Over 75 health care professionals and educators attended the 35th Anniversary of The Fox School's MBA in Healthcare Management Program on Friday, November 14 at the Philadelphia Airport Embassy Suites. The celebration honored program founder Charles P. Hall, Jr.

The anniversary began with a half-day conference on the subject “Patient Safety: Where We Are and Where We Need to Go” and was hosted by the Temple University Health Administration Alumni Association (TUHAAA) and the Healthcare Management program, and co-marketed with the Greater Philadelphia Health Assembly, the local affiliate of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).

Kenneth Kizer, president and CEO of the National Quality Forum, delivered the keynote address and representatives from leading healthcare organizations were featured during the afternoon breakout sessions. Speakers included Dr. Steve Lawless, chief knowledge officer, The Nemours Foundation; Margaret Keyes, acting leader of patient safety, Center for Quality Improvement & Patient Safety and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; Steve Meurer, vice president of operations, St. Mary Medical Center; and Rosanne Passeri Farrell from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).

"The conference and dinner were fantastic," exclaimed William Aaronson, associate professor of healthcare management and director of the Healthcare Management Programs at The Fox School. "We received positive feedback about the guest speakers and everyone in attendance was energized. Given the success of this event, the alumni association (TUHAAA) is already planning an annual event for next year which will include presenting a Leadership Award."

The 35th Anniversary celebration continued with a dinner honoring Charles P. Hall, Jr., emeritus professor of risk, insurance and health-care management at The Fox School and founder of the MBA in Healthcare Management Program. An endowment has been established in his name to facilitate the program’s continuing role in developing future healthcare leaders. Spearheaded by TUHAAA, the endowment will fund the Charles P. Hall Scholarship Award, which will be given to the highest qualified entering full-time students.

“Our endowment goal is $250,000,” states Joshua Zissman, ’94 MBA alumnus and president of TUHAAA for the past two years. “We have representatives from every graduating class designated as class captains to solicit contributions from fellow alumni for this important project.”

TUHAAA supports almost 800 Healthcare Management MBA graduates across the world by furthering the goals and aspirations of the alumni, and supporting the development of the healthcare management program as a regional, national and global resource for the advancement of management practice. Zissman, who is the Administrative Director of Pediatrics at the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, is committed to revitalizing TUHAAA and getting more alumni actively involved in the organization’s activities.

“A top priority for TUHAAA is partnering with other Temple alumni associations, dual degree programs, and schools such as the College of Health Professions, to schedule future annual events that are relevant to the needs of TUHAAA members and those co-sponsoring organizations," adds Zissman.

For more information about TUHAAA, contact Joshua Zissman at 302.651.4040 or jzissman@nemours.org.