February 4, 2010

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Department of Health Services Administrationintends to strengthen its relationships with industry professionals with the creation of a new position of Professional and Industry Relations director in the Center for Health Services Continuing Education (CHSCE).

Jon Vice, MSHA, has joined the faculty as director and will integrate the activities of the center and department with various external health-care professional and industry groups. These activities will link to on-site consulting and continuing-education efforts within CHSCE and will support the broader education, research and development goals of the department.

Vice retired in 2009 as president and chief executive officer of Children's Hospital and Health System in Milwaukee, a position he had held since 1984. Under his leadership, the organization experienced unprecedented expansion and became one of the nation's largest and most respected regional pediatric medical centers. He is a member of the Board of Trustees and Executive Committee of the Children's Miracle Network and was the chairman of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions.

"Now more than ever, having strong ties to the health-care-delivery industry is essential for all our programs. Jon Vice brings the senior level experience and leadership that will help our faculty prepare students to shape the future of health care," said Gerald L. Glandon, Ph.D., chair of the department.

The CHSCE was founded in 1966 and has a distinguished history of service to health-care managers. It will sponsor its 30th National Symposium for Healthcare Executives this August. In the past year, it has embarked on an expansion to strengthen its ties to professional practice.

"Jon Vice has demonstrated his national leadership and has been a long-time supporter of UAB and the Department of Health Services Administration. In the center, he can assist our efforts to improve the quality of education, enhance the relevance of research and advance the efficiency of our health-care-delivery system," said Harold Jones, Ph.D., dean of the UAB School of Health Professions.  

About the UAB Department of Health Services Administration

The Department of Health Services Administration is housed in the UAB School of Health Professions. The department offers five top-ranked academic programs, from the baccalaureate to doctoral level, as well as a variety of continuing-education opportunities for health-services executives and a national case competition for health administration graduate students.