Skip to main content

Health Policy and Management

Advancing health and health systems locally, nationally and globally

GW Launches Project to Combat Burnout among Healthcare Workers


Even before COVID-19 hit, physicians, nurses and other health workers were struggling with the stress of caring for patients amid a severe and growing shortage of staff in the workforce. The pandemic has only heightened the demands health workers are confronting.
Read More

What is Health Policy and Management?


Health policy involves the decisions, plans, and actions undertaken by public and private organizations and governmental bodies to influence and improve individual and public health and health care through the achievement of specific goals. Health administration is focused on leadership and management of healthcare organizations and systems. These two areas work hand-in-hand to ensure that the health policies developed can be effectively implemented in the healthcare system. Our faculty’s research in areas such as the impact of changes in the Affordable Care Act has been influential as legislators, policy makers, healthcare providers, administrators, payers, and consumers navigate the complex evolving healthcare system.

For information about upcoming HPM events, CLICK HERE.

Program Offerings


Graduate Degrees and Certificates

The Department of Health Policy and Management offers a number of graduate degrees that allow students to specialize in key aspects of this broad and dynamic field.

Whether you are looking to obtain an MPH or an MHA, options are available to students both in the classroom and online. We also offer doctorate programs, joint degrees and a Master of Science in Health Policy. Only a few blocks from the Capital Building, White House and Supreme Court, health policy begins and ends in our community.

Graduate Programs

Certificate Programs

Explore HPM

Research


Our rigorous, objective research focusing on outcomes and ways to improve health and healthcare policies and leadership practices is enhanced by our unique location.

Learn More

Practice Experience


Our extensive and ever growing partner network enables students to work with leading Washington, D.C. and regional based health organizations as practice settings.

Learn More

Careers and Alumni


Earning one of our many degrees can lead to a wide range of professional opportunities upon graduating. Click for a sampling of opportunities and alumni profiles.

Learn More

Student Resources


Meet Our Faculty


Leighton Ku, PhD, MPH

Professor and Director of the Center for Health Policy Research

As a health policy researcher, a public policy analyst, and an advocate, Dr. Ku's career has been built around the effort to understand and improve access to affordable health care for vulnerable populations. In his Faculty Spotlight, Dr. Ku discusses the Affordable Care Act, his research on Medicaid and one incredible collection of comic books.

Watch Faculty Spotlight

Our Department's Faculty

Department News


Few Medicaid-Participating Primary Care Physicians Providing Longer-Acting Birth Control Methods

Study suggests policy approaches tailored for physician specialties are required to ensure that Medicaid beneficiaries do not face barriers accessing contraceptive care.

Milken Institute School of Public Health Names 2023 Geiger Gibson Program Distinguished Visitor

WASHINGTON (March 9, 2023) — The Milken Institute School of Public Health (Milken Institute SPH) at the George Washington University has named Joseph E. Pierle of the...

Awards Program Recognizes 14 Emerging Leaders in Community Health

WASHINGTON (March 9, 2023) – Each year, in collaboration with the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), the Geiger Gibson Program in Community Health...