With Cara Sammartino, Ph.D., M.S.P.H., Professor and Department Chair, College of Health & Wellness
Professor Sammartino has over nine years of experience in program evaluation, policy analysis and healthcare data modeling, including roles at BCBSRI and Rhode Island’s public health agencies. Sammartino brings a passion for mentoring students and continues to consult while contributing to JWU’s programs in the College of Health & Wellness.
If you’re considering a career path in the evolving and in-demand healthcare field, JWU Online’s Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration could be right for you. This 100% online program prepares graduates for success, ensuring students are prepared for both present needs and future advancements. Grace Pericolo, Associate Director of Enrollment Management states, “This program prepares students to navigate the rapidly evolving healthcare landscape with confidence. It is designed to cover the fundamentals of healthcare leadership at the organizational and system level. Students will have the opportunity to learn from industry-experienced faculty.”
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), jobs in this industry are projected to grow by 23% over the next 10 years — much faster than the average growth rate for all other occupations. This makes this career path a smart choice, and our bachelor’s degree can help make your healthcare goals a reality.
What Makes JWU Online Unique?
Courses in our Healthcare Administration program have a heavy emphasis on case study-based learning with an interdisciplinary curriculum, blending economics, analytics, policy and research into the core of the program. Critical thinking and data analysis skills span across disciplines, allowing students to apply those principles into healthcare spaces.
Sammartino notes, “The jobs that exist today aren’t going to exist in 10 years. There’s going to be new jobs. And so, I think the goal [of Healthcare Administration] is to instill a skillset that can adapt.” While developing courses for this program, Sammartino worked closely with administrators at Rhode Island’s largest hospital system to learn what skills and competencies employers are actively seeking in new graduates — including Excel usage and data analysis.
Key courses in this program include:
- Comparative Health Systems: This course covers contemporary healthcare delivery and financing systems both globally and in the United States. This course provides an in-depth examination of structure, function, historical development, policy processes and current reform efforts.
- Health Policy, Ethics, and the Law: This course examines ethical decision-making in public health, focusing on value conflicts, political and social contexts and community responsibilities.
- Innovations in Healthcare Finance and Delivery Systems: This capstone-style course explores trends and innovations in healthcare payment models, including pay-for-performance and accountable care, focusing on reforms that integrate service delivery and provider incentives. “There’s a lot of focus on how we derive value out of our healthcare system. How do we make it better? There have been so many different pilot programs and innovations nationwide driven by a lot of legislation and government priorities.” notes Sammartino.
To see a full course listing, visit the catalog.
Faculty Highlights
Our Healthcare Administration faculty are experienced professionals with backgrounds in healthcare, policy and analytics with strong industry connections. Unlike other universities, our faculty have working professional backgrounds in health fields, bringing their firsthand knowledge to the online classroom.
Students receive personalized mentorship from faculty in the Healthcare Administration program. Faculty know each student by name, their goals and aspirations, offering guidance and flexibility to help them thrive both academically and professionally. Sammartino notes, “I love my Healthcare Administration students. And I’m not just saying that. I know all of them by name. They know me by name.”
Faculty understand online students are often balancing schoolwork with family and careers, and our professors work individually with each student to ensure they’re meeting their program requirements and are on a path to success.
In addition to Professor Sammartino, notable faculty in the Healthcare Administration include:
- Samantha Rosenthal, Ph.D. leads student research initiatives as Director of the Center for Student Research & Interdisciplinary Collaboration, and her teaching is informed by her extensive research on mental health, technology use and health disparities. Her work has been supported with a federal grant by the National Institute of Mental Health. She also remains heavily involved in public health policy at the state level, working with Rhode Island health departments and government officials on numerous public health issues.
- Travis Gagen, Ph.D. leads the faculty mentorship program and is the pre-health advisor. He comes to JWU with a healthcare administration background.
Career Outcomes
Students in the Healthcare Administration program will graduate with a robust understanding of the fields of healthcare administration and the business side of healthcare. This unique interdisciplinary curriculum teaches adaptability and critical thinking, equipping students to navigate various roles within the healthcare sector.
Sample career choices for graduates include:
- Policy Analyst
- Research Assistant
- Hospital Systems Administrator or Project Manager
- Health Insurance Company Coordinator
- Data Analyst
- Health Marketing and Communications
Further Your Education with an MPA at Johnson & Wales
JWU Online offers a Master of Public Administration program, offering students a path to earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree with JWU. This MPA program deepens students’ understanding of public policy, organizational leadership and effective management within the healthcare sector. Furthermore, students that complete their bachelor’s degree at JWU Online and are admitted to the MPA program will be eligible for the Wildcat Alumni Scholarship, a 25% tuition scholarship.
Students can work with their faculty and academic advisor if they are interested in pursuing this master’s program in addition to their bachelor’s.
Next Steps
JWU Online’s Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration program offers a dynamic, interdisciplinary curriculum designed to prepare students for a variety of roles in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape. With strengths in case-based learning, research and analytics, and with personalized faculty mentorship, students gain skills that align with real-world employer needs and future industry trends.
If you’re interested in our Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration, we’re ready to help. For more information about this program, complete the Request Information form, submit your free application, or email [email protected].
