Healthcare Leadership Development Initiative

Healthcare Leadership Initiative


Shaping the Future of Healthcare in North Texas

The SMU Cox School of Business Healthcare Initiative Takes Center Stage

The Healthcare Initiative is a dynamic platform that brings together industry leaders, policymakers, and patient advocates to shape the future of healthcare. Through academic research, thought leadership, and business education, this multidisciplinary initiative is helping shape the future of healthcare in North Texas and beyond.

Why North Texas

With a population of over 8 million people and boasting 22 Fortune 500 companies, North Texas is a thriving hub of economic activity. Healthcare, as the second largest sector in the region, plays a vital role in the overall health of the Dallas business community. Accounting for 15% of regional economic activity and providing nearly 700,000 jobs, the significance of the healthcare industry cannot be overstated.

However, North Texas is not immune to the pressing healthcare challenges that are affecting communities worldwide. Critical staffing shortages, an aging population, a growing burden of chronic diseases and behavioral health conditions, a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape, and rapid advancements in state-of-the-art care delivery and technologies like Artificial Intelligence are creating a unique set of challenges.

In order to address these challenges effectively, it is crucial to develop a well-prepared and capable healthcare workforce and leadership. By investing in education, training, and leadership development, we can navigate the complexities of the healthcare landscape in North Texas and ensure a healthier future for all residents.

  • Building Capability

    Building Healthcare Industry Capability: Recruitment, Retention, Training

    SMU Cox partners with local and national healthcare companies to provide comprehensive training that goes beyond clinical skills. Our leadership and business acumen training lead to overall customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction, and performance. We train employees on “how healthcare works,” the role of digital technology and analytics in healthcare, and how multiple stakeholders come together to deliver services or products that improve patient outcomes and provide care. Through our program, we help develop competent and compassionate healthcare professionals who can meet the needs of their communities.

    Feature Partner Spotlight: Baylor Scott & White Advanced Physician Leadership Program

    For over 16 years, Baylor Scott & White has worked with SMU Cox Executive Education to develop and deliver the Advanced Physician Leadership Program. The partnership has helped identify and strengthen leadership potential in early career physicians, provide a deeper academic experience in business, and enhance interpersonal skills. 

    To date, over 36% of the 445 attendees to date have been promoted to department chairs and other leadership appointments, including ten CMOs from the first cohort.

    SMU Cox Welcomes Baylor Scott and White Health Physicians

  • Managing Change

    Managing Change

    The healthcare industry is dynamic and rapidly evolving with new changes coming every day, whether it is the transition from “fee-for-service” to “value-based care,” dynamically changing regulations, the advent of new technologies, increasing healthcare costs, or rising health inequities. SMU Cox can help our partners prepare, transition, and manage such changes.

  • Thought Leadership

    Thought Leadership

    At SMU Cox, we have a team of experts who can investigate, develop, assess, and analyze current approaches and potentially innovative ideas for improving various aspects of healthcare. We provide insights into areas such as pharmaceutical supply chain management, healthcare finance, and data literacy. 

    Feature Partner Spotlight: Leadership & Ethical Decision-Making in Healthcare

    Our leadership and ethical decision-making in the healthcare program brings together thought leaders from various fields to explore the most pressing issues in the industry. By tapping into our knowledge and expertise, healthcare organizations can stay ahead of the curve and make informed decisions that drive better outcomes for patients.

    SMU Cox Healthcare Leadership and Ethical Decision-Making

    About 60 healthcare thought leaders engaged in a two-day exploration of “Healthcare Leadership and Ethical Decision-Making” at SMU Cox in April 2023.