Oakland University's School of Business Administration (SBA) recently graduated the first group of 14 physicians and health care professionals with degrees from the new Executive MBA for Health Care Management (EMBA-HCM) program, which is the only program of its kind offered in Michigan.

Designed to accommodate the demanding schedules of health care professionals, the EMBA-HCM program consists of two 10-weekend terms and one three-weekend term the first year, and two 10-weekend terms the second year. Participants earn 39 credits over 21 months, meeting on Friday afternoons and for a full day on Saturdays on alternate weekends.

"We wanted to offer a program that was unique for the region," said John Gardner, dean of SBA. "This is a program that covers emerging issues in health care management."

Courses examine business applications to the health care industry, including operations management, legal and ethical issues, financial accounting, marketing, information systems and human resource management. Case studies are drawn from real medical care experience.

"I wanted to be the facilitator for bringing health care leaders into the classroom, to foster interaction and discussion between presenter and participants," said Michael Wooley, president of Brighton Hospital and course instructor. "This program follows a more practical academic track and tries to prepare its participants for the reality of what they will face in the health care of the future."

The first graduates of the program include:

• M. Haitham Al-Midani, M.D., of Burton, president of Digestive Disease and Nutrition Center
   
• Daniel T. Altier, Ph.D., of Sterling Heights, partner and clinical psychologist at Hutzel Hospital D.M.C.
   
• Majda A. Arafat, M.D., of Sterling Heights, pediatrician at Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine
   
• James P. Caralis, D.O., of Troy, partner and cardiovascular surgeon at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital
   
• Carol L. Clark, M.D., of Bloomfield Hills, E.R. physician at William Beaumont Hospital
   
• Michele K. Dodman, D.O., of Bloomfield Hills, medical director at Bi-County Community Hospital
   
• Ravi Govila, M.D., of Bloomfield Hills, pediatrics and internal medicine, William Beaumont Hospital
   
• Sandra L. Housch, B.S., of Detroit, outpatient therapy services at the Rehabilitation Institute D.M.C.
   
• Mark E. Kiffer, D.O., of Scottsdale, Ariz., former vice president of medical affairs, Pontiac Osteopathic Hospital Medical Center
   
• James M. Kohlenberg, M.D., of Bloomfield Hills, internal medicine administrator at Oakland Medical Group
   
• Conrad L. Mallett, J.D., of West Bloomfield, president of Hawkins Food Group, L.L.C.
   
• Gerard M. Mosby, M.D., of Detroit, chief of pediatric medicine at St. John Detroit Riverview Hospital
   
• John W. Timko, M.B.A., of Rochester Hills, sales and marketing management, C.R. Bard
   
• Daya Vora, M.D., of Troy, research and pediatric radiology, Children's Hospital

The EMBA-HCM program was established at Oakland University in 1996. The first cohort met in September 2000.

SBA is accepting applications for the next EMBA-HCM cohort, scheduled to convene on Friday, Aug. 9. For more information, call (248) 370-2241, e-mail embahcm@oakland.edu or visit the School of Business Administration Web site.