University of Iowa Health Management & Policy

By: Katie Gaudian  To Omaha and Back: the Tale of Two States. Our morning started out with a very early drive to Des Moines. I’m not sure about the other vans, but some 90’s jams were at least able to keep our driver awake on the way there. Upon arrival, Paige Wallace greeted us with an introduction of UnityPoint Health. After intriguing talks with Bill Leaver and Eric Crowell, we were able to ask alumni David Stark and Tom Mulrooney some of the questions that were weighing on our minds. We were given helpful advice for our upcoming futures. After a quick break, we were then able to tour the great things going on at Blank Children’s Hospital and test our luck on top of the building on the Life Flight Helipad.              We then made our way to Clive where we visited a joint venture between the YMCA and Mercy Health Network entitled the YMCA Healthy Living Center. There we were able to discuss topics such as Accountable Care Organizations, legislative positioning, and c

By: Steven Johnson    The 36 th Annual Iowa Executive Healthcare Symposium took place October 30-31 st . The Symposium provided students an opportunity to hear lectures on prominent health care topics and to meet alumni and executives across the country. The two day event featured two keynote speakers and six other workshop presentations for students and executives. Symposium kicked off on Thursday afternoon at the College of Public Health building with William Jessee as the keynote speaker. Dr. Jessee gave a lecture on integrated healthcare strategies followed by a Q & A. A reception followed in the Kinnick Stadium press box which was a great opportunity for students to meet executives and learn about their experiences in the field.  Symposium continued on Friday at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Iowa City. The morning started with two workshop sessions each with three different topics to choose from. The topics ranged from population health strategies to succes

By: Abbey Even Two words: Fellowship Interviews. It is that time of year when second and third year students are applying for fellowships and preparing for phone and on-site interviews. For 10 years, Witt Kieffer has visited our campus to help students prepare for interviews while providing supportive feedback. It has also been an opportunity for alumni to give back to the program and participate as mock interviewers. For two days, students divided into small groups with current health care professionals (Witt Kieffer reps or alumni) to participate in mock phone and face-to-face interviews while fellow classmates and alumni provided positive and constructive feedback. Thanks to the honest feedback from classmates and current health care professionals, we were able to walk away with a greater understanding of areas we were strong in and areas we could improve upon. Additionally, we were reminded of helpful tips on how to succeed in an interview. The Witt Kieffer Seminar was a

By: Kate Swanic Networking. To some, such a term represents a mix of awkward conversations and long, almost agonizing, pauses. For myself and my fellow students, such were the experiences we expected as we made our way to Brown Deer Golf Course on the night of September 11. Although I have always considered myself strong in the art of conversation, I was nervous. We finally had the opportunity to meet face to face with individuals who once stood in our shoes and who we aspire to become someday.  As alumni began filtering in, students moved in to greet them as they entered. From there the evening was a success. Student and alumni gathered together in one room to simply converse. One of the most important aspects of the night, for me, was that I could engage with these professionals in a no pressure environment. As students we could test our skills and build relationships with those who undoubtedly understand us best in our current position as students. I enjoyed eac