Two leaders tapped by SHP to lead growing International Education program
The UAB School of Health Professions announces two new leadership roles in the Department of Health Services Administration’s growing international education initiatives.
S. Robert Hernandez, DrPH, was appointed director of International Education on August 1, 2014, and Leandra Celaya, MSc, was appointed director of operations of the International Education Programs and the Executive Doctoral Program in Administration-Health Services October 1, 2014.
“I am pleased to announce these new appointments that recognize the outstanding continuing contributions of Dr. Hernandez and Ms. Celaya and our rapidly expanding involvement in leading healthcare management educational initiatives around the world. Dr. Hernandez has a well-established record in international healthcare management education and is an internationally-recognized leader in the field,” said UAB School of Health Professions Dean Harold P. Jones, Ph.D. “Leandra Celaya has rapidly established herself as a School and University leader in global education and is a growing presence in the world of international healthcare education.”
Hernandez, who also serves as professor and program director of the Doctoral Programs in Administration-Health Services, has long been recognized for his work in international education. For decades, he has conducted healthcare research and education abroad, ranging from analyzing physician choices in the Ukraine to teaching hospital administration in Saudi Arabia.
Hernandez, the founding director of the UAB Master of Science in Health Administration-International Healthcare Management Track, has served as track organizer and chair of the EURAM (European Academy of Management) since 2009. He is the only American on the Board of Directors for EURAM.
Since joining UAB faculty in 1981, Hernandez has been awarded “Best Paper” at national and international meetings and has presented papers in seven countries. In the 1990’s he helped the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) develop partnerships with health administration programs in multiple nations. As a board member and chair of the AUPHA Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education he has served on many ad hoc task forces for international committees. Hernandez has played a significant role in the globalization of healthcare management education and continues to lead in that arena today.
Celaya, who received her graduate degree in International Business from the University of Salford, England, has been involved with the HSA International Education Programs since 2008. In addition to running operations for the Executive Master’s Program in Saudi Arabia, she has co-led international health system visits to countries such as Brazil, the United Kingdom, Spain, France and Switzerland.\
“Bob Hernandez is a visionary leader who has been instrumental in taking UAB’s excellent educational programming throughout the globe,” said Christy Harris Lemak, Ph.D., professor and chair of the UAB Department of Health Services Administration. “Leandra Celaya has consistently demonstrated an amazing ability to get things done and has worked hard to build our presence and reputation internationally.”
The School of Health Professions’ first foray into international education began in the 1980’s with partnerships in China and the Middle East. In 1984, Howard Houser, Ph.D., professor emeritus in the School of Health Professions, was tapped to lead UAB’s efforts to help the Chinese government with health service administration education. Since then, he has hosted more than 100 visiting students, scholars and medical delegations from China.
Today, the International Education Programs has grown to include Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, South America and more. The School’s faculty and students have studied healthcare on every continent except Antarctica.
Most recently, a joint partnership between the department and King Fahad Specialist Hospital-Dammam graduated its first class of Saudi Arabian hospital administrators in late 2013. In 2014, that EMSHA graduating class established the UAB Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) Alumni Chapter. It is the first UAB NAS chapter established in the Middle East.
“We are delighted to formally recognize the hard work of these two individuals and look forward to their leadership in improving these programs and developing new ways to expand our Department’s reach as we develop leaders to improve tomorrow’s healthcare,” said Lemak.