For release: July 9, 2012
For press information, contact Curt Guenther, 901-678-2843

The Master of Health Administration program of the School of Public Health at the University of Memphis has been reaccredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) for a full seven years, the maximum period awarded by the agency. The MHA program was recognized by CAHME for its “continuing commitment to excellence in the field of Healthcare Management.”

Dr. Lisa Klesges, dean of the School, said, “All of us in the School of Public Health are extremely proud of the MHA program’s maximum reaccreditation approval. I appreciate the University’s strong support of the MHA program, and I recognize the accomplished faculty and staff in the School of Public Health who contributed to this highly successful review. We have had continuous accreditation for almost 20 years; however this represents the first time that we have received a full 7-year approval.”

Dr. Dan Gentry, associate dean of the SPH, added, “This is quite an accomplishment. The timing is both telling and ideal.  This follows the transition, two years ago, of the MHA program into the new School of Public Health.  Five of the US News and World Report top 10 programs, and the majority of the top 20 programs, are in schools of public health.  And this reaccreditation precedes the School of Public Health’s filing for candidacy, later this summer, as a fully accredited school by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).  The excellent results from CAHME only strengthen our application to CEPH.”

MHA Director Dr. La Don Jones, said, “The program has never been stronger, and that is a testament to the hard work and commitment of program faculty and staff, students and alumni, and our community partners.”

While more than 350 universities across the United States have graduate programs in health administration, only 82 are CAHME-accredited.  The University of Memphis MHA program is the only CAHME-accredited program in Tennessee.