Meet two healthcare leaders from our EMHA program.

Chad Husman

Name and Job Title: Chad W. Husman, Lead Facilities Management Planner at Mercy Medical Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Favorite class or moment in the EMHA program: So far, my favorite experience in the EMHA program has been the opportunity to collaborate with fellow students from a variety of healthcare backgrounds. The group projects and in-person sessions helped bring the curriculum to life.

Fun fact about yourself / Hobbies: I’m a proud Navy veteran who transitioned out of the Navy in August 2023, with 22 years of service: 11 years as an Aviation Electrician and 11 years as a Hospital Corpsman. Outside of work and school, I enjoy golfing, hiking, and cheering on the Hawkeyes. I also love traveling, and I’m planning a trip with my wife to Greece this summer for our 10th wedding anniversary!

What motivated you to pursue the EMHA program? After retiring from the Navy and transitioning into the civilian healthcare world, I wanted to broaden my leadership skills and deepen my understanding of healthcare operations. The EMHA program offered a great opportunity to do that while helping me build a strong professional network.

What accomplishments or milestones have you achieved in the EMHA program? I’m proud to be pursuing not only the EMHA but also a Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with a Leadership Certificate at Iowa. I’ll graduate from the Iowa MBA program this May, which has been a significant milestone in my professional development. Balancing work, family, and multiple graduate programs has been challenging but incredibly rewarding.

How has the program impacted your career? The program has already expanded my perspective and helped me approach work challenges more strategically. It’s also provided valuable connections and mentorship opportunities that will benefit me for years.

What advice would you give to incoming students? Embrace working with your cohort, stay engaged, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. The more you put into the program, the more you’ll get out of it. It is a great chance to build lasting relationships and learn from others’ real-world experiences.

What are your future career goals? I’m looking to transition from facilities management into a more operations-focused leadership role within healthcare. My long-term goal is to help improve the delivery of care by streamlining processes and supporting the people who make it all happen.

Darcelle Skeete Burgess

Name and Job Title: Darcelle Skeete Burgess, HMP Alumni Board President and Director of Privacy at Bon Secours Mercy Health

What inspired you to pursue a career in healthcare leadership, and how has your career
evolved since graduating?
My family inspired my path in healthcare leadership. I come from a long line of healthcare professionals. My mother was a nursing administrator, my father worked in healthcare materials management, and my siblings are physicians and healthcare IT leaders. Growing up, my parents instilled the importance of education and service, making healthcare leadership a natural fit for me. Over the past 10+ years, I’ve held multiple compliance and privacy leadership roles, including serving as Interim Chief Compliance and Interim Chief Privacy Officer for a major healthcare system.

What has been the most rewarding part of your role as Director of Privacy?
The most rewarding part of my role has been the ability to mentor and assist my team of direct reports with their investigations and daily responsibilities. I think it’s important to invest in your team so they can grow professionally and personally. This equips them with the skills and experiences they need for career advancement.

How did the Iowa MHA program prepare you for a career in healthcare?
The MHA program strengthened my skills through a broad curriculum in leadership and management, finance, and health policy, as well as through hands-on experience. I interned with the Iowa Health Care Chief Compliance and Privacy Officer, gaining firsthand experience implementing a major HIPAA Privacy rule, and worked as a Graduate Assistant with RUPRI, where I analyzed federal policies and assessed rural health implications. These experiences were invaluable and laid a strong foundation for my career.

What advice would you give to current students as they begin a career in healthcare leadership?
To set yourself apart as a candidate through your work product and how you present yourself through the interviewing process. Build relationships with other professionals and leaders through networking and getting involved with local and national healthcare associations.

What do you see as some of the most important skills for the next generation of healthcare leaders?
The ability to be a forward thinker. In my opinion, this is an individual who is creative, adaptable to change, strategic, a problem solver, always up for a challenge, and looking for opportunities to grow.

What’s one tradition or memory from Iowa that you still carry with you?
One memory from Iowa that I will still carry with me was the opportunity to meet two former U.S. presidents during the campaign season. It was a great experience and one that I will never forget.