University of Iowa Health Management & Policy

Every year the HMP Department organizes a trip for all first year students to visit several hospitals in the Des Moines and Omaha areas.  The trip is an opportunity for students to see various healthcare settings and speak with alumni of the program about their experiences since they were in our shoes.  As a first year student, I found the experience very valuable and encouraging for my future.  Over the course of our two-day trip we visited five different hospitals:  Iowa Methodist Hospital, Mercy – West Lakes Hospital, Alegent Health – Lakeside Hospital, Nebraska Orthopaedic Hospital, and Methodist Women’s Hospital.  At each location we were able to speak with executives and alumni about various topics including their current organization, their career paths to date, their time in the program, fellowships, finding a work-life balance, and the challenges and benefits of a career in health administration.  Several of the facilities were built or renovated within the last five years so

Each year, the Iowa Student Association of Healthcare Leaders (ISAHL) holds a Halloween party for their members. This year was no different! Many of our members joined us to celebrate and everyone was dressed up. ISAHL judged a costume contest with two categories: most creative and best overall. This year, most creative went to two first year MHA students, Kristin Siegler and Anna Grinter, who were dressed as Cambuses. Best overall was awarded to Bryan Blum, a second year MHA student, dressed as Maverick from Top Gun (although he is 6’4” and Tom Cruise is 5’7”).  A couple other shout outs: a group of first years came decked-out in Mario gear; everyone from Mario to Donkey Kong was represented; there were three blind mice present; and even a few members from the chewing gum community. Everyone had a great time and I’m sure this is a tradition that will continue for many years!

Every year, our department hosts the Iowa Healthcare Executive Symposium and our student association, ISAHL, along with our alumni board, hosts the symposium reception. The symposium itself had great attendance and many of our alums came back to participate as both guests and speakers. This year’s topic was “Advancing Health Care across the Continuum: Generating and Financing Value.” It provided an opportunity for both students and executives to learn more about generating value from several different perspectives. The symposium reception is a great way for students to network with alumni and other local executives in a slightly more relaxed setting. Held in the Kinnick Press Box, the symposium reception also provides great views of the Iowa football field! After this 2 hour reception, we went to an event at One-Twenty-Six restaurant, sponsored by St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids and Graham Construction. This event provided yet another venue for students, professors, alumni,

Among the consortium of extra-curricular activities that the Iowa MHA program offers to its students, are multiple opportunities to volunteer. These volunteering opportunities offer the chance for students to give back to the Iowa City community and to help those in need. This month’s volunteer opportunity was with Habitat for Humanity of Southeastern Iowa. On the morning of October 8 th a group of 18 HMP students made our way to southeastern Iowa City to begin our Habitat for Humanity project. Upon arrival we were outfitted with the proper construction attire: hard hats, carpenter belts, tape measures and various other tools. The group was assigned to teams of 3-4; with each of the teams being assigned various tasks from spraying foam insulation to excavating and building a concrete retaining wall. Other teams built entrances into the attic and hung exterior foam board insulation.   Through hard work and determination each team was able to accomplish their assigned tasks and goa

By Nicole Egan, MA, MHA/MPH Candidate 2012 “Why am I so nervous?” That was the question I found myself asking as I started my mock in-person interview with a panel of two alumni. I was participating in the Witt-Kieffer two day seminar put on for second and third year MHA students by the HMP Department in conjunction with Witt-Kieffer, a preeminent executive search firm. The two day seminar included a panel discussion about work/life balance, presentations on tips and advice for phone and in-person interviews, and mock phone and in-person interviews with feedback from both alumni in the industry and fellow students. In addition to two professionals from Witt-Kieffer who facilitated the event, there were several alumni in various points of their career who participated, ranging from a CEO to a young professional right out of her fellowship. I can easily say the Witt-Kieffer seminar has been the most beneficial event I have been able to participate in to-date during my graduate sc

On September 15 th at Brown Deer Golf Course in Coralville, IA, the first year HMP students partook in a “Speed Networking Event” to help them better prepare for the numerous opportunities they will have to meet and connect with various executives during their time at the University of Iowa.    The evening started with a seminar on professionalism and networking, presented by Laurie Baedke, current President of The LIFEworks Healthcare Group. After Laurie spoke, several alumni held a panel discussion about various suggestions they had for the first years, and also held a Q&A session regarding their careers. Following the panel, everyone split into small groups, and over the next two hours each student had the opportunity to meet and network with three alumni for five minutes apiece. While these meetings were very concise, it was a perfect setting for the students to practice the suggestions that both Laurie and the panel mentioned earlier, as well as give the students conne

Rain or shine you can count on the Iowa Student Association of Healthcare Leaders to join alumni, facility, and friends to spend a day on the golf course. This year was our largest fundraising success to date! The proceeds from the fundraiser go to support our student organization throughout the course of the school year, with a majority going towards student scholarships for ACHE congress in March. After breakfast, some practice on the driving range and catching up with old friends nearly 100 people left the clubhouse in their rain gear to play the 18-hole best ball golf tournament. The day ended with lunch, and awards. We look forward to seeing you at the ISAHL Golf Fundraiser 2012!!

Passing a classmate through the 'spider web' Orientation week began just like any other day that you walk into a room of people you don’t know at all – nervous to see if you’ll fit in, worried you’ll accidentally miss an important meeting, or worst of all, forget to wear your suit for picture-day. During the first two days we had the traditional introductions to the program and faculty as well as tours of the area. A definite highlight was an introduction to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics by the CEO Ken Kates.  Any uneasiness we had around each other disappeared midweek, though, when we went to the low ropes course at the Hawkeye Recreation Fields. For the entire morning we did team building exercises. This was no human-knots amateur hour, though -- we swinging around on ropes and balancing giant platforms all under the premise that if we didn’t complete the task something bad would happen. I don’t know about you, but nothing motivates me to hang onto a rope

I am currently working as a graduate assistant for the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital.  My work began as an intern this summer and transitioned into my graduate assistant position.  Working for the Children’s Hospital has been a very rewarding experience and has exposed me to a wide variety of projects.  These projects allowed me to apply a wide range of relevant coursework obtained during my first year in the MHA program. The main project I have been working on is facilities planning for the construction of the new freestanding Children’s Hospital.  The opportunity to be involved in such a project is a very unique opportunity for a graduate student. I have gained valuable experience about the arduous task of building a new hospital.  My preceptor/boss is chair of one of the ten interdisciplinary user groups assembled to provide design a patient- and family-centered Children’s Hospital.  The user groups work directly with the architects to develop programming, design th

My name is Patrick Cannon and I am an MHA student. I finished my first year in the program in May 2011 and am interning this summer at MediRevv in Coralville, IA.  MediRevv is a healthcare revenue cycle management company specializing in helping hospitals, health systems, academic medical centers, and physician groups improve cash flow and grow revenue. Chris Klitgaard, an alum of the MHA/MBA dual degree program, started MediRevv about four years ago, after almost ten (10) years in hospital administration at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. In four (4) years, MediRevv has enjoyed tremendous success. Based on 292% growth in revenue over a three (3) year period, the Corridor Business Journal named MediRevv the 2011 top growth company in the Cedar Rapids/Coralville/Iowa City area.  My experience this summer has been great and has exposed me to aspects of the healthcare industry that no other classmate of mine shares. MediRevv is a vendor, meaning it sells servic

This summer I am interning at Lee’s Summit Medical Center (LSMC) in the Kansas City area. LSMC is one of the nearly 200 hospitals that make up the large healthcare system Hospital Corporation of America (HCA). HCA is the largest non-government operator of health care facilities in the world with hospitals in 20 states and Great Britain. The greater Kansas City area is served by the HCA Midwest Division, consisting of 9 hospitals, a psychiatric center, surgery centers and numerous physician offices; this is the division I am working for this summer. When I arrived in Kansas City, I was eager to learn about the for-profit world of hospitals and how an extremely successful organization was developed; however, I was a bit worried that I would get lost in the shuffle of a large hospital system, and that my assigned projects would have a minimal impact on the company. WOW, was I ever wrong!!! I have been given projects that would normally be tasked by senior leadership, and working with

Hello Everyone! My name is Rashelle Ludolph and I am a joint MHA/MBA student in between my second and third years of graduate school. Last summer I interned at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics with Ambulatory Care Services, the department I work in as a graduate assistant during the academic year. Knowing the importance of broadening one’s experiences, I sought a summer internship for this summer at a different type of organization. I am currently the intern at Unity Hospital in Fridley, MN, which is just north of Minneapolis. Unity is a community hospital with a little over 200 beds. As part of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, Unity provides both a great experience working in a community hospital as well as exposure to being part of a larger system. My preceptor, Lori Wightman, was previously the President of New Ulm Medical Center (also part of the Allina system) and has taken an Iowa MHA student for over 6 years. Lori has done a great job of assigning me interest

Konnichiwa from Japan. This summer I am interning at Kameda Medical Center in Kamogawa-shi, a small town on the southeastern coast of Japan. For the past several years John Wocher, the Executive Vice President of Administration and Director of International Patient Relations at Kameda, has offered an Iowa student the opportunity to come to Kameda and observe how the hospital operates and partake in a project of their choosing. You may be wondering how Iowa has had an ably prepared Japanese speaker for the last several years. Well, Japanese is not a requirement. In any situation where translation is necessary, I have had an interpreter with me. Things can get a little dicey when I'm not at work, but for the most part people are willing to try to speak English with me. Kameda Medical Center is comprised of several components including the general hospital (900+ beds), the clinics (~20 beds), and the rehabilitation hospital (~60 beds). Kameda is owned and operated by the Kameda fa

After starting as a Senior Project Assistant for the Office of Statewide Clinical Education Programs (OSCEP) three weeks ago, I’ve had the opportunity to be involved in a myriad of things. For those of you who are not familiar with OSCEP, let me introduce you to what role this office serves as part of the University of Iowa’s  Carver College of Medicine, as I truly believe it is a hidden gem ! Established in 1974, OSCEP has principal responsibility for developing and coordinating collegiate outreach programs for medical education and community service. It has three divisions: Community-Based Medical Education Information Systems and Research Services Community Services The Community-Based Medical Education division was established by the Iowa Legislature in 1973 and provides the venue for carrying out the University of Iowa’s medical education activities that occur outside the academic health center in communities across the state, such as faculty development workshops, cl