Hanley Center, Brandeis partner for physician training

Doctors ready to lead a transforming health care system

Photo/Mike Lovett

The Daniel Hanley Center for Health Leadership in Portland, Maine, and the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University have partnered to create an advanced education program with the goal of building a statewide network of physician leaders in Maine. The McAfee Fellows program, named for noted physician leader Dr. Robert McAfee, a former AMA President, is aimed at creating a critical mass of doctors in Maine whose leadership will help strengthen and improve our state’s health care.

“Fellows tell us that the Physician Executive Leadership Program is preparing them to be effective agents for change in their communities and lead from within their organizations in a rapidly-changing health care system,” said James Harnar, the Hanley Center’s executive director. “Areas of focus include systems thinking, strategy, management and business skills, personal leadership attributes, knowledge of health care trends and the ability to foster high-performing, collaborative teams.”

The partnership brings Brandeis faculty to Maine, saving physicians money and time and creating a supportive network of physician colleagues who are better able to work across organizational and geographic lines. Thirty-six doctors, including a number of hospital chief medical officers, medical directors and other leaders, completed the advanced course in March 2013 and a new cohort of 26 physicians are enrolled for 2013-2014, including several physician leaders from neighboring Vermont and New Hampshire.  

“This program is a superb fit with our mission of creating new knowledge and insights in health policy and management.,” said Jon Chilingerian, PhD, academic director for the Maine Program and Professor at the Heller School.

“Over the next five years, we will help the Hanley Center to accomplish their goal of training 10 percent of all of the practicing physicians statewide. Physician leaders in this advanced program get the insight needed to excel in an era of patient-centered, technology-driven medicine that is being challenged by federal and state policy reform,” Dr. Chilingerian added.

About the Daniel Hanley Center for Health Leadership

Named for Dr. Daniel Hanley (1916-2001), a highly respected physician leader who earned an international reputation for his courage, innovation, collaboration, compassion and hard work, the Daniel Hanley Center for Health Leadership is a nonprofit, independent statewide organization dedicated to supporting the transformation of Maine’s health and healthcare sectors by working to build a culture of greater collaboration.

About the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University

The Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University focuses on producing research knowledge needed by the next generation of scholars and producing skilled practitioners of social policy and management. Our educational mission is to prepare passionate and committed individuals from around the world with advanced knowledge and skills for significant roles in social change. This happens within a learning environment that attracts students and faculty from more than 60 countries around the world. At the heart of the Heller School is its interdisciplinary approach to both graduate education and applied social science research.