UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Chris Calkins, teaching professor and executive director of the Master of Health Policy Administration (HPA) in the College of Health and Human Development, is the 2022 recipient of the Graduate School Alumni Society Graduate Program Chair Leadership Award.
The award honors faculty members for exemplary leadership that benefits graduate students and faculty in an existing graduate program at the University.
Calkins became the founding director of the online Master of Health Administration (MHA) program in 2012, which serves working professionals in health care. He hired faculty and staff, co-authored the program design and recruited the first cohort of graduate students. It was the first online graduate program in the college and among the first MHA programs offered online in the Big Ten.
In 2015, Calkins assumed leadership of the residential MHA program and has led both programs since. Under Calkins leadership, nominators said, the program has graduated more than 100 students, all securing residencies and 93% percent securing jobs in health care within 90 days of graduating. Student diversity also increased under Calkins.
Among notable changes and improvements to the program, Calkins introduced the interprofessional experiential capstone model with the Mount Nittany Physician Group, in which MHA students spend three semesters embedded in a physician practice to gain practical experience in physician practice management and leadership. He also reconstituted the Board of Visitors, which invites professionals to review aspects of the program and ensure the curriculum remains cutting-edge and industry relevant.
“Calkins’ vision is evident in every aspect of the program: recruiting, student advising, community outreach, program accreditation and faculty and staff development,” a nominator said.
Calkins’ impact has been felt beyond Penn State. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he organized meetings with leaders of MHA programs across the United States and Canada to share ideas on how best to address challenges brought on by the pandemic.
“This award is intended to recognize faculty members for exemplary leadership benefiting graduate students and faculty,” a nominator said. “Calkins has demonstrated exactly the kind of exemplary leadership the award seeks to recognize. He’s a valued colleague to his peers, professional role model to our students, and a continuing goodwill ambassador and connector to Penn State MHA alumni.”
A former student said Calkins’ mentorship is also invaluable. The young mother and working professional was finishing up her degree and wondering what the next steps for her career might be.
“He connected me with his own personal contacts, women who had great career success in health care to listen to me and provide advice that was relatable for me,” a former student said. “He creates loyalty in his students such that when he calls upon you to help you do not feel burdened. You want to help.”