Research Interests
The relationships between the changing environment of health care, the strategic and structural responses of health care organizations, their management, and their performance; management practice in health care organizations; physicians in management and leadership roles; the medical home model of primary care; rural health care
Bio
Professor Dowling served as Chair of the Department of Health Services from 1994-2008. He was first appointed to the faculty in 1974, serving as Director of the MHA Program until 1981. From 1981 to 1994, Dowling was employed as Vice President for Planning and Development in the corporate headquarters of the Providence Health System where he was responsible for system strategic planning, linking system and institutional planning, and government affairs. He returned to the University in 1994. Dowling’s main interests are in the development and execution of strategy in health care organizations and in understanding factors that affect organizational performance.
Education
PhD Medical Care Organization, University of Michigan, 1971
MA Economics, University of Michigan, 1970
MBA Business (Hospital Administration), University of Chicago, 1961
BA Business Administration, Duke University, 1959
Academic Programs and Affiliations
Recent Publications (PubMed)
The Contribution of Physician-System Integrating Structure to Select Health System Outcomes.
Nguyen AM, Johnson CE, Wood SJ, Dowling WL. The Contribution of Physician-System Integrating Structure to Select Health System Outcomes. J Ambul Care Manage. 2020 Jul/Sep;43(3):237-256. doi: 10.1097/JAC.0000000000000331.
The “community-oriented” IHCO: how viable?
Dowling WL. The “community-oriented” IHCO: how viable? Front Health Serv Manage. 1996 Summer;12(4):57-62.
Organizing and sizing an integrated delivery system: building a common strategic vision for hospitals and physicians.
Wong B, Dowling WL. Organizing and sizing an integrated delivery system: building a common strategic vision for hospitals and physicians. Health Syst Lead. 1994 Apr;1(2):31-6.
Integrating strategic planning and quality management in a multi-institutional system.
Durbin S, Haglund C, Dowling W. Integrating strategic planning and quality management in a multi-institutional system. Qual Manag Health Care. 1993 Summer;1(4):24-34.
The insurance industry’s role in reforming delivery.
Dowling WL. The insurance industry’s role in reforming delivery. Front Health Serv Manage. 1992 Fall;9(1):36-40.
Vertical integration in health services: theory and managerial implications.
Conrad DA, Dowling WL. Vertical integration in health services: theory and managerial implications. Health Care Manage Rev. 1990 Fall;15(4):9-22.
Multihospital systems face growth, constraints, unexploited options.
Dowling WL. Multihospital systems face growth, constraints, unexploited options. Hosp Prog. 1983 Apr;64(4):48-53.
Evaluation of hospital-sponsored primary care group practice: a national demonstration.
Shortell SM, Wickizer TM, Urban N, Williams SJ, Dowling WL. Evaluation of hospital-sponsored primary care group practice: a national demonstration. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1982;387:69-89.
What do trustees think about their board membership and board functioning?
Jeffrey AC, Dowling WL. What do trustees think about their board membership and board functioning? Hosp Forum. 1980 Sep-Oct;23(6):33-5.
Strategies for the reimbursement of short-term hospitals.
Watts CA, Dowling WL, Richardson WC. Strategies for the reimbursement of short-term hospitals. Annu Rev Public Health. 1980;1:95-119. Review.
More Publications
