“Aging” at the Heller School, Brandeis University: Facing a Global Demographic and Epidemiologic Imperative

“Stop aging and come back and see me in six months,” we can say, as did the physician to a stooped and elderly man in a cartoon. Or, we can avail ourselves of the growing knowledge base with regard to aging and health, such as we see showcased and disseminated in the GH Section at APHA. At Brandeis University’s Heller School for Social Policy and Management, we are building on a rich legacy of research in aging policy, to offer a concentration in “Aging.” Currently, this concentration is formally offered in two of our five graduate programs: the Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Public Policy (MPP). Students in our PhD program, as well as our two globally focused programs (a Master in Science in Health Policy and Management, and a Master in Arts in Sustainable International Development) will also avail themselves of these course offerings. The goal is to educate and train managers and policy-makers who are skilled in developing and implementing innovative policies and services that will incorporate the range of services required by elders. This program trains the next generation of managers and policy-makers in the aging field who will have the conceptual, factual and technical knowledge required for leading positions in a range of public and private sector organizations. Students in the MBA program gain the technical training of a traditional MBA program, while focusing on the organization and management of human services organizations. Students in the MPP program specialize in policy analysis, design, and evaluation and may pursue careers in government, advocacy or research.

Partnering with the Heller School in this endeavor is Hebrew SeniorLife (HSL), a seven-site network of senior housing and health care, including a geriatric training hospital and research facility. HSL is the largest provider of senior housing and adult care in New England. Students will gain experience in HSL’s continuum of services, including acute care, long- and short-term care, senior supportive housing and services, assisted living, adult day health, continuing care retirement communities, home health care, assistive technology, transportation, volunteer programs, and family support.

The Aging Concentration brings together an interdisciplinary faculty; fields represented include management, medicine, assets, policy analysis and research. The concentration provides students with a thorough immersion in the management and policy environment within which elders' needs are currently addressed, and brings perspective on future needs and policy trends. With faculty expertise in both domestic and international social policy, the Heller School, ranked third in the nation among schools of social policy, is an ideal setting for graduate education in the field of aging for leaders interested in “aging” across the globe.

Successful candidates are professionals in the field of aging or more recent college graduates with strong academic credentials and interest in aging.

For more information, please visit the Heller School Web site at: http://heller.brandeis.edu/. Please also feel free to contact me at bhalotra@brandeis.edu or (781) 736-3960.

Sarita Bhalotra, MD, PhD. Chair, concentration in aging.