Health Policy and Administration students at Washington State University have unique opportunities to conduct research and service in the largest tertiary health services community between Seattle and Minneapolis.

The primary mission of the Health Policy and Administration (HPA) graduate program is:

• to contribute to community health services enhancement and community health policy development through education, applied research, and service.  A core value of the HPA Program and its faculty is to prepare health services managers with the knowledge, skills, and values to exercise professional leadership to promote healthier communities; and
• to prepare working students in metropolitan Spokane, eastern Washington, and the Inland Northwest region, and excellent students nationally and internationally interested in healthier communities for a variety of professional health services management positions.

Faculty members utilize students as research assistants in their ongoing research projects.

Students are encouraged to attend professional meetings and conferences. Students present papers at conferences with the financial assistance of the university and such sources as the Washington State University Graduate and Professional Student Association and the Washington State University student chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE).

Attendance at such conferences enables students to share their research with others, learn more about their specific areas of interest, and make professional connections that aid their professional life after graduate school.