By: Hannah Paige Michels ~Head Photo Editor~

Xavier’s Master of Health Services Administration (MHSA) graduate program has been recognized as having the top sustainability program in health management education practice for the second year in a row.

The program was ranked and accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). Xavier is the winner of the 2017 CAHME/Canon Solutions America Award for Sustainability in Healthcare Management Education and Practice.

According to the organization’s website, the award program’s mission is “to recognize excellence in graduate healthcare management education within CAHME accredited programs in partnership with other health care organizations.”

This award ranks Xavier’s MHSA program at the top out of hundreds in the country for sustainability. Sr. Nancy Linenkugel is the director of MHSA and explained the significance of this award.

“Xavier’s graduate MHSA students are preparing themselves to ensure that healthcare  organizations they will lead are serious about being sustainable organizations,” Linenkugel said. “Sustainability is a way of life that we instill in our students through coursework and through projects. No matter what type of organization our MHSA students ultimately lead, sustainable facilities will be imperative.”

The award recognizes Xavier’s MHSA graduate program for giving students the opportunity to master four aspects of sustainability: Environmental, fiscal, social and technological. Moreover, the award requires an overall commitment to sustainability by the university to which it is given.

“You can think of it as the seal of approval that our program is outstanding in every way,”

Linenkugel said. Linenkugel says that the CAHME accreditation gives students the opportunity to apply for internships and fellowships that would otherwise not be available to them.

The application for the award required a five-page nomination document, letters from current students and MHSA alumni, a letter from Xavier Sustainability and syllabi from specific courses.

“We try to engender excellence in our students to work in harmony because that’s what they want, and that’s what healthcare organizations expect,” Linenkugel said. “Things change over the years but we have one constant: Health care administration is a ministry, not just a job.”

In spring of 2016, Xavier MHSA was also the inaugural winner of the CAHME/Ascension Award for Excellence in Healthcare Leadership Development, making Xavier MHSA the top program for both honors.

Xavier MHSA will be presented with the award on March 26 at the CAHME Awards Luncheon in Chicago.