Robert C. Myrtle

Biography

Robert Myrtle key research interests were interorganizational relations, strategic decision making, and organizational and management effectiveness. His projects included factors influencing the performance of surgical teams; the analysis of the influence of job change on career growth and progression; and the assessment of the factors influencing organizational legitimacy during and following major natural disasters. He held a joint appointment with USC’s School of Gerontology. His teaching and research interests involved cross-school collaborations including the Keck School of Medicine (factors influencing the performance of Surgical Teams), the Marshall School of Business (career patterns of physician executives), the Leonard Davis School of Gerontology (patient treatment outcomes), and the Viterbi School of Engineering (hospital functionality and organizational legitimacy following major disasters).

Dr. Myrtle is the author of over 100 books, articles, monographs and research reports addressing management and public policy concerns. His publications include: Chang, R.-E., C.-J. Hsieh, C.-J. & Myrtle, R. C. (2011). The Effects of Outpatient Dialysis Budget Cap on Health Care Utilization. Social Science and Medicine, 73, 153-159; Chen, D., R., Myrtle, R. C., Liu, C., & Fahey, D. (2011). Job and Career Influences on the Career Commitment of Health Care Executives: The Mediating Effects of Job Satisfaction. Journal of Health Care Organization and Management, 25(6):693-710; Leach L. S., Myrtle, R. C., Weaver, F. A., & Dasu, S. (2009). Assessing the performance of surgical teams. Health Care Manage Rev., 34(1):29-41; Myrtle, R. C., Liu, C., & Fahey, D. (2008). Influences on the Career Commitment of Health-Care Managers. Health Services Management Research, 21, 262-275.

He is the recipient of the Academy of Management’s Health Care Division’s Teaching Excellence Award; the American Society for Public Administration’s Los Angeles Chapter Harry Scoville Award for Academic Excellence; named the Most Inspirational Business Professor, and Professor of the Year (3 times). He is the recipient of American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Regents Award, and Hubert Humphrey Award for the best article of the year appearing in the Journal of Health and Human Services Administration.

Professor Myrtle was the chair of the Los Angeles County’s Hospitals and Health Services Commission. He was the Chairman of the Board for SCAN Health Plan and was a member of the Board of Directors for the Huntington Medical Foundation. He has also served as Chairman of the Board of Health and Human Services for the City of Long Beach.