Learn about various health care leadership jobs in hospitals, medical facilities, or in-home environments, each with its own education guidelines and salary expectations.

A variety of health care leadership careers are available in hospitals, medical facilities, and home health care settings, each requiring different levels of education and licensing. A comprehensive education in science and leadership is essential for these roles.

For current and aspiring health care leadership professionals seeking to advance their knowledge and make a positive impact in the medical field, pursuing a Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine: Mindful Leadership Specialization is a valuable option. The mindfulness and integrative care approach allows the program graduates to consider all aspects of patient care as well as what is needed to create healthy working environments for other medical practitioners when they become directors, administrators, and policymakers.

Director of Nursing

A director of nursing is a high-level administrator who oversees hiring staff, manages budgets, and implements new policies that align with department goals and business plans. The director represents the nursing staff under their supervision and direction, advocating for the staff’s concerns while meeting industry job standards.

Earning a Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine with a Mindful Leadership specialization enables aspiring nursing directors to hone their contemplative practices while also developing strategies to introduce reflective approaches to community and organizational settings in the health care field. The online course Reflective Leadership in Health Care is unique to the Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine: Mindful Leadership Specialization and prepares individuals to blend scholarly conversations and experimental components to enhance their leadership experience. Students use research and applications of contemplative practices that embrace mindfulness that guides their dispositions toward reflective postures to serve as the foundation for an integrative healthcare approach. This allows our graduates who wish to pursue a career as a director of nursing to be strong leaders who fully represents their staff while cultivating a mindful work environment. 

This role requires a high level of multitasking, leadership skills, and administrative and clinical skills to effectively and continuously run the medical facility for an elite level of patient care and working environments for other health care professionals. Nursing directors must take and pass the licensing test from the National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration in Long Term Care the Certified Director of Nursing Exam (CDONA) or the Director of Nursing Services-Certified (DNS-CT) credential from the American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing.

According to the ANA Nursing Resources Hub, the average salary for a director of nursing is between $90,000 to $150,000.

Hospital Chief Financial Officer

Also known as hospital CFOs, chief financial officers are responsible for the hospital’s financial systems and operations. They monitor and approve department budgets, stay up to date on regulatory requirements for accounting, and work with C-level executives on the strategy and efficiency of the hospital.

Hospital CFOs need to complete their Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Certification and gain relevant experience in the financial health care industry. Hospital chief financial officers typically complete their bachelor’s degree in finance or accounting and master’s degree in business, health care administration, or related fields. The master’s degree is not required but does give a competitive edge when compared to other applicants.

The Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine: Mindful Leadership Specialization includes a course on grant writing, teaching our students the process of proposing to submitting grant requests. This online MBM course integrates current scholarships, funding strategy analysis, and the assessment of potential funders. These skills may help the Hospital CFOs increase department budgets and resources, creating more opportunities for discovery, practice, and improving the work environment.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for chief executives is $206,680.

Hospital Administrator

These medical leadership professionals oversee the daily operations of health care facilities, such as hospitals and clinics. Responsibilities include managing budgets, hiring and training staff, and enforcing laws and professional standards to help the medical facility run efficiently.

Licensing is not required to become a hospital administrator. However, bachelor's degrees may open doors to entry-level administrative positions, whereas a higher education degree, such as a master’s or doctoral degree in a career-related program, is commonly required for mid- to high-level positions.

For future or current medical leadership professionals looking to move into a hospital administrative role or further their knowledge in health care leadership, a Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine: Mindful Leadership in Health care Specialization program can help provide a competitive edge and bolster resumes when applying. 

The Theories & Applications of Mindful Leadership online course, part of the Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine: Mindful Leadership Specialization, provides students with methods to elevate leadership styles, processes, and outcomes in a holistic and humanistic way by implementing mindful-oriented approaches for an integrated health care environment.

Health Information Manager

Health information managers and technologists ensure that electronic health records and other health care technologies are accurate, secure, and properly managed. These health care leadership professionals need strong technical abilities and leadership skills to connect health care providers and IT professionals by incorporating science, business, and technology, protecting private information​.

The Mind-Body Medicine doctoral program builds graduate knowledge of the principles and practices of mind-body-spirit wellness. Saybrook University’s Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine: Mindful Leadership Specialization blends concepts of mindfulness and compassion-based leadership that health information managers and technologists can use to apply foundational values and ethical principles to this health care field.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for a health information technologist is $62,990.

Nursing Home Administrator

Nursing home administrators manage nursing homes or long-term care facilities, overseeing everything from patient care to staff management and regulatory compliance. These medical leadership professionals may implement and enforce new policies and marketing strategies.

Nursing home administrators must obtain a valid industry-required license such as the National Association of Long-Term Care Boards (NAB). The licensing is to demonstrate their knowledge in this field.

One of the elective courses for the online Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine: Mindful Leadership Specialization is Contemplative Approaches to the Chronically Ill, Dying, and Their Families. This course encourages students to foster a courageous presence with those in a nursing home and their families. Our graduates will know how to encompass compassion, resilience, and self-care by examining philosophical concepts and scientific knowledge, including neuroscience research for end-of-life care and palliative care.

Why Choose a Health Care Leadership Degree Program?

A well-rounded education with hands-on clinical experience, industry research, and leadership is crucial for making a significant impact in health care leadership. The Ph.D. in Mind-Body Medicine: Mindful Leadership Specialization equips professionals with the skills needed to excel in various health care professions. Our core classes and specialization-specific courses teach graduates how to create a working environment that reflects the community's needs, apply for grants, and demonstrate mindful and compassionate leadership. This mind-body medicine doctoral program encourages students to choose three elective courses that can customize their degree to include additional skills to better prepare them for the health care workforce, such as Contemplative End of Life Care for nursing home administrators.

By enrolling in this program, you can be prepared to lead transformative changes and advance your career in the health care industry. Sign up today to become a mindful leader and make a positive difference in the medical field, whether it is a director, administrator, or policymaker.