Challenges continue for our nation’s health systems. The current economic and reimbursement climate, workforce shortages, a diverse patient population, safety and quality issues, and persistent image problems surrounding health care call for a new way of thinking and operating.

The Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA) Physician Leadership Academy is a three-pronged approach to medical staff leadership. It focuses on physician performance, innovative health care policy and leadership skills that create authentic relationships committed to delivering the best care possible.

At the core of the MHA Physician Leadership Academy is personal growth and community. You will dive into your own purpose, ethics, principles, motivation and conduct and learn how you can use these to achieve extraordinary things in your practice, health system and life.

The idea of an MHA Physician Leadership Academy grew out of conversations among physician and executive leaders about the disruptive age of health care, how providers must demonstrate value to stakeholders, and the skills needed to create the ideal future. The academy concept was vetted through the MHA Committee on Hospital-Physician Alignment and the MHA Health Foundation Board, and input was gathered from health care executives and physicians statewide. Our research concluded that, by partnering with the American College of Physician Executives (ACPE), the MHA Physician Leadership Academy could support the growth of physician leaders with proven learning experiences and offer the ability to gain credits toward a Certified Physician Executive (CPE) designation, and beyond, toward a master’s degree in management.

For nearly a century, the MHA has served as an educator, advocate and leader as hospitals and health systems have evolved. If leaders in hospitals, physicians and systems of care are to succeed in navigating the transformational perils of health care reform, two qualities are essential: an authoritative voice and ability to unite stakeholders around critical issues. Two Michigan-specific components of the MHA Physician Leadership Academy are:

• the sharing of best information and knowledge obtained through the MHA’s strategic platforms for health care reform, consisting of four focus areas: patient access, mission- driven funding, quality of care and community health improvement

• the participation in a statewide network of physician executives who will meaningfully determine the future of health care in Michigan and the nation

The MHA Physician Leadership Academy is Tailored to You

• The target audience includes talented individuals who are future chief medical officers, vice presidents of medical affairs, medical directors, and others who will determine vision, mission, strategy and operations with the executive committee; governing board; and various partners, such as medical groups and other stakeholders in health care delivery.

• All sessions qualify for Category 1 continuing medical education (CME) credit and some coursework can be applied toward board certification in medical management, the CPE designation.

• Quarterly sessions are priced separately and bundled together for registration discounts.

• Future quarterly sessions will explore additional critical areas in health care, such as performance and quality. If you have questions or ideas about the MHA Physician Leadership Academy, please call or email us. We will continue to provide value by adapting to the needs of those who want to learn and grow.

• The academy mixes the art of experience, emotion and creativity with the science of knowledge and skills -- benefits that are different from what’s offered in a saturated leadership training market.