University of Minnesota School of Public Health (SPH) Professor Jean Abraham has been recognized as an outstanding health policy teacher by the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA), a global network of colleges, universities, faculty, individuals, and organizations whose mission is to foster excellence and innovation in both health management and policy education and scholarship. The AUPHA recently announced its 2024 Teaching Excellence Awards, and Abraham received  the Teaching Excellence Award in Health Policy. The awards are sponsored by the American Hospital Association (AHA).

Abraham, who is head of SPH’s Health Policy and Management division, said she was honored to receive the prestigious award.

“Public policy can have profound influence on the decisions of healthcare delivery organizations, private insurers, and individuals. Through my teaching as well as my policymaking and research experiences, I am able to help my students recognize the important linkages that exist between health policy and management,” said Dr. Abraham. “I am so very honored to receive the AUPHA Teaching Excellence Award for Health Policy this year and am grateful to be part of the AUPHA community of educators and scholars.”

“Educators in healthcare management, leadership, and policy recognize that the dynamic and complex healthcare landscape requires teaching that emphasizes students’ learning, growth, and development that extends beyond the classroom,” said Jacqueline Wiltshire, PhD, Chair of the Teaching Excellence Awards Selection Committee and Visiting Associate Professor at Indiana University’s Richard M. Fairbanks School for Public Health. “Our colleagues who are receiving these teaching excellence awards have demonstrated an exemplary and holistic approach to teaching in these areas. AUPHA’s Board and leadership are honored to recognize their efforts and applaud their comprehensive and impactful teaching practices within the healthcare management, leadership, and policy education community.”

Abraham holds a PhD from Carnegie Mellon University in public policy and management with a specialization in health economics. Her research focuses on issues of access, cost, and quality of private health insurance; employer provision of health benefits; and wellness program evaluation. Throughout her career she has engaged in federal and state policymaking; held a number of leadership roles with organizations, including the Association of University Programs in Health Administration; and published more than 80 articles in high-impact journals, including Health Affairs, Health Services Research, the Journal of Health Economics, and JAMA.

AUPHA also recognized excellent teachers in other specialty areas with awards. The recipient of the Teaching Excellence Award in Healthcare Management and Leadership, sponsored by the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), is Christopher Louis from Boston University. The recipient of the Teaching Excellence in Practice Management and Ambulatory Care Award, sponsored by the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), is Mark Bittle from Johns Hopkins University.