Health Management and Policy Orientation 2015

By: Jordan Brelje

Business professional attire? Check. Summer readings finished? Check. Winning smile and a charming personality? Double check. With our checklist complete (a point of triumph for an HMP student), we were finally ready for the day we’d been waiting for. You guessed it ¾ orientation. 

Day one began with professional portraits, and not even 90+ percent humidity could stop us from looking our best. I dare you to find a better looking group of future health care leaders. The remainder of the day included a meeting with members of the leadership team at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, a tour of the hospital, and a thoughtful discussion of the readings assigned to us over the summer. All in all, a very successful first day.

Though information about the program and other hot topics in health care was both helpful and interesting, it was the team building and social events that proved to be most enjoyable. Activities such as a ropes course, kickball game and picnic allowed us to get to know one another on a more personal level. We gained insight into each other’s experiences, likes and dislikes, and future aspirations. From favorite foods to favorite football teams, each detail helped us to grow closer as a group. Over the course of the week it became apparent that while we come from various geographic regions and educational backgrounds, we aren’t nearly as different as we’d thought.

We began orientation as a group of unfamiliar individuals and ended as a cohesive team of friends. Now, nearly one month later, we are finally settled in and are excited to see what opportunities and challenges lie ahead. We anticipate that our time in the University of Iowa HMP program will readily prepare us to become tomorrow’s health care leaders, and if our orientation experience was any indication of what’s to come, that’s a pretty safe bet!