Dal's Master of Health Administration (MHA) program has renewed its strategic alliance with the Canadian College of Health Leaders (CCHL) to increase the leadership capabilities of health care managers in Canada.
The renewed partnership agreement serves as an avenue to promote excellence in the health leadership field and provide graduates of the Master of Health Administration program immediate approval to becoming a Certified Health Executive (CHE).
Through this agreement, participants in the MHA program will receive full equivalence to the Certified Health Executive (CHE) designation, the only certification program for Canadian health leaders. This program offers individual leaders several benefits including:
- support for lifelong learning in health services leadership;
- assistance with career advancement;
- peer recognition;
- and an essential career designation.
This collaboration will also allow for both organizations to better address the constantly evolving needs of health leaders and align themselves with the LEADS in a Caring Environment framework. This framework is a foundation for Canadian health leadership development and defines the knowledge, skills and attitudes a leader must have to positively contribute to the Canadian health-care system.
"As the largest and preeminent Master of Health Administration (MHA) program in Atlantic Canada, we are pleased to renew this vital partnership with the Canadian College of Health Leaders," said Dr. Lori Weeks, director of the School of Health Administration.
"This ongoing collaboration continues to enhance the value we offer to our graduates and contributes meaningfully to the broader health system. We have made concerted efforts to align our curriculum with the Certified Health Executive (CHE) designation and the LEADS in a Caring Environment framework, ensuring that our graduates are exceptionally well-prepared to assume leadership roles in health care upon completion of their studies."
Stephan Plourde, CHE, Chief Operating Officer at the CCHL, said: "We are excited about this collaboration with Dalhousie University, who show their commitment to health leadership by committing to have the CHE as a preferred designation for their students. The MHA program is the first Master's program in Atlantic Canada to be fully aligned to the CHE designation and the LEADS framework."
Dalhousie's MHA program is a full-time 16-month degree accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education and fulfills the requirements for the CHE designation from the CCHL.
Students complete a four-month residency with a health leader that offers a hands-on leadership experience. MHA students can participate in the ELEMENT Mentorship program. that pairs students with active healthcare leaders for guidance and career development. A thesis stream is also available in addition to a part-time option. The MHA program is offered by the School of Health Administration-, which is part of the Faculty of Health (Dal Health). Dal Health is one of the most programmatically diverse health faculties in Canada and a nationally and internationally recognized leader in health research and scholarship.
"The Certified Health Executive (CHE) designation is a nationally recognized credential that represents my commitment to excellence and continuous learning as a future healthcare leader in Canada," said David Lin, an MHA Candidate for 2026. "It will support my long-term career goals by strengthening my leadership competencies through the LEADS framework, my understanding of health system governance and policy, and my ability to manage sustainable change in various healthcare environments".
Yasha Patankar, PT, MS, and an MHA Candidate for 2026, also welcomed the news.
"The CHE designation provides a sturdy foundation in systems thinking, strategic management and ethical decision-making- all essential in navigating the challenges of healthcare today, while supporting my commitment to leadership excellence in health administration," said Yasha. "Earning the CHE designation enhances my credibility and competitiveness in the job market and fosters constantly evolving learning and development. As a future health leader, the CHE designation will help me excel, connect with a national network of professionals and drive meaningful, transformative change in Canada's healthcare system."
