The James A. Hamilton Society was created in 1982 as a tribute to James A. Hamilton, the founder of the University Of Minnesota Program in Hospital and Health Care Administration and as a means to recognize those alumni of the Minnesota Program who made substantial financial contributions to the Program and its Alumni Foundation. For several years, a formal social event was held, usually concurrent with the biannual Alumni Institute, to honor its members. The formal social events ceased to be held in the late 80’s out of concern for the cost of the event.

James A. Hamilton established one of the first graduate degree programs in health care administration in 1948. A recognized leader in the health care industry at the time, James A. Hamilton was a man of remarkable talents and vision. His establishment of the Minnesota Program, recognized to this day as one of the outstanding graduate degree programs in the nation, built on his strengths as an executive, a strategist, a superb problem solver, a unique pedagogical teacher, and a man who recognized the lasting value of strong collegial relationships.

Hamilton’s development of an exceptionally strong alumni association for the Minnesota Program began in year one of the Program’s initiation and continues to this day. He recognized that the alumni, bonded in common skills, attitudes and values, would be a constant means of support for each other and for the Program. Alums reached out to each other for career opportunities, professional association roles and responsibilities, mentoring, and social networking to name a few. The Minnesota Program alumni so prominent throughout the industry became recognized, not in a pejorative sense, as the Minnesota Mafia. It was not uncommon for new students, when asked why they selected the Minnesota Program, to cite the strength of the alumni association as one of the prime reasons.

In 1977, the Alumni of the Minnesota Program created the Alumni Association/Foundation. The Foundation, governed by the elected representatives of the alumni, serves as the primary organization soliciting financial support for the Program. As the cost of education has risen considerably over the past decade, the need for scholarships and endowed faculty positions has risen considerably. Concurrently, the need for a strong and active Alumni Association/Foundation has never been greater.