SMU to Offer First Health Info Security Graduate Certificate

Southern Methodist University’s Cox School of Business in Dallas has partnered with industry organization Health Information Trust Alliance (HITRUST) to develop the first healthcare information security graduate certificate program.

Recognizing the evolving role of chief information security officers (CISOs) and chief technology risk officers (CTROs), SMU said the program addresses both the lack of relevant curriculum to develop these complex roles as well as a lack of relevant credentials that prospective employers can use to identify candidates.

Classes will be held quarterly at SMU starting in October 2014. The curriculum will span a range of topics including dealing with privacy and ethics issues, IT security within business processes and the IT infrastructure, and risk assessment and management methodology.

Professors from SMU’s Cox School of Business and Lyle School of Engineering will lead the new program, as well as adjunct professors representing CISOs, CIOs and other senior-level executives from leading healthcare companies. The program was established with the help of an impressive oversight committee:

• Sharon Finney, Corporate Data Security Officer, Adventist  Health System


• Erick Rudiak, vice president and CISO, Express Scripts


• Robert Booker, vice president and CISO, United Health Group


• Jon Moore, vice president and CISO, Humana


• Roy Mellinger, vice president and CISO, WellPoint


• Michael Wilson, vice president and CISO, McKesson


• David Muntz, senior vice president and CIO, GetWellNetwork


• Pamela Arora, senior vice president and CIO, Children’s Medical Center


• Patrick Joyce, vice president, Global IT, Chief Security and Privacy Officer, Medtronic


• Jorge D. DeCesare, vice president and Chief Information Security Officer, Dignity Health

“Healthcare is a risk-sensitive, information-driven endeavor. The digitization of data across the healthcare continuum raises concerns about security and privacy,” said David Muntz, GetWellNetwork’s CIO, in a prepared statement. “This new certificate program will provide an opportunity to share insights and experiences that will help those who have newer and broader responsibilities prepare the increasingly complex healthcare enterprise for the future.”


More information on the program and the application process are available here: http://www.cox.smu.edu/web/certificate-on-healthcare-information-risk-management/chistrm.