Alumni Brian Schmidt shares advice to future MHA students

Preparing a new generation of health care leaders for big challenges, and even bigger opportunities

If you read the news, almost every day there are related stories about the many challenges facing the health care system. Government, health and policy-makers are doing good work to plan and manage an aging population; but the issues are significant and there is much work to be done. We need to know more about these challenges, and the broad integrated strategies for seamless care and service as the population continues to age.

The UBC Master of Health Administration program is for individuals with an interest in leadership roles in health care, and offer educational options and opportunities that can span across any occupational category to satisfy the needs of the students and the population they will serve.

We value individuals who are already in the health care sector and who are interested in making improvements in their field. There are also opportunities to better organize health care systems and make them more sustainable.

This is an exciting time for persons interested in working in health care policy through to primary care, as increasing health care and service needs face our population.

Read more stories about our alumni and where the MHA can take you

Alumni Profile

Brian Schmidt

Brian Schmidt is the retired Senior Vice President for the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) in British Columbia, and past Interim President of the BC Cancer Agency. His academic background includes an O.D. in Optometry (University of Waterloo) and a M.Sc. in Health Administration and Planning (UBC). Brian is a Fellow and Board Member of the Canadian College of Health Leaders, and a Clinical Professor in the School of Population and Public Health at UBC.

He has been associated with Accreditation Canada in various capacities, including surveying for 20 years. Brian is a former member and Chair of a number of health related Boards including the Board of Directors of the Health Employers Association of BC, and the Health Care Leaders Association of BC. Brian lives in West Vancouver with his spouse and two children.