The University of Georgia College of Public Health is excited to announce that the Master of Health Administration program has received a full four-year accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) Board of Directors.

“This accreditation is a testament to the outstanding team in our college’s Master of Health Administration program, and their dedication to students, education, and excellence,” said Dean Marsha Davis. “We have crafted a program that brings together theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and experiential learning to provide students with the foundation they need to meet critical needs in health care.”

Receiving a four-year accreditation from CAHME, Davis added, is an outward acknowledgement of the program’s strength, its commitment to continuous improvement, and its alignment with the highest standards in health administration education.

“CAHME’s mission is to advance the quality of healthcare management education globally. CAHME-accredited programs have successfully navigated a complex and careful accreditation process managed by experts in the study and practice of healthcare management,” said Dr. Anthony Stanowski, DHA, FACHE, president and CEO of CAHME. “The program meets rigorous standards set by leading academics and practitioners. We recognize their commitment to the field.”

CAHME works with academic programs and numerous healthcare practitioners to ensure that graduates entering the healthcare field have undergone an educational process meeting rigorous, measurable standards for effectiveness. The result is a formal academic education focusing on key competencies, plus practical experiences. CAHME is the only organization recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation to grant accreditation to individual academic programs offering a graduate degree in healthcare management.

The College of Public Health launched its Master of Health Administration program in 2019 within the Department of Health Policy and Management. The program is designed to prepare early-career professionals for leadership roles in healthcare, offering a competency-based curriculum that integrates theoretical knowledge with practical experience.

Students engage in internships and capstone projects, gaining hands-on exposure to real-world healthcare settings. By offering a strong foundation in leadership and professional development, paired with real world experiences, the UGA MHA program aims to develop future leaders who are prepared to meet current and future challenges in healthcare.

“We have a saying at UGA: Bulldogs never bark alone,” said Jessica Smith, director of the MHA program. “Through our partnerships, we’ve built a foundation for something enduring, with a shared commitment to continuous improvement and preparing students to lead in healthcare. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished so far and even more excited to keep growing, learning, and collaborating.”