What is an Academic Health System (AHS), and how does PYA support it?

PYA helps Academic Health Systems align education, research, and clinical missions through affiliation agreements, funds flow analysis, and performance improvement strategies.

How does PYA assist new or developing medical schools?

Our experts guide medical schools through planning, accreditation readiness, clinical service design, and operational structure development to ensure long-term sustainability.

What are funds flow models in academic medicine?

Funds flow models define how financial resources move between a university, medical school, and affiliated hospitals. PYA helps institutions design equitable models that reflect mission priorities.

How does PYA support clinical research administration?

We provide turn-key clinical trial financial and regulatory services, coverage analysis, sponsor billing support, and compliance guidance to strengthen research operations.

Why are affiliation agreements critical for AMCs and medical schools?

Affiliation agreements formalize partnerships between universities and health systems. PYA structures these agreements to ensure regulatory compliance, shared accountability, and aligned strategic goals.

Does PYA provide fair market value (FMV) and compensation plan design for academic institutions?

Yes. We assess FMV and develop mission-based compensation structures to ensure academic and clinical faculty are fairly compensated within regulatory frameworks.

Academic Health Systems and Medical Schools

PYA supports academic health systems and medical schools in balancing patient care, education, and research with the complexities of legal structures, external affiliations, and financial arrangements.

In addition to audit and assurance, reimbursement, compliance, and performance improvement services for hospitals and health systems, PYA provides consulting services to meet academic health systems’ unique needs. These specialized services focus on affiliation arrangements and clinical integration, clinical service development and optimization, clinical research, and planning for new and developing medical schools.

Our Services for Academic Health Systems & Medical Schools

Clinical Research Administration Office

Turn-Key Clinical Trial Financial and Regulatory Services
Budget Development and Negotiation
Coverage Analysis
Regulatory Support
Sponsor Invoicing and Accounts Receivable Management

Affiliation Agreements & Clinical Integration 

Development of New and Evaluation of Existing Arrangements
Innovative Partnership Model Design
Funds Flow Analysis and Improvement
Workforce Planning / Intersection With Graduate Medical Education and Undergraduate Medical Education

Allopathic & Osteopathic Medical Schools

Planning for New and Developing Medical Schools
Clinical Service Development and Optimization of Existing Practice Plan Operations
Academic and Community Practice Plan Development, Structure, and Strategies
Accreditation and Continuous Quality Improvement

Affiliation Solutions

Identify and Evaluate Partnering Opportunities With Other Organizations
Develop Tactical Plans to Pursue Affiliation Strategies
Facilitate Operational Integration
Brand Valuation

Compensation Valuation, Planning, & Design

Assess Fair Market Value and Commercial Reasonableness for Provider Compensation
Develop and Model Compensation Plans
Identify and Benchmark Performance Measures
Facilitate Stakeholder Engagement for Compensation Metrics by Mission

Strategic Planning

Data Analysis on Current Market Position and Opportunities
Organizational and Operational Reviews
Feasibility Studies for Service Expansion, New Facilities, and Joint Ventures
Facilitation and Stakeholder Engagement

Performance Transformation for Academic Medicine

National Voices in Academic Medicine & Health Systems

PYA Thought Leadership in Academic Health Systems and Medical School Consulting

Outside or Institutional Activity? Internal Review and Compensation Considerations

Learn how AMCs should weigh outside faculty activities vs institutional contracts — co-authored by PYA’s Angie Caldwell for AHLA’s Health Law Connections.

Kugler Authors Article on Hospital-Physician Subsidies in AHIA Journal

Tynan Kugler outlines best practices for structuring hospital-physician subsidy arrangements under Stark and AKS rules — critical guidance for AMCs and AHSs navigating complex faculty and clinical alignment models.

Let’s Talk Compliance – “Medical Device and Physician Arrangements”

Hear our experts discuss compliance in medical device and physician collaborations — a must-listen for AMCs and AHSs advancing translational research and industry partnerships while maintaining regulatory integrity.

On-Demand Webinar: “PYA UnScripted: Ambulatory in Action Panel Discussion”

PYA’s Deuce Lukemeyer convened leadership from IU Health, IU School of Medicine, and Atrium Health on ambulatory strategies in academic settings.

The PYA Difference

Over our 40-year history, PYA has consistently delivered high-value advisory services to our national client base. Our team is deployed to develop custom plans using proven approaches and work plans.

Independence

Private ownership means we answer only to our clients, not to third-party investors, giving us the freedom to be thorough and thoughtful in our work. We judge our success by our clients’ success.

Relationships

We value long-term relationships and work hard to maintain them. Our commitment to client relationships and the communities we serve remains constant.