For the 2012 Mellem Business Symposium, the College of Business and Public Administration (CoBPA) will partner with the School of Medicine and Health Sciences to focus on "The Business of Healthcare."

Business schools around the country are working to effectively train leaders in healthcare. UND has a unique opportunity in which Dennis Elbert, dean of the College of Business and Public Administration, has served on the Board of Directors for Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota for the past 12 years, as well as serving on the Altru Health Systems Board and United Healthcare Systems (Parkwood Place). UND is among 137 accredited U.S. medical schools. Joshua Wynne, vice president for Health Affairs and dean for the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, is one of only 11 who holds the distinction of a MD/MBA degree.

Each panel will feature leading industry professionals to discuss and debate a variety of health care topics. Sessions are listed below:

• 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. – Healthcare Branding and Corporate Culture – Gamble Hall, Room 7
• 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. – Managing the Uncertainty in the Future of Healthcare – Gamble Hall, Room 7
• 2 to 3:15 p.m. – Emerging Technology in Healthcare – Gamble Hall, Room 7
• 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. – Tour of School of Medicine and Health Sciences Simulation Lab (Please register in advance at laura.dvorak@business.und.edu)
• 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. – Social and brief comments from Dr. Elbert and Dr. Wynne  - SMHS Atrium