LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Two in-demand health care careers patient advocacy and transformational leadership are now achievable through accelerated professional certificate programs offered by UCLA Extension this spring.

Transformational leadership skills are urgently needed as organizations implement the Affordable Healthcare Act. Meanwhile, nurses and other health care practitioners looking to transition their expertise to patient advocacy roles can quickly gain the necessary skills in a field expected to see double-digit hiring growth.

Free informational webcasts hosted by health care experts and UCLA Extension administrators will go live on Youtube on Tuesday, March 5. Easy registration links are provided below.

The health care landscape is becoming more complex, which in turn is requiring more individuals with unique expertise and qualities. These new certificate programs are created by top health care experts and designed specifically for these two critical, evolving areas of health care, said Michelle Stiles, interim dean for UCLA Extension.

As the countrys population continues to grow and age, there is a corresponding need for more trained health care advocates. The Patient Advocacy certificate offered by UCLA Extension is designed to quickly provide a full range of skills and knowledge required for this emerging field.

Patient advocates help individuals and their families navigate through the complex health-care system, sort through medical bills and insurance requirements, advise family members on how to advocate for sick relatives, and more. The U.S. Department of Labor projects this field will grow by more than 25 percent over the next five years. Patient advocacy is important to assist patients young and old, with a range of health issues including mental health. The Patient Advocacy certificate can be earned entirely online.

Health care institutions also are increasingly looking for leaders who can manage current and impending changes in the U.S. health care system prompted by the Affordable Care Act. A focused certificate in Transformational Leadership in Health Care which can be achieved fully online helps create leaders who assist organizations in realizing goals for improving patient care, creating new service delivery models while maintaining patient care, managing demand, and finding other solutions in a growingly complex industry.

The free Transformational Leadership in Health Care webcast features Dr. Shana Alex Lavarreda, director of health insurance studies at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research and an Extension instructor; and Ric Zappala, program director for UCLA Extensions Humanities and Sciences section. To access this expert-led webcast, please register here.

The free Patient Advocacy webcast features Marcia Colone, system director for care coordination at UCLA Health Systems; Lori Viveros, program manager for the UCLA/Avon Cares for Life Program; and Sheila King, program director for UCLA Extensions Humanities and Sciences section. To access this expert-led webcast, please register here.

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Top Health Care Experts Prepare Professionals for Patient Advocacy, Affordable Care Act Through New UCLA Extension ...