UUÖ±²¥

Expert Advice on Earning a Doctorate in Healthcare Administration Online

We asked two seasoned professionals what it actually takes to thrive in an online DHA. Blaz Korosec, CEO of Medical Director Co., and Bill Berman, an executive coach with decades of healthcare leadership experience, shared candid advice about the mindset, skills, and strategies that can help online DHA students find success as future healthcare leaders.

Why a DHA Matters More Than Ever, According to a Healthcare CEO

CEO of Medical Director Co.

Blaz Korosec is the CEO of Medical Director Co., where he works at the intersection of healthcare leadership and operational strategy. With a background in business and economics from SMU Cox School of Business, Blaz brings real-world insight to the challenges facing today’s healthcare leaders. He has experience overseeing medical teams, supporting physician leadership, and navigating system-wide improvement initiatives.

What makes a healthcare administration doctorate relevant in today’s healthcare climate?

"The healthcare industry is constantly changing from staffing shortages and regulatory changes to fast advances in technology. Leading in this environment takes more than just experience. 

Earning a doctorate helps equip healthcare leaders with advanced leadership skills, the ability to manage challenges and crises, and a deeper understanding of how to oversee operations and support their teams effectively. It's about having the knowledge and strategic vision to drive meaningful change while keeping both people and systems in mind."

What should students look for when trying to find the best online doctoral program?

• "First, check if the faculty are actually working in the same healthcare field. When professors have more experience in the real world, they bring a lot more value to the classroom. 

• It’s very important to see if the program is practical and flexible. Some may even offer applied projects instead of writing a full dissertation, which can be a great way to work on real issues you’re facing at your job or in your community. 

• Lastly, take a look at the curriculum and make sure it covers current topics like health equity, healthcare technology, system improvements, and leadership."

What leadership competencies are most crucial today in this field?

"Emotional intelligence is the key. Leaders need to show empathy and be self-aware. It’s also important to be flexible and think big picture. Healthcare is moving quickly, and leaders have to step back, understand how everything connects, and help their teams adapt without losing sight of patient care or staff wellbeing."

Do you find that doctoral students benefit more from specializing in certain areas?

"Yes, because choosing a specialization can really help you focus and open up more opportunities. The best path really comes down to what kind of impact you want to have. 

Ask yourself: 'What kind of issues do I care about solving?'"

What’s your best advice for someone beginning an online doctoral program in healthcare administration?

"Always remember why you started. Earning a doctorate takes time and commitment, especially in an online setting where it can feel isolating at times. But always try to stay focused on the kind of change you want to help create. 

And don’t go through it alone. Connect with your classmates, mentors, and other people in the field. Having that support system makes a big difference and can open doors you didn’t expect."

What Today’s DHA Students Need Most? Cross-Functional Leadership Skills, Says Veteran Coach

Executive Career Coach

Bill Berman, Ph.D., is the founder and CEO of Berman Leadership, where he has coached healthcare executives and C-suite leaders for over two decades. A licensed clinical psychologist and former healthcare software CEO, Bill brings a rare blend of behavioral science, business acumen, and operational insight to his work.

"I've been coaching healthcare executives for over 20 years and ran a healthcare outcomes software company that I sold to Echo Group, so I've seen the industry transform from both operational and leadership sides.

The biggest shift I'm seeing is that healthcare leaders now need to bridge completely different worlds: clinical excellence and business performance. When I coached Dr. K, who led a global nonprofit for 16 years, his biggest challenge wasn't medical knowledge but managing the emotional complexity of leading through COVID while maintaining organizational stability. Today's healthcare administration doctorate needs to focus heavily on cross-functional leadership because you're managing highly technical clinical experts alongside commercially-focused business people.

For online programs, skip anything that doesn't require you to work with real organizational data. My healthcare software company grew by 25% annually because we focused on actual outcomes measurement, not theoretical models. Look for programs where you'll analyze real hospital performance metrics, work with live patient flow data, or partner with healthcare systems on actual operational challenges. The dissertation should solve a real problem for a real organization.

The leadership competency that matters most right now is what I call 'translation leadership' [which is] taking complex clinical concepts and making them actionable for non-clinical stakeholders, and vice versa. 

In my coaching work with pharmaceutical executives, the ones who succeed are those who can help research scientists understand commercial timelines while helping business teams grasp regulatory complexities."