event provides leadership opportunities for students and raises money for local charities.

Incoming first-year students participate in a three-day retreat designed for students to get to know their cohort, their professors, and prepare for the school year. The first two days take place at The Alabama 4-H Center in Columbiana, AL and the third day takes place on campus. Traditionally, the retreat takes place the Monday – Wednesday the week before classes begin.