- She’s a nationally recognized leader in health care administration and finance who has authored five leading health care finance textbooks. Song, who also works with academic leaders as an executive coach, most recently served as Richard M. Bracken chair and professor of health administration at Virginia Commonwealth University. She is the 2020 recipient of the prestigious John D. Thompson Prize, an award given by the Association of University Programs in Heath Administration to recognize mid-career faculty for their contributions to health administration education.
- She’s a returning Buckeye! Song started her academic career right here at the College of Public Health, as faculty in the Division of Health Services Management and Policy, where she worked from 2007 to 2013. During that time, she taught the accounting and finance courses in the Master of Health Administration and MPH-Program for Experienced Professionals programs, and coached MHA case competition teams.
- Song grew up in eastern North Carolina before heading to the University of Pennsylvania for her undergraduate education and then to the University of Michigan where she earned master’s degrees in health services administration and applied economics, and a PhD in health services organization and policy.
- Song is excited about leading the college because she believes public health has never been more important. “Public health scholars and practitioners are true champions of health equity and consider the opportunity to thrive a fundamental human right. Public health touches every part of our lives and is the cornerstone of communities, connecting each and every one of us locally, nationally and around the globe,” she said.
- Song, her two young daughters and the family labrador mix Beaufort (named after the city where he was adopted in North Carolina) will be living a stone’s throw from campus in Upper Arlington. Beyond her work, Song is most looking forward to showing her family all the city has to offer and, reacquainting herself with the local running trails and spending time with friends she made in her earlier years at Ohio State.
Dean's Note
Summer 2025
Five things to know about new CPH Dean Paula Song
Public health has never been more important, she said
By Misti Crane
Members of the College of Public Health community pose for a photo at the 2025 ASPPH Annual Meeting for Academic Public Health in March.
