I am a physician wanting to pursue an MBA (one that has a healthcare management focus would be ideal). My question is accreditation. There are RA shools and then RA & AACSB accredited schools. As a physician, how important is AACSB accreditation? Obviously, it is more expensive to go that route. I am looking at Baker College's Online MBA (www.bakercollegeonline.com) currently because it is RA and a tolerable price. I would like to leave the option of obtaining a DL PhD down the road open to me. Could people give me their advice... before I commit to anything. Thanks. Dr. M
Morehead State I would recommend my MBA alma mater, Morehead State University of Kentucky. It is online, it is cheap, AND it is AACSB. The website is at http://www.morehead-st.edu/colleges/business/mba/
I would say it is not important at all, but I am not a doctor. However, you might want to ask another MD who did an MBA. You can read about the experience another MD had with the EBS MBA. (The page is a little outdated concerning the cost.) You might even be able to email him for advice. The page is at http://members.aol.com/dgraham380/hwmba.html
actually my doc friend did his part time MBA from UMD College Park and he says it is worth it.. just FYI
If you're interested in other schools that offer an online MBA in Healthcare, GetEducated.com has a guide book called "Best Distance Learning Graduate Schools - Business and Management," which you can download at: http://www.geteducated.com/ I just did a quick search through it using "health" and came up with the following schools: Central Michigan Concordia Davenport DeSales Florida Inst of Tech Keller Mercy College Park U Pfeiffer U Seton Hall U Stephens College Touro U International U of Dallas U of Delaware U of Findlay U of Missouri Columbia U of Saint Thomas (has an MBA in Medical Group Mgmt) West Virginia U The guidebook also lists costs and other details of each program.
Dr. M, You should really look into George Washington University. This is a very well respected school. They have an MBA in Health Care that’s can be completed online. Bo
Thanks for your replies, however, I'm not sure my question was answered. I'm aware of the programs mentioned (and most cost around $50k). While I am a physician, I also have med school loans and other expenses. I was wondering if AACSB-Accreditation is critical as a physician executive. If I have an RA-Accredited MBA, I'm still ahead of most physicians. Or is an AACSB school worth an extra $30k? If so, why? If not, why not? Thanks again, Dr. M
my 2 cents !! Since your primary aim ( i am assuming ) of getting a MBA is to better understand ( and not be employed in ) the business world ( running a clinic etc), a RA MBA should be sufficient. If you do plan to move into the corporate world ( highly unlikely as u already are a doc ), then a AACSB degree might not be worth it..
Not all AACSB schools are that expensive. The University of Wyoming's Online Executive MBA is $32,400 assuming you have to take all 20 courses, less if your undergrad coursework entitles you to some course waivers. East Carolina University's MBA can also be completed 100% online (although it requires proctored exams), and is even cheaper at around $30K for out-of-state students and around $7500 for NC residents. Both are AACSB programs. Good luck with your search!
Speaking as someone who works in senior administration of a large (225 physician) medical clinic, I do not think that AASCB accreditation of your MBA will be essential. The combination of a MD and MBA, MHA or MMM will be more than sufficient if your thoughts are to move into healthcare administration. I know a great many physician executives, and few of them have any formal business training. AASCB may be of great value if you ever desired to teach in a well-known business school, but that is about it. And even if you were to do that, a Ph.D would most likely be necessary.
