Management Academy for Public Health: Developing entrepreneurial public health managers

The Management Academy for Public Health (MAPH) is a nine-month management development program offered to teams of public health managers by the University of North Carolina Public Health and Business schools. MAPH aims to improve managers' skills and increase the effectiveness of health department operations through a practice-based curriculum whereby participants learn business and partnership skills, and develop business plans utilizing extensive multidisciplinary coaching tactics from experts. This study identified key ways in which MAPH has impacted participants and their organizations. Participants from 2003-05 completed an online survey about management skills, development and execution of business plans, and organizational practices and barriers to implementing a business model in a public health setting (N=146, response rate=60%). A telephone interview was then conducted with one manager from each team (N=38, response rate=70%). Participants reported significant improvement in management skills, confidence and job performance. Many assumed additional responsibilities and received promotions. Few business plans were implemented as written, but many participants generated substantial revenue using skills and concepts gained through MAPH. Teams and organizations benefited from improvement in teamwork, partnerships (internal and external), and employee relations. Supervisor support, funding, and organizational culture were associated with participants' ability to implement their business plan. Practice-based training can improve public health managers' performance on the job, and increase revenue generating capabilities through an entrepreneurial training approach. The curriculum should do more to help managers counteract barriers to business plan implementation, such as cultivating organizational and supervisory support, and involving supervisors in developing business plans.