Some of today’s most complex public health challenges are also management challenges.
Improving population health can require leaders who understand not only the biological, social and environmental factors that shape health, but also how to manage organizations, allocate resources, develop strategy and make sound financial decisions.
A combined degree program from FIU’s Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work and FIU Business brings those areas together.
The Professional MBA/MPH Generalist combined degree program allows students to earn both a Master of Business Administration and Master of Public Health through an integrated pathway designed for professionals interested in leading at the intersection of health and business. The program is offered fully online and asynchronously, giving working professionals greater flexibility to pursue both degrees while balancing their careers and other commitments.
“Many of the challenges we face in public health cannot be addressed through science alone,” said Tomás R. Guilarte, dean of FIU’s Robert Stempel College of Public Health & Social Work. “We also need leaders who understand how organizations operate, how resources are allocated and how strategic decisions can translate public health knowledge into meaningful action. This program prepares graduates to bring those perspectives together.”
Through the combined curriculum, students develop expertise in public health alongside skills in business strategy, leadership, management, financial decision-making and organizational operations. The interdisciplinary preparation can be applied across health care systems, government agencies, corporations, nonprofits, public health organizations and consulting.
For William G. Hardin III, dean of FIU’s College of Business, the partnership reflects the increasing need for leaders who can operate across traditional professional boundaries.
“Health care and public health organizations are navigating increasingly complex operational, financial and strategic environments,” Hardin said. “Professionals who can combine a strong understanding of population health with business and management expertise are uniquely positioned to lead organizations, develop innovative solutions and make decisions that create lasting impact.”
Graduates can apply the dual perspective to roles in health care and public health leadership, strategy and policy, consulting, innovation and entrepreneurship, among other areas.
The combined pathway is also designed to reduce the time and number of credits required compared with completing the two degrees independently. Students apply separately to the Professional MBA Online and MPH programs and must be admitted to both programs to participate in the combined degree.
By bringing together two disciplines that increasingly intersect in the workplace, the program aims to prepare professionals who can approach health challenges from an organizational perspective and lead the institutions working to solve them.