From Classroom to Megaproject: MS-HSPAL Students Support a New Hospital Tower Activation

To describe the development and implementation of an innovative elective course that integrated Master of Science in Health-System Pharmacy Administration and Leadership (MS-HSPAL) students into pharmacy planning and activation activities associated with a major hospital expansion, and to highlight considerations for health systems seeking to leverage learners during large-scale organizational initiatives.

Large-scale health system projects require substantial planning, coordination, and leadership resources, yet also present unique experiential learning opportunities. In preparation for opening a new hospital tower, an 8-week elective course was developed that incorporated MS-HSPAL and Master of Healthcare Administration students into operational workstreams supporting hospital activation. Through structured project assignments, preceptor oversight, participation in leadership meetings, and involvement in go-live, students contributed to workflow redesign, communication planning, automation readiness, operational support, and patient move activities. Learner participation expanded project capacity during a resource-intensive time while providing meaningful leadership development. Key elements supporting success included strong leadership engagement, clearly defined student responsibilities, and alignment of educational and organizational goals.

This elective experience demonstrated how a structured learning model can integrate learners into a healthcare megaproject. Participation in real-world planning and activation activities allowed students to further develop leadership, project management, and operational competencies that are difficult to replicate in a traditional classroom or rotation-based environment. Given the learning benefits observed, health systems undergoing expansion or other large-scale transformation should consider incorporating learners into these initiatives as a strategy to enhance project capacity while preparing future healthcare leaders.