Key New Jersey Healthcare Groups Announce Joint Leadership Program

On Dec 21, 2016

The Medical Society of New Jersey (MSNJ), the New Jersey Hospital Association (NJHA) and the New Jersey Association of Health Plans (NJAHP) have announced a new, jointly sponsored Healthcare Executive Leadership Academy that seeks to build collaborative leadership skills among physicians and executives from both hospitals and health insurance companies. Seton Hall University is the program’s academic partner.

The inaugural program will begin in February 2017 and run through June, offering sessions focusing on a particular healthcare problem facing the state as a whole. The initial annual class will focus on improving care at the end of life. The program was initiated through a collaborative of payers, physicians and hospitals convened by the Fannie Rippel Foundation. Faculty from Seton Hall’s School of Health and Medical Sciences (SHMS) will develop the curriculum and teach the courses.

Response to early invitations to join the leadership academy has been strong. When the recruiting process is complete, the program will enroll up to 30 participants – 10 physicians, 10 hospital executives and 10 health insurance executives. Particpants will be individuals with experience and responsibility for programs or clinical outcomes for patients at or approaching the end of life. The Seton Hall faculty, in turn, are from SHMS’ Master of Healthcare Administration and PhD in Health Sciences degree programs.

“To improve health outcomes, physicians, payers and hospitals must work more closely together,” said Larry Downs, CEO of the Medical Society of New Jersey.  “This program will provide participants with an opportunity to understand the unique perspective each brings to solving healthcare issues.”

“We will bring together key leaders in each sector to improve their individual skills and to focus on solving important healthcare issues facing the state,” said Betsy Ryan, President and CEO of the New Jersey Hospital Association. “We hope this program builds lasting relationships among the participants,” she added.

“We were pleased to be one of the founding members of this collaborative program,” said Ward Sanders, Esq., President of the New Jersey Association of Health Plans. “There are times when our organizations have differing points of view.  This format will allow us to work together toward common goals.”

“We are honored that the School of Health and Medical Sciences has been selected for this cutting-edge program,” said Brian B. Shulman, PhD, Dean.  “By partnering academic leadership with health system payer and provider executives and clinicians, we have the best opportunity to find new solutions for our most pressing health system issues.”

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