By By Jennifer Tardibuono

In August, the Frank G. Zarb School of Business received state approval for the addition of two Master of Business Administration (MBA) programs-one with a concentration in health services management and the other in quality management.

This is the first time on Long Island that a business school has partnered with a hospital/health system – in this case, North Shore-Long Island Jewish (LIJ) Health Systems.

By partnering these two institutions, the programs are able to combine healthcare knowledge and business information with students taking courses in accounting, finance, computing, as well as other business-related fields.

According to Melissa Connolly, vice president of University relations, these programs are for people “already engaged in the field,” such as doctors and nurses, who are looking to expand their knowledge about the business side of their careers.

These programs are being introduced at a time when there is a high demand for MBA graduates in the healthcare profession.

“Healthcare executives need to have the skills set to address both the service and business dynamic,” said Michael J. Dowling, North Shore-LIJ president and chief executive officer, “while also establishing an organizational culture in which patient safety is centermost in all business and policy decisions.”

According to Melissa Connolly, the response to the program has been enormous.

After being announced on August 16, the programs have already received applications from 76 people, with 49 having been admitted.

Instructors for the programs will be from the Zarb School of Business and the School of Education and Allied Human Services, as well as instructors from North Shore-LIJ.

Four of the core classes – U.S. Health Services, Health Policy and Legislation, Health Economics and Health System Finance – will be taught in conjecture with the University’s Master of Health Administration program.