University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics CEO David Entwistle has been named chair of the Community Advisory Board for the Masters of Healthcare Administration program at the University of Utah's David Eccles School of Business. He assumes the role after serving as a member of the Community Advisory Board since its inception in 2011.
"It is exciting that a health care executive with his accomplishments is willing to invest the time to help us build our program," said Debra Scammon, Ph.D., professor of marketing and MHA program director.
Entwistle joined the University of Utah Hospital and Clinics in 2007. Before that, he was senior vice president and chief operating officer for six years at the University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics in Madison. He earned his masters of healthcare administration (MHA) degree from Arizona State University, and his bachelor's degree in Health Sciences from BYU.
The MHA Program received accreditation from CAHME, the Commission on the Accreditation of Health Management Education, in 2012, placing it elite company with top programs around the country, according to Scammon. The Community Advisory Board has already played a strong role in helping the program achieve accreditation, and with Entwistle's leadership, it is now ready to make even greater contributions. Taking a page from an initiative he implemented at University Hospital, the Exceptional Patient Experience, a key goal will be to create an "exceptional student experience," Scammon said.
After arriving at the University, Entwistle quickly made opportunities available to the David Eccles School of Business MHA students through administrative internships and fellowships. These programs provide the opportunity to work closely with top administrators and quickly gain exposure to all facets of an organization, often resulting in job offers at the end of the assignment. Entwistle, who completed an administrative internship at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston after completing his own MHA program, recognized the value of these positions to both students and health care organizations. The internship and fellowship program is now in its sixth year.
Entwistle's career experience provides a wonderful example for MHA program students, and his vision now is to create a mentorship program whereby program alumni and local health care executives can provide personal coaching for our students. Through his leadership, MHA students truly can anticipate an exceptional student experience, according to Scammon.