Find your voice in healthcare policy

The Kelley Physician MBA is the only MBA program that leads a physician-only cohort on an immersive trip to Washington, D.C. The Healthcare Policy Experience course is a lesson in policy told through the lens of healthcare providers specifically.

You’ll learn about healthcare policy directly from the policy makers and regulators: how public policies are developed and which policy trends affect your practice. With a deeper understanding of the process, you learn how to navigate the regulatory environment and how to have a voice in policy that affects your organization.

Watch the course in action

Description of the video:

WEBVTT 1 00:00:08.355 --> 00:00:12.205 [MUSIC PLAYING] It's such an important part of being a physician leader 2 00:00:12.465 --> 00:00:14.445 to understand healthcare policy 3 00:00:14.955 --> 00:00:17.245 because you work with the regulations 4 00:00:17.425 --> 00:00:20.245 and the legal implications of healthcare 5 00:00:20.865 --> 00:00:22.965 as such a highly regulated industry 6 00:00:23.545 --> 00:00:25.965 all the time when you're a physician leader. 7 00:00:26.185 --> 00:00:28.925 And in order for Kelley School Business 8 00:00:28.925 --> 00:00:32.485 of Medicine Program to adequately prepare our physician 9 00:00:32.485 --> 00:00:35.965 leaders, they need to understand not only an understanding 10 00:00:36.065 --> 00:00:37.645 of the current laws, 11 00:00:37.705 --> 00:00:39.085 but how policy is made, 12 00:00:39.145 --> 00:00:41.525 how they could be involved in the conversation, 13 00:00:42.185 --> 00:00:45.245 and inject in the conversation around healthcare policy 14 00:00:46.145 --> 00:00:48.445 the unique perspective they have. 15 00:00:48.805 --> 00:00:51.645 [Tom Gardner] I think as a physician, we often find ourselves very busy 16 00:00:51.745 --> 00:00:54.965 and very much involved in the daily activities 17 00:00:54.985 --> 00:00:58.205 of providing medicine for medical care for our patients, 18 00:00:58.585 --> 00:01:01.005 and we don't get involved with all the other stuff 19 00:01:01.005 --> 00:01:03.925 that affects us, such as, uh, legislation 20 00:01:03.945 --> 00:01:06.445 and stuff from Washington that actually kind 21 00:01:06.445 --> 00:01:07.965 of guides everything we do indirectly. 22 00:01:08.235 --> 00:01:11.085 [Lisa Saul] It's been a really interesting journey, uh, starting with 23 00:01:11.545 --> 00:01:15.325 how a bill gets turned into law, um, all the way to 24 00:01:15.925 --> 00:01:19.405 telemedicine, um, interacting with our government officials. 25 00:01:19.985 --> 00:01:22.605 Uh, as physicians, we are all trained to deal 26 00:01:22.605 --> 00:01:24.405 with our patients on a one-to-one level. 27 00:01:25.025 --> 00:01:26.605 Um, but being here this week, 28 00:01:26.755 --> 00:01:29.485 it's really given me a different insight into how 29 00:01:30.125 --> 00:01:32.365 I can impact several thousands 30 00:01:32.365 --> 00:01:36.485 of patients rather than just the one-on-one, um, in ways 31 00:01:36.485 --> 00:01:38.565 that I never really considered before. 32 00:01:39.115 --> 00:01:41.365 It's also given me a good perspective on how we 33 00:01:41.365 --> 00:01:43.125 as doctors can collaborate with one another 34 00:01:43.745 --> 00:01:46.725 to affect change, which I don't think, um, we, 35 00:01:46.785 --> 00:01:48.405 we, we really think about. 36 00:01:48.795 --> 00:01:52.405 [Gary Drillings] I think what I've learned this week is how important it is 37 00:01:52.465 --> 00:01:54.965 for physicians to have a voice so that they can be heard. 38 00:01:55.625 --> 00:01:58.405 Um, because lawmakers know about the law, 39 00:01:58.405 --> 00:01:59.805 they don't really know about healthcare. 40 00:02:00.345 --> 00:02:02.805 And I think it's vitally important for physicians 41 00:02:02.865 --> 00:02:06.325 to educate the lawmakers about healthcare, the challenges 42 00:02:06.325 --> 00:02:09.205 that we face, as well as the challenges that our, uh, 43 00:02:09.485 --> 00:02:10.725 patients face as well. [MUSIC PLAYING]

How it works

Travel

A group poses on the steps of a government building, holding a Kelley School of Business banner, showcasing camaraderie and pride.

Students travel to the nation’s capital for a five-day course to learn firsthand about healthcare reform and public policy through candid discussions with policy makers, lobbyists, regulators and government officials. This course gives you a seat at the table to analyze emerging healthcare policy and grasp how it affects you.

Analyze

Two professionals discuss documents in a bright office setting, with other people and desks visible in the background.

Students keep a daily journal reflecting on the intellectual insights of each day and how they relate to course readings, discussions and speakers. This creates a long-term reference guide for staying abreast of the healthcare policy process. Become a better manager, leader and citizen by learning how to advance your objectives in the context of an ever-changing governmental and political landscape.

The U.S. Capitol building illuminated at dusk, showcasing its iconic dome and neoclassical architecture against a twilight sky.

The Washington Campus

While in Washington, D.C., home base for the trip is at the Washington Campus, a non-profit, non-partisan, higher education consortium of business schools and universities. Physicians will meet with Washington insiders here and, following visits to government sites throughout the city, will regroup here for class discussions with the Kelley instructor. Students learn how to ethically and effectively create public policy change.

The student experience

Hear from physician students about what they gained from participating in the Healthcare Policy Experience in the Kelley Physician MBA Program.

Asheesh Bothra, MD, MBA’22

VP, South Dayton Acute Care Consultants

“Everything in healthcare is decided in Washington, D.C. Congress passes legislation, CMS makes the rules, and we are affected by them every day without understanding how we got here. The Healthcare Policy course showed us how those decisions are made and how we can shape the direction of healthcare moving forward. It was the most unique learning experience I’ve ever had.”

Read Dr. Bothra's Story

Mara Nitu, MD, MBA’18

CMO, Riley Children’s Health

“Now more than ever, healthcare funding is closely intertwined with politics. When you look at prioritization and support for various areas, you can see why advocacy makes a big difference in how those dollars are spent. The trip to Washington, D.C. teaches you how doctors can make their voices heard effectively to raise public opinion, educate, and gain the support needed for patients.”

Read Dr. Nitu's Story

Empower your future as physician leader

See how the Physician MBA can power your leadership journey. Our Physician MBA graduates share their stories and experiences during our informative, online information sessions.