How Practitioners Can Excel in Health Care Leadership 

Health care careers can be exceptionally rewarding for professionals who take pride in witnessing the impacts of their work. After several years of clinical experience, however, many practitioners note aspects of the industry that would benefit from innovation, leading them to pursue positions in health care leadership.  

Practitioners who advance to leadership positions find new opportunities to impact patient care on a larger scale by influencing policy and procedural decisions, providing mentorship, and driving innovations in treatment.  

Advancing in Health Care Leadership 

Leadership in health care requires more than clinical expertise — practitioners need a business-oriented skillset that includes organizational, administrative, and management abilities. Many pursue a Master of Health Administration (MHA) to develop the additional skills to successfully make this transition. 

In George Mason University’s online Master of Health Administration in Health Systems Management (MHA), health care practitioners gain the business training they need to complement their clinical expertise and climb the ladder in health care administration and leadership. Students earn a degree that’s tailored to their professional goals by choosing one of two focus areas: 

• Health Care Quality: Addresses the growth of the health care industry to understand and evaluate the quality of care being delivered and develop skills in quality methodologies, techniques, and patient safety law. 

• Executive Concentration: Prepares students for leadership positions in a wide variety of health care organizations by focusing on mastery of critical thinking needed for creative revenue cycle, business, and system management strategies. 

Offered by the first and only College of Public Health in Virginia, George Mason’s program has recently received multiple competitive national awards from the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME). They were recognized in 2023 with the CAHME/Canon Award for Excellence in Sustainability in Healthcare Management Education and Practice.

In 2025, George Mason won the CAHME/George and Regi Herzlinger Innovation Education Award for developing health care administrative curriculum to prepare future generations of leaders.  

In addition to winning these prestigious program awards, George Mason’s MHA students have won individual awards for their contributions to health care delivery in the Washington, DC area and health care communities across the nation.

Transition from Practitioner to Administrator with an MHA 

Health Care Leadership Jobs

With their dynamic combination of clinical and business expertise, MHA graduates find many rewarding opportunities in health care administration and management. Learn more by exploring the health care leadership jobs below. 

Administrative Services Manager

Median Salary: $106,470/year¹ 

Job Outlook: Faster-than-average growth (6% through 2033¹) 

Administrative services managers oversee office support services. In the health care industry, they may be employed in a range of environments, from small private clinics to large hospital systems. Depending on the size of their organization, these professionals may supervise other staff. They are responsible for the administrative tasks that keep medical facilities running smoothly, including recordkeeping, mail distribution, appointment scheduling, supply ordering, and more.  

Clinical Manager 

Median Salary: $110,680/year² 

Job Outlook: Much faster-than-average growth (29% through 2033²) 

Clinical managers supervise the work of a specific department in a health care facility, such as intensive care or pediatrics. Within their department, clinical managers oversee hiring, scheduling, evaluation, and other supervisory tasks. They are responsible for ensuring their team members follow proper procedures and deliver quality care. Clinical managers may also prepare and monitor the budget for their department. 

Hospital CEO 

Median Salary: $206,680/year³ 

Job Outlook: Faster-than-average growth (6% through 2033³) 

The chief executive officer (CEO) is a hospital’s top business leader. They are responsible for making high-level decisions and strategic moves that help the hospital reach its goals. CEOs collaborate with other top leaders and may negotiate contracts, appoint department heads, implement new policies, and report to a board of directors.  

Nursing Home Administrator 

Median Salary: $110,680/year² 

Job Outlook: Much faster-than-average growth (29% through 2033²) 

Nursing home administrators use their knowledge of health systems and elder care to oversee all aspects of a nursing facility. They are responsible for facility maintenance, employee hiring, and quality of care. Professionals in this role supervise a team of caretakers and ensure their facility follows state and federal regulations. They may also interact regularly with residents and their families. 

Social and Community Service Manager  

Median Salary: $77,030/year⁴ 

Job Outlook: Faster-than-average growth (8% through 2033⁴) 

Social and community service managers oversee programs that support public well-being. They may work for a range of employers, from hospitals and health clinics to nonprofit organizations. Social and community service managers need strong organizational and project management skills to deliver efficient and effective services and programming to their community. These professionals often supervise others, write proposals and grant applications, and gather data on the impact of the programs they implement. 

From Practitioner to Leader: Transform Your Career 

An online MHA from George Mason University prepares graduates to become health care leaders in a range of environments. Students can graduate in just 30 months from this CAHME-accredited program with a specialized degree that furthers their professional goals. Learn more about Mason’s MHA today. 

Sources

1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Administrative Services and Facilities Managers.” August 29, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/administrative-services-managers.htm. 
2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Medical and Health Services Managers.” August 29, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/administrative-services-managers.htm. 
3. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Top Executives.” August 29, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/top-executives.htm. 
4. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Social and Community Service Managers.” August 29, 2024. Retrieved February 21, 2025, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/social-and-community-service-managers.htm.