This week, Alexis sits on the other side of the mic and shares her thoughts about producing a weekly podcast while being a full-time MHA student at Iowa, reflects on what the experience has taught her, dishes on her favorite episodes, and looks ahead to starting her career.

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Anya Morozov:

Hello everyone. Welcome back to From the Front Row, brought to you by the University of Iowa College of Public Health. My name is Anya Morozov and if this is your first time with us, welcome. We’re a student-run podcast that talks about major issues in public health and how they are relevant to anyone, both in and outside the field of public health. Today, I’m excited to congratulate Alexis Clark on graduating with her Master of Health Administration. It’s bittersweet, but she is about to step down as executive producer of the podcast, and I will be taking over the role for the next year. Today, we will be talking about some of the wisdom she has gained over the past few years at the University of Iowa and about her next steps. Thank you for all you’ve done for the podcast and thanks for coming on today as a guest.

Alexis Clark:

Thanks, Anya. Truly, truly bittersweet. Even listening to that kind of gave me some goosebumps just about the long and bumpy ride that graduate school really has been for myself and all of my peers. Again, thank you for having me on the show.

Anya Morozov:

Of course. You’ve done a lot of interviews on the podcast over the past couple of years, but you’re rarely on the side of the interviewee. To start off, can you tell listeners a little bit about yourself, why you chose to pursue a graduate degree in health administration, and why Iowa?

Alexis Clark:

Sure. I originally grew up in Sherman, Illinois, which is a small town just north of Springfield, Illinois, and I obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Administration at Western Illinois University, which is in Macomb, Illinois. In my second year of my bachelor’s degree, I learned that it would be really crucial for me to get some kind of graduate degree to really escalate my career to where I hope to go one day.

Alexis Clark:

From then, I had my sights set on an MHA degree and as time approached that period of my life where I needed to begin to interview for different programs, Iowa really stuck out to me because they really did a great job of making me feel like I just wasn’t a number, like I had a voice, and that they were really wanting to know what I wanted to gain out of an MHA program, but also what I would be bringing to the table as well. I felt like it was a mutual relationship in that regard. That’s really why I chose Iowa.

Alexis Clark:

I chose health administration, really because I knew I wanted to go into some, something related to business, but I really couldn’t see myself just working in an office all day without very much human contact, and I very much like that human and personal aspect of any job I’ve had, including this one. I just felt like health administration was the perfect blend of being able to help people and really that business aspect, also, that I’m passionate about.

Anya Morozov:

It’s really interesting that you say that about university not perceiving you as a number because I felt the same way, and that’s also what drew me to come here, and thinking back, I don’t know if you remember, but I think we actually met for the first time at a grad student hangout for admitted students, and you and Luke Sampson gave me some really helpful advice that helped me decide to come to Iowa. And now, I’m finishing my first year and you’re moving on, but before we talk about your future, curious to know, what’s been your favorite memory of graduate school?

Alexis Clark:

There’s been so many memories that I just cannot imagine losing. Hopefully, I can say that in a couple years when I reflect, but it’s all still so fresh. There’s a few things I think I’d mention here. I think the MHA program does a really great job of allowing and facilitating alumni networking connections. I think that’s been a really beneficial part of my education here. I think the College of Public Health, as a whole, does a really good job of facilitating relationships outside of just your own department, if that’s something you’re seeking.

Alexis Clark:

I think one thing that I will always remember, that actually this role gave me the opportunity to do is, back in October of 2021, I, along with Lexi Fahrion, had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Vin Gupta, which for those that don’t know, he was the Chief Medical Officer for Amazon. He was an NBC News medical analyst, and then he also served on the health advisory board for the Biden and Harris transition into the White House. That opportunity was a professional opportunity that I definitely would never have gotten the chance to meet him or interview him, had it not been for this role. That I think was something I’ll never forget, a favorite memory, for sure.

Anya Morozov:

It’s funny that you say that because I can remember watching that interview and watching you and Lexi do that. It was super cool and super insightful to watch that. Moving on, what’s next for you?

Alexis Clark:

I will be moving to Charleston, South Carolina, and I will be working within SCA Health, which previously was known as Surgical Care Affiliates, and they have a residency program and they take roughly five to six residents, and they are placed throughout the country. I specifically will be working for one of their subsidiaries, Surgical Management Solutions, better known as SMS. What we do at SMS is we partner with different employers to service them, their employees and their families, to reduce healthcare costs by connecting them with both high quality providers as well as high quality centers to obtain care at.

Alexis Clark:

We’re able to do this and by working not only with employers and working with providers, we are also working with the patients with that education component to make sure that people are going to receive care proactively opposed to reactively, which will end up saving them thousands and thousands of dollars across their lifespan. So, really looking at that comprehensive approach to not only surgery, but expanding across all specialties. From there, hopefully work for them full time, but that’s unknown, but I’ve secured the next year of my life. I’ll be starting July 5th, so I’m excited for that next adventure.

Anya Morozov:

That does sound really exciting and I’m sure you’re going to gain a lot of useful experience from that. Now, looking at From the Front Row, three questions in one. How long have you been involved with the podcast? What drew you to it in the first place, and what drew you to the executive producer role?

Alexis Clark:

I have been involved with the podcast basically since I started here at Iowa, so two years really, and I know we’ve talked before Anya, but I had found out about the podcast during my research about different graduate programs, and I think it was beginning of my senior year in which I really started to become a fan of the podcast itself. I think when you’re listening and grad school and the University of Iowa seems so far off in the distance that listening to the podcast, I just felt like a fan. Having the opportunity to really interview, to be a host on the podcast, et cetera, really just seemed like such a far off goal. It did not even really seem attainable. I was able to join the podcast team and I had been interested in podcasting from an experience I had in high school where I was a part of this sports broadcasting club, which had a sports podcast. So, I’d always been interested in that broadcasting and interviewer type role, so I felt like From the Front Row would be merging my personal interests with some professional interest I had.

Alexis Clark:

As for my interest in becoming the executive director, I think that really stemmed from the want to learn about the other disciplines of public health, more so than just the health management and policy side, because I feel like during your graduate program, you go to school with the same people every day and you really get siloed into what you’re studying, and I love that. That’s very beneficial for down the line, but as a future healthcare leader that I am aspiring to be, it’s really crucial to have a lens in all of the disciplines of public health. So, I think that’s really what was driving decision behind wanting to take the leap and apply for the executive director position.

Anya Morozov:

Yeah, it’s really true that getting that broad overview of a bunch of different fields is what drew me to the podcast, too, just knowing that I’d always have this outlet to explore interests outside of what I’m studying in the classroom. Moving on to specific episodes, which episode of the podcast has been your favorite and what made it your favorite?

Alexis Clark:

I was thinking back to all of the episodes that I’ve either been involved in by interviewing or I’ve edited a majority of the episodes produced in the last year. I’ve been able to really listen to all of the episodes very extensively and I think there’s a common theme about the episodes that I’m about to highlight as my favorites, and I really think that comes to vulnerability. I think when you can host an interview with someone that is open to being vulnerable about their experiences and highlight not just the peaks, but the valleys as well, along their healthcare or public health journey, that really makes for an insightful episode and really resonates with listeners.

Alexis Clark:

The first two are interviews that I directly, either interviewed the guest or co-hosted with somebody else, and the first one was actually an interview that Alex Murra and I co-hosted last summer with Dr. Anthony Mielke, and he is a professor out of Mount Mercy, and that episode was all about men’s mental health and masculinity, and it was part of a three episode series on mental health. I think that one is one of my favorites because I think there was a lot of important lessons he shared involving masculinity pertaining to mental health. That’s been proven to be something that our healthcare system, and really society as a whole, is lacking in promoting. That’s the first one I would highlight.

Alexis Clark:

The second one was part of our diversity, equity, and inclusion series that I want to say occurred… I think this was published in February, but I’m not a hundred percent on that. This one was an interview I did just by myself, and I interviewed John Diedrich, who is the CEO of Rush Copley in Aurora, Illinois. Also on the interview was Mary Shilkaitis, who is the COO, and then Kori Thomas, who was in my cohort of the MHA program, who did her internship under those two at Rush Copley. Essentially, this episode really highlighted the diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts they were making from a health system perspective, but I think one of the reasons this episode is my favorite is because John and Mary very much were explicit in saying that their hospital has struggled with recruiting a diverse workforce. I think that one was one of my favorites, just because I think it takes a lot to get on and be accountable for where your hospital is struggling.

Alexis Clark:

The last two are episodes that I did not directly interview on, but I was able to edit and still some of my favorite episodes. The first one I would mention out of these two would be the interview that Lexi Fahrion did with Hannah Rochford. The interview was all about intimate partner violence and I think this one was a very multifaceted interview because it took the lens up from public health, but it also took the lens of, if you do know somebody that has dealt with this intimate partner violence, how can you support them and what is your role in that? I think that’s a very important conversation that oftentimes does not get highlighted as a public health concern, but it very much is. That’s one of my favorites that I wasn’t directly involved in.

Alexis Clark:

The last one, which Anya, you actually were involved in, and it was with the Director of Johnson County Public Health, and she’s also an alum of the MPH program, Danielle Pettit-Majewski, and it was on resiliency and community collaboration. I think this one definitely was one of my favorites because in the episode, she was extremely vulnerable in talking about her experiences leading our county amidst a pandemic and how hard that was, both from a professional, but also a personal standpoint. I think that is the episode we published during National Public Health Week and I think that is an episode that could be encored every single year because of the content that she provided in that episode. Those are my four top favorites. Now I will say, all of the episodes and all of the guests are great, but those are the four that came to mind.

Anya Morozov:

The interview with Danielle, I really enjoyed giving it, too. There were a few points where we kind of went off script a little bit, and it just went in directions that I wasn’t expecting, but it turned out to be such an insightful episode, I think, because of that. What you say about vulnerability is so true. I still am learning to find that balance of how much vulnerability to bring onto a podcast, because it is kind of scary to be vulnerable when you know this is going to be recorded and you’re going to have listeners for however long it’s on the internet, but it also is what brings out the really important conversations. Moving on, have you noticed any personal development through gaining experience on From the Front Row?

Alexis Clark:

I went through the administrative fellowship slash residency search process in September and a little bit of October, and I think that being a host on From the Front Row really tuned my soft skills in interviewing. I think it’s really hard to get comfortable with being uncomfortable, and I think being a host on the show really does that at the beginning because you have no idea, a lot of the times who your guest really is going to be until you hop on the Zoom, so in order to produce a great episode, you really need to make sure you’re at least coming across as comfortable and confident, and I think the same holds true when interviewing for a job or an internship, et cetera. I think that is one of the skills that I’ve gained the most in terms of personal development.

Anya Morozov:

I have to agree, interview skills have definitely improved in my time on the podcast as well. What are you most proud of in terms of your work on the podcast?

Alexis Clark:

I would say, this is going back to give shout outs to the previous executive directors before me. Ian Buchta, which I did not directly work with, and then Steve Sonnier, who was the executive director while I was in my first year of the MHA program and on the podcast team, and I think it’s really something special to be able to continue to have a student run podcast, especially one that oftentimes produces an episode every single week. It takes a lot of work on top of having school work and jobs and also, not only that, but the director is also in charge of making sure you’re recruiting students to join you as hosts and on the editing team, et cetera.

Alexis Clark:

I think that is something that everyone that has been a part of the podcast, whether that’s directors, hosts, et cetera, should be really proud of, that this is now, I want to say we’re going on the fifth consecutive year, but just that we’re able to continue to produce such a well renowned podcast that has won different public health podcast awards, I think is something that’s very honorable. Just recently we surpassed 30,000 all-time listens across all of our platforms. Spotify, Apple music, and SoundCloud, as well as in the last nine months, we’ve had 11,095 total listens. I think that is just a true testament to what we’re doing here and to know that our interviews are making a difference and being listened to by people not only directly involved in the college, but also in the state of Iowa, and also across the country as our listener map shows. I think just knowing that one little part of our journey is making a difference, I think is the biggest accolade our podcast team can celebrate, in my opinion.

Anya Morozov:

That’s so true, and thank you to everyone who’s listening right now, because we couldn’t really do this without you. Do you have any advice for future From the Front Row team members?

Alexis Clark:

Hmm. Yes. I would say don’t be afraid. It can be daunting to get involved in something such as a podcast, but if there is any small inclination inside of you that wants to join the team or interview for the position, do it, because the worst that could happen is you don’t like it, and then that’s it, but the best thing that can happen is that you get involved and you make all of these other connections that you would not have had the opportunity to make. Just take that leap and do it because I promise you, it will be worth it.

Anya Morozov:

Yes. Agreed. As next year’s producer, I would definitely just reiterate what Alexis just said. We will be needing more members in the fall and I’d love to have you on the team and it’s also a very flexible position. I want to make sure people are involved in the ways that they want to be involved. If that’s hosting episodes, if it’s coming up with ideas, if it’s editing the podcast, I’ll try to tailor it to what you want to do. Just go for it. Now it’s time for our last question. What is one thing you thought you knew, but were later wrong about?

Alexis Clark:

I think this is my favorite question to ask because you really never know what you’re going to get as the answer. I don’t think you realize how short two years is until you reflect back on everything that you’ve been able to be involved in and accomplish over two years. It goes so quickly and it’s also that bittersweet feeling because you don’t realize how much you’re going to change as a person, both personally and professionally, when you go into a graduate program.

Alexis Clark:

I just think that when you’re about to take your first steps into your program, if you decide to pursue a master’s degree, whether here or somewhere else, just be ready from the jump to get involved in anything that interests you, because opposed to when you’re completing an undergraduate degree and you have four years to get involved, you only have two here, and time goes so fast.

Alexis Clark:

You have to really be ready from the jump. I just think that’s one thing I didn’t realize, is how quick two years would go by. But I have had a phenomenal experience here at Iowa, at the College of Public Health, within the health management policy department, and I will forever be a Hawkeye, and if I can ever help any of the listeners or From the Front Row in any way possible, I am happy to do so. Only a short Zoom call away.

Anya Morozov:

I’m very happy to hear you say that, and that advice really is true. Of course, you do need to balance it with don’t overwork yourself and get burned out, but it does go by fast. I was even listening to some of last year’s handoff episodes in preparation for these interviews, and that came up last year as well. It’s just second-year students in the grad program saying, “It goes by fast,” so take that as you will. Well, as we’re wrapping up, it’s clear that I’ve got some very big shoes to fill, but I am looking forward to it. Thank you, Alexis, for all of your work over the past year, doing the behind the scenes things for the podcast. I just edited my first episode and I did not realize how much you were putting into that, but thank you so much. I know it’s allowed me to take part in some really interesting episodes and I bet others on the podcast team feel the same, and I hope that I can mark you down as a regular listener going forward.

Alexis Clark:

Absolutely. Thank you, Anya. I know you’ll take the podcast in an unchartered direction and I have no doubt you’ll do a great job and thank you so much for having me today.

Alexis Clark:

That’s it for our episode this week and my last episode as executive director on this magnificent journey. A few words of gratitude before I hand down the mic. First, to this year’s podcast team for the hardworking dedication put into the show, Lexi Fahrion, Alex Murra, Emma Meador, Anya Morozov, Eric Ramos, Logan Schmidt, Ben Sindt, and Radha Velamuri. Thank you to all of the guests that have joined us over this past academic year and for sharing your insight with listeners across the country. I’m grateful for all of you who have tuned in to the podcast over the last couple of years, and I hope that you continue listening as Anya and her team take From the Front Row to the next level.

Alexis Clark:

Lastly, thank you to the College of Public Health’s communication team that has worked directly with the podcast this year, Mitch Overton, Dan McMillan, and Patrick Riepe, and to Lexie Just in student services. This episode was hosted and written by Anya Morozov, edited and produced by Alexis Clark. You can learn more about the University of Iowa College of Public Health on Facebook. Our podcast is available on Spotify, Apple podcasts, and SoundCloud. If you enjoyed this episode and would like to help support the podcast, please share it with your colleagues. Our team can be reached at cph-gradambassador@uiowa.edu. This episode was brought to you by the University of Iowa College of Public Health. For my final farewell, stay happy, stay healthy, and keep learning.