The curriculum was developed for a very unique student - the current or future physician executive. We based this curriculum design on extensive research on what physicians want in an MBA. Here is what our research revealed and how we customized our curriculum around that research:

Physicians want a program that gives them the concepts and skills to assume leadership positions in their organizations.

We designed a curriculum that emphasizes leadership assessment and development. Through the UT College of Business Administration's Leadership Development Program, comprehensive and detailed assessments are made for each individual student and a carefully selected and trained facilitator is assigned to each student to support and challenge the students to develop their leadership potential. Also, experiential leadership exercises and team-building activities are provided throughout the program. Furthermore, proven leaders in the health care industry will guest lecture throughout the year offering insights into the joys and frustrations of leading healthcare organizations in today’s turbulent environment.

Physicians want a curriculum that enables them to start to have an impact as soon as possible

Because of this fact we designed a rather intensive 12-month curriculum that enables the students to begin putting their new knowledge into the work force sooner than most other programs. However you don’t have to wait 12 months to have an impact! Throughout the year, you will be engaged in what we call an organizational action project. This project is typically a complex problem within your host institution that you diagnose and suggest or make improvements. The core faculty will guide you through this process as you begin to apply the concepts and skills that we teach you throughout the year. We believe that learning by doing is one of the best ways to learn.

Physicians want a holistic program that integrates the various business functions into a coherent whole.

Healthcare organizations are complex systems. Marketing activities are interdependent with operational needs which are tied to financial constraints which relate to competitive realities. Physician executives need a curriculum that provides an interdisciplinary teaching approach and a systems perspective. Customized inter-disciplinary education is one of the core competencies of the College of Business at The University of Tennessee. We bring many experienced faculty to the design and delivery of this integrated curriculum.

Physicians want to learn the language of business so that they can deal more effectively with other business executives.

We know that business and medicine are converging. No longer can administrators operate separately from clinicians and the same is true for clinicians and administrators. Those individuals who can work effectively with both administrators and clinicians are the ones who will lead the changes of tomorrow. This curriculum will teach you the language of business to facilitate that communication.

Physicians want a flexible program tailored to their busy lifestyle

We will deliver over half of the curriculum using state-of-the-art distance learning technologies via the Internet to your laptop computer. This pioneering technology allows you to pursue a Master in Business Administration whenever and wherever you want to pursue your education. This flexibility and convenience does not compromise program quality, however. Traditional face-to-face learning has been consolidated into four one-week-long Residence Periods in Knoxville for the parts of an MBA degree that simply do not fit into a distance learning format.

Content of The Custom Curriculum

Our one-year program gives you an immediate return on your investment and a lifetime of Physician Leadership. Making a commitment to The University of Tennessee's Physician Executive MBA Program means making a commitment to your future. 

The curriculum is comprehensive and is framed in the context of practical and relevant examples and applications from the healthcare industry.  It begins by building a solid foundation and culminates in mastery and synthesis of each of the various business functions.  The custom curriculum has the explicit goal of providing the knowledge-bases and tools needed by Physician Leaders today and in the future. 

The holistic approach provides continuity in the learning process.  Physician Leaders quickly apply what they are learning and see how the pieces fit together.  This means they benefit from an immediate return on their educational investment.  Equipped with this knowledge, Physician Leaders can transform their careers and transform their organizations.

Curriculum Module Curriculum Element 1 2 3 Accounting Business Ethics   Business Planning   Careers Computer Training/Development   Communications Decision-Making and Negotiating Disease Management E-Health   Entrepreneurship Finance Global/International Healthcare     Governance   Health Policy Healthcare Law Human Resources/Performance Improvement Information Management   Leadership Development Lean Healthcare and Six Sigma Management and Leadership Medicaid/Medicare Managed Care Policy   Marketing Operations Management Organizational Design, Behavior and Change Project Management Quality Improvement Statistics Strategy