My experience with the Graduate Program in Health Administration and Policy (GPHAP)

Andrea Kimpson, MPP Class of 2025, writes about her experience with the Graduate Program in Health Administration and Policy (GPHAP). 

I chose to attend graduate school because I have been profoundly shaped by issues in health equity and I wanted to gain the skills and tools necessary to contribute to the resolution of health disparities. Harris presented the best opportunity to gain foundational knowledge in policy analysis and development, but I was also looking for ways to engage with my specific interest in health equity. This led me to the Graduate Program in Health Administration and Policy (GPHAP).

GPHAP is a certificate program housed in the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice that focuses on interdisciplinary engagement with health equity. GPHAP introduces a cohort of graduate students from across the University of Chicago, including Harris students, to study U.S. Health or Global Health. I was really interested in getting a chance to learn alongside students from different disciplines, engage with the thought leaders in health equity, and to work directly with members of the University on different projects supporting different areas of health equity.

I have really enjoyed getting to meet the students from Harris, the Booth School of Business, and the Crown School of Social Work. Each person brings a unique experience and perspective to the different events held for GPHAP students and the broader campus community. We practice interdisciplinarity in many ways throughout the cohort experience, most notably in the Capstone course where we are teamed up with students from across campus on a project for an external client. Understanding our diverse subject matter expertise and learning how to fit our skillsets together on a cohesive project has been very impactful to my perspective on multidimensional health care improvement.

GPHAP also coordinates and extends opportunities to engage with the thought development around health equity. Students have access to a wide variety of lectures like the Michael M. Davis Lecture Series and The Bowman Society Lecture Series. Speakers from varied backgrounds and experiences all contribute to leading conversations on issues of finance, pharmaceutical development, resource allocation, and physician training. These speakers provide a great way to learn more about the applications of health policy.

GPHAP also supports research assistantships and internships within the campus community that are focused on health equity. The strong emphasis on practical experiences, paired with the resources to connect GPHAP students with researchers and practitioners on campus, drew me in to the program. Being able to connect with leaders in health equity in the hospital or in various labs has been an enriching experience both personally and professionally. I have enjoyed this opportunity to connect with my field of interest!