The first graduates of a new Washington State University certificate program designed to equip professionals to succeed in an increasingly complex healthcare landscape are already driving real-world improvements for patients across Washington.
The Master of Healthcare Administration and Leadership (MHAL) program, a partnership between the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine and Carson College of Business, celebrated its first graduation in May. Each graduate designed and carried out a capstone project exploring solutions to a healthcare challenge in their field.
“The point of the capstone is to take everything students have learned from our faculty mentors and apply it to something practical in their professional lives—so they leave with something truly tangible,” said Tadé Ayeni, EdD, director for leadership education at the College of Medicine. “We’re seeing students move from informal leadership into formal roles because they can now demonstrate their impact.”
One learner created an initiative to increase cancer screening rates among eligible patients, reducing her clinic’s backlog of approximately 10,000 unscreened individuals to about 3,000. The project has the potential to catch cancer cases early, improving outcomes for thousands of patients and their families. The graduate behind the project has since been promoted from a coordinator role to a leadership role.
The program’s 10 graduates hail from a variety of healthcare backgrounds, including practicing physicians, nurse managers, patient advocates, healthcare attorneys, and other professionals. They’re now putting their new leadership skills and business acumen into practice at healthcare systems statewide.
“This first cohort represents the kind of leadership our healthcare system needs—individuals who can turn insight into action and drive meaningful change,” said Luisita Francis, MD, associate dean of leadership development at the College of Medicine. “Our goal is to prepare graduates to not only identify problems but to feel empowered to develop solutions within their own organizations.”
For her capstone, Jessica Gallien, MBA, MHAL, PMP, an experienced clinical and medical education project manager, partnered with a free clinic serving uninsured patients in Puget Sound to modernize their specialty referral tracking system. She turned more than 20 separate tracking systems for different specialties into one streamlined operational dashboard supported by AI tools to reduce administrative burden.
“The MHAL program sharpened my leadership skills and exposed me to methodologies meant to expand an organization’s capacity for service and reinvention,” Gallien said. “What began as a one-quarter capstone project has continued well beyond graduation.”
She’s now lending her change management expertise to multiple Washington nonprofits. Gallien also presented her operational dashboard system at this year’s Washington State Nonprofit Conference to help more healthcare organizations improve operational efficiency and better connect patients with the care they need.
The program is designed as an online stackable certificate program to be flexible for working professionals seeking to advance their careers. Students can complete individual certificates that meet their needs or complete the series and a capstone project to earn a master’s degree.
The Managing the Business of Healthcare Certificate has proven popular, reflecting the complex demands facing healthcare administrators and other middle and upper-level managers.
“Offering the certificate in partnership with the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine creates a unique opportunity for students to develop strong business acumen that complements their clinical expertise,” said Matt Beer, director of master’s programs at the Carson College. “The program’s flexible online format, insights from faculty with industry experience, and focus on foundational business skills allow working professionals to deliver greater service to their patients and organizations in real time.”
For Melissa Peterson, RN, BS, MHAL, a registered nurse and director of clinic services for the Columbia County Health System in southwestern Washington, the MHAL program’s leadership courses have been the most valuable for her professional development. While she brings extensive clinical and operational experience to her role, she recognized the need to expand her administrative skillset to address challenges like financial sustainability, regulatory complexity, and strategic planning.
“The MHAL program has already influenced how I approach my work by shifting my perspective from primarily operational to strategically focused,” Peterson said. “Rural health systems face unique challenges, and my goal is to help organizations adapt and thrive rather than merely survive. The program helped me develop the skills and confidence to lead with both competence and compassion, and I intend to use that foundation to advocate for thoughtful, pragmatic solutions to healthcare challenges—particularly for rural and underserved populations.”
Applications for Fall 2026 are open and accepting international students. Visit the Master of Healthcare Administration and Leadership website to learn more and apply.
Media Contact
Stephanie Engle, WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine Communications and Marketing, 509-368-6937, stephanie.engle@wsu.edu