Where is your hometown?

Oswego, IL

What is your degree/program of study?

Master of Health Administration (MHA)

Why did you choose to study health care administration? What about it interests you?

Originally, I thought I wanted to go into the clinical side of health care, but after some serious thought, I decided that wasn’t going to be the right fit for me. I knew I wanted to stay in the health care industry but wasn’t exactly sure at the time what roles I could pursue that weren’t clinical.

In my research, I came across the University of Iowa’s MHA program and learned what individuals with an MHA do and came to understand it as the business side of health care, which can take many forms. I immediately reached out to the Department of Health Management & Policy (HMP) to learn more about the program. I also had the opportunity to talk to current students at the time and connect with alumni of the program who work at University of Iowa Health Care.

What interested me about this program is that it would not only allow me to continue to be involved in the industry, but it would take my passion for health care and leadership and combine them to be an extension that not only serves health care workers but communities at large.

You’re currently serving as VP of Professional Development for the Iowa Student Association of Health Care Leaders (ISAHL). What are your responsibilities and why do you think the experience is valuable for you?

As Vice President of Professional Development, my goal is to bridge the gap between academic training and real-world leadership by creating opportunities for mentorship, networking, and skill-building.

An example of one of our past events that ISAHL plans include our annual golf outing where alumni, family, and friends from all over join us for a day of golf, networking, and fun activities.

In addition, we’ve hosted a resume workshop, attended the American College of Health Care Executives (ACHE) of Iowa Annual Meeting in Des Moines, and are excited for ACHE Congress in March, which will be held in Houston. It’s the big professional event we build up towards throughout the school year.

Last summer you did an administrative internship with UCHealth in Colorado Springs. What did that involve and what did you learn?

My internship with UCHealth was a 12-week program in hospital operations, where I got to work with a variety of teams in project-based work that included structured rotations with different service lines. During that experience I got to enhance skills, like process improvement, financial acumen, and giving executive presentations, all while contributing to initiatives that have a direct impact on patient care and the needs of the organization. It was a great opportunity for me to practice the day-to-day operational work and learn from many different leaders, from early careerists to executives.

With UCHealth being a large health care system that is divided into different regions, I got to learn how different levels of leadership all collaborate with one another, from individual hospitals to the regional level, all the way to the system level. This experience was one where I could enhance what I learned in my first year of the program, practice it in a real-world setting and pace, then return for my second year with another layer of knowledge and skills built.

What are your career plans post-MHA?

I am excited that I will be returning to UCHealth for my administrative fellowship with the Metro Denver Community Hospitals. This two-year program is a post-graduate opportunity where I get lengthened exposure to hospital operations while being able to work with the executive leadership team. The first 12 months, I’ll rotate with a variety of departments, projects, and leaders. The second 12 months, I’ll be able to participate in more in-depth work with a specific department or service line. It’s going to be great to be able to see some familiar faces again and meet some new ones. I’m looking forward to continued professional growth throughout my time with the organization. 

What have you enjoyed most about your time at the College of Public Health?

I’ve enjoyed how the College of Public Health has become a second home because of the people I’ve been able to meet, particularly my cohort of fellow students. I’ve spent nearly 2 school years with them, taken the same classes, worked at the same times, and so much more. We’ve all done so much together that we’ve all probably lost count. We’ll soon be ready to depart on our own career paths but will always rely on each other as resources. It’s rewarding to know that all the work we’ve put in, and the contributions the college has made towards our experience, are going to pay off.