If you want to make a difference in people’s lives by ensuring the provision of high-quality health and social services, but don’t want to work directly with patients as a doctor or nurse, pursuing a career in healthcare management is a great opportunity. Access to healthcare is critically important for society at all times but especially during a crisis like COVID-19, and healthcare managers and administrators with strong organizational skills play a vital role in these high-pressure situations to ensure these hospitals and clinics have the resources they need to be effective in their mission.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in health services management are projected to increase 18% between 2018 and 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is part of a projected boom in demand for healthcare services overall due to an aging population in the U.S., and similar increases can be expected in other countries around the world. And, with an average annual salary of $99,730, working in healthcare management can be a financially as well as morally rewarding career path.

In addition to healthcare managers and healthcare administrators, there are a variety of other more specific jobs that fall under the rubric of healthcare management, including clinical directors, medical records managers, doctor’s office managers, healthcare practice administrators, and more. As COVID-19 has shown us, keeping healthcare facilities functioning during a crisis can be a challenge of life and death importance, and it takes an entire organization of dedicated professionals working together to be successful.

Just like other business and administrative disciplines, learners today can use online education platforms to access top-quality courses in healthcare management remotely, on a flexible schedule, and at a lower cost than on-campus alternatives. It’s a great opportunity to launch your career in this important field, whether you are starting from scratch or looking to transition into healthcare management from related roles.

Students looking to learn about healthcare management on Coursera have a wide range of courses to choose from, all of which are provided by leading U.S. and international universities. Popular individual courses include pharmaceutical innovations, healthcare marketplace, drug discovery, and medical devices.

Additionally, students can pursue Specializations across multiple courses in a specific area of healthcare management, such as Healthcare Law at University of Pennsylvania, Healthcare Trends for Business Professionals from Northeastern University, and Healthcare Organization Operations from Rutgers University. You can even learn about healthcare management as part of Masters in Public Health programs from the University of Michigan or Imperial College London.