Profile

Dr. Reid Oetjen is a Professor in the School of Global Health Management and Informatics at the University of Central Florida (UCF), where he serves as MHA Program Director. A senior academic leader with extensive experience in large public research universities, Dr. Oetjen has a proven record in strategic planning, faculty governance, curriculum transformation, and research support. His leadership philosophy is grounded in trust, transparency, and servant leadership, with a strong commitment to advancing research, professional education, and community engagement.

Dr. Oetjen's research focuses on long-term care quality, developing tools for healthcare practitioners, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. He has published 48 peer-reviewed articles, 5 books, and 15 book chapters, including a co-edited textbook considered an academic staple in long-term care administration education. His work has appeared in leading journals such as the Journal of Health Administration Education. As co-investigator on a 2023 NIH grant titled "INTREPID in Aging Research," he contributed to securing $1,815,243 in funding.

A first-generation college student, Dr. Oetjen has received multiple Excellence Awards in Teaching and two Teaching Incentive Awards. He served as Department Chair from 2012-2020, securing $1.4 million annually in state funding for information technology education. His dedication to shared governance is evident through his service as UCF Faculty Senate Chair and Board of Trustees member (2013-2015) and current role as Chair of the AUPHA Board of Directors.

Beyond academia, Dr. Oetjen served as Assistant Administrator for a national skilled nursing facility chain and spent ten years as operations manager for a major international airline, providing invaluable real-world healthcare expertise.

• Healthcare Management and Long-Term Care Administration
• Academic Leadership and Governance
• Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

• Ph.D., Public Affairs, Health Services Administration, University of Central Florida
• M.S., Health Sciences, Health Services Administration, University of Central Florida
• B.A., General Arts and Sciences (Management and Psychology) The Pennsylvania State University

• MicroCredentials in Mentoring University of New Mexico Mentoring Institute

Completed comprehensive training series in evidence-based mentoring practices:

• Foundational Skills in Mentoring (MC1)
• Intermediate Skills in Mentoring (MC2)
• Advanced Skills in Mentoring (MC3)

My research agenda encompasses three interconnected domains: aging, healthcare management, and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL). Central to my work is the translation of academic research into pragmatic applications within real-world healthcare contexts, with the goal of enhancing healthcare systems while refining teaching methodologies to prepare the next generation of healthcare leaders.

In the area of aging and long-term care, my research focuses on improving care quality and developing evidence-based tools for healthcare practitioners. This work is informed by my direct experience as an Assistant Administrator in skilled nursing facilities, providing unique insights into the operational challenges facing long-term care settings. My co-edited textbook on long-term care administration has become an academic staple, with over 2,000 copies sold, demonstrating the field's need for accessible, practical scholarship.

My commitment to the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning addresses critical gaps in healthcare management education. Through publications in the Journal of Health Administration Education and other leading journals, I examine effective pedagogical approaches that transform how we educate future healthcare administrators.

Over my career, I have published 48 peer-reviewed journal articles, 5 books, 15 book chapters, and delivered 83 peer-reviewed presentations. As co-investigator on the 2023 NIH R25 grant "INTREPID in Aging Research" ($1,815,243), I am committed to expanding aging research by mentoring emerging scholars from underrepresented backgrounds.

My research philosophy centers on creating tangible positive impact, transforming healthcare delivery, advancing educational excellence, and fostering inclusive research environments that empower the next generation of healthcare scholars and practitioners.

• Aging and gerontology
• Long-term care systems
• Healthcare practitioner tool development
• Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)
• Academic Leadership and Governance

• Disability, Aging, and Technology - Former Cluster Lead

I love service. It is not something I have to do; it is something I GET to do! My service philosophy centers on shared governance, faculty empowerment, and advancing the health administration profession. Service is paramount to shaping educational institutions, disciplines, students, and society at large.

At the national level, I served as Chair of the AUPHA Board of Directors (2023-24), leading strategic planning initiatives for this international organization representing over 250 health administration programs and 3,500+ faculty worldwide. I have maintained continuous AUPHA service since 2006, including Board membership (2020-26), leadership development initiatives, and annual meeting planning. I serve on the editorial boards of Frontiers in Public Health and multiple journals, and I review for leading academic publications.

At UCF, my most significant leadership roles included serving as Faculty Senate Chair and Board of Trustees member (2013-15), where I championed shared governance by spearheading UCF's adoption of the COACHE Survey to amplify faculty voices. I chaired the UCF Strategic Planning Council (2019-20) and have served continuously on the Faculty Senate Steering Committee (2009-23, 2024-present). I co-founded and led the Council of Chairs and Directors, creating a platform for nearly 70 unit leaders to ensure frontline leadership representation.

As Department Chair (2012-20), I prioritized faculty governance by establishing departmental bylaws, transparent decision-making structures, and faculty development investments. I have directed multiple graduate programs (MHA, e-MSHSA, MS-HSA) and led the Disability, Aging, and Technology Research Cluster (2019-23).

• Program Director, MHA Program (2023-Present)
• Member, AUPHA Board of Directors (2020-26)
• Past Chair, AUPHA Board of Directors (2024-25)
• Member, AUPHA Leadership Development Committee (2024-26)
• Chair, University Graduate Program Review & Awards Committee (2021-Present)
• Chair, SGHMI Promotion and Tenure Committee (2024-25)
• Member, Faculty Senate Steering Committee, UCF (2024-Present)
• Liaison, UCF Graduate Council and Faculty Senate (2024-25)
• Member, Faculty Excellence 2024 Priority-Setting Committee, UCF (2024-25)

• Faculty Senate Service Award (2022)
• Teaching Incentive Program Recipient (2013, 2023)
• Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award (2012)
• Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award (2011)

• HSA 6188: Health Care Capstone and Strategic Management
  This capstone course challenges students to think deeply, define problems and issues, and articulate solutions to strategic management issues in healthcare. Students integrate business and health-sector knowledge through a project paper and presentation with an innovative, entrepreneurial focus.
• HSA 6346: Healthcare Organizational Behavior and Human Resources Management
  Students gain understanding of theoretical and modeling techniques applied in organizational behavior and human resources through a scholar-practitioner model. The course focuses on performance-based management development, health system examination, policy formulation, and quantitative analysis.
• HSC 6636: Issues and Trends in Health Professions
  Provides students with an understanding of various issues and trends that influence health care organizations (hospitals, skilled nursing homes, assisted living facilities, ambulatory surgery centers, and medical group practices), policies, programs, and planning in the United States today.
• HSA 6536: Health and Medical Terminology for Health Administrators
  Study of the language of medicine and allied health specialties, including word construction, definitions, and application of terms. Improves vocabulary skills and prepares students for advanced professional preparation.

• HSA 3222: Long-Term Care Administration
  Introduces the organization, financing, and management of institutional and community-based health and social services comprising the long-term care delivery system.
• HSA 2117: Civic Engagement in Health Care
  Introduction to citizenship aspects in the United States, focusing on health and healthcare. Provides an overview of US healthcare policy, social determinants of health, healthcare delivery structure, and consumer rights and duties.
• HSC 4564: Health Care Needs of the Elderly
  Assists students in understanding social, medical, and emotional supports in older age. Students gain ability to understand and interpret the aging population and apply information to current healthcare issues.
• HSA 3012: Issues and Trends in Public Health
  Provides a basic introduction to public health concepts and practice by examining philosophy, purpose, history, organization, functions, tools, and activities at national, state, and community levels.