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As a candidate in the University of New 51����’s Master of Healthcare Administration program, Rachel Volpe ’18 MHA was grateful for the opportunities provided to “think big.”

Now an associate program director for , a Charlotte, North Carolina-based healthcare improvement company that unites approximately 4,000 hospitals and health systems, Volpe says the program was especially beneficial because it covered a wide array of competencies needed to succeed in healthcare management.

“The global exposure that this program brings is so important,” she said. “Between the diverse student population and the material covered in class, we learned to appreciate the importance of healthcare in – and beyond – the United States.”

The program was recently recognized in a big way in a March issue of , the top healthcare executive trade journal in the country, where it was ranked as one of the best -accredited MHA programs in the United States.

“I am continuously amazed at the transformation of our MHA program over the last seven years, as it has grown from a local program to a nationally accredited and nationally ranked powerhouse,” said Summer McGee, Ph.D., dean of the University’s School of Health Sciences. “This ranking shows that our program is now a major player on the healthcare administration landscape and that we are among the most popular programs in the nation. Our students, alumni, faculty, and employer partners all have so much to be proud of.”

, considering factors such as enrollment, program completion rate, and job placement rate. The University, which was ranked ninth, has a 91 percent two-year completion rate and an 89 percent job placement rate within three months of graduation, placing it among the best.

The ranking means the University ranked higher than several more established programs – including the oldest MHA program in the country at the , placing it among the most popular and influential programs nationwide.

Thomas Giordano, M.S.E., executive in residence in the University’s Health Administration and Policy Department, says the recognition reflects how the program is continuing to grow and attract high-achieving students. Professor Giordano, who worked at for nearly 30 years before retiring as vice president of marketing where he was responsible for several billion dollars in sales, says being part of the program is extremely rewarding.

“I think one of the key differences between our program and those of other universities is the very personal involvement by all faculty,” he said. “Every single faculty member genuinely cares about each and every student. I am very proud to be a part of the faculty team.”

Volpe agrees, and she says she greatly values the connections that she and her classmates developed with faculty members.

“The relationships you create with your professors help you network and create more meaningful relationships,” she said. “I was also able to learn not only from my professors who have worked in the healthcare field, but also from my classmates who also brought their diverse backgrounds and experiences in different stages of their careers.”