University of Iowa Health Management & Policy

By: Sean Boarini, EMHA Candidate 2018 Our adventure began with a half-day orientation in the height of the summer heat, when 11 of the 12 class members (Tatiana had just had a baby!) met for the first time. Like the entire program, the orientation was well organized with a focus on professionalism. We got an excellent idea of what would be expected of us, and what we could expect out of our time in the EMHA program. But most importantly, we introduced ourselves to each other and began a dialogue that will likely last throughout our careers. The first semester has been challenging. Getting back into studying, reading, writing (“write tight” as Ian says!), and academic work is new again to most of us who have not been in an academic setting for many years. Adding 4 hours of classroom time and 20 hours of schoolwork per week to schedules that already include hectic full-time jobs, family responsibilities, social obligations, and all the unplanned interruptions of daily life takes ca

By: Todd Patterson, EMHA Candidate 2017 The first 18 weeks is a shock to the system. Many of us have to re-learn how to study, write, and articulate our views into academic statements. Everyone and everything is new. By the time the second semester of the program starts we have all settled into a rhythm. I lovingly call it the “Grind.” The “Grind” sounds ominous but turns out to be a key component to your success with the EMHA program. The “Grind” is what happens when you run from work, to class, to reading, to family obligations, to meetings, back to reading, maybe some writing, and an occasional group project. In addition there have been weddings, and babies, state tournaments, school concerts, career changes and all of the other stuff that makes life messy and exhilarating at the same time. It is during this past year that something unexpected came out of the “Grind,” the formation of and access to an entire team of healthcare management professionals. We all have our own area

Name: Claire Fleming Hometown: Iowa City  Undergraduate University / Degree: Iowa State University, BS in Management  Current Program: Master of Health Administration  Areas of Interest: Rehabilitation, Long-term care, Pediatric Oncology  Why Iowa?  I have always enjoyed the idea of attending graduate school at such an amazing school with many opportunities, and being connected to the academic medical school of UIHC is a wonderful attribute.  In kindergarten, what did you want to be when you grew up? A dance teacher and studio owner. What would we be surprised to know about you? I am allergic to all fruit besides berries :) 

Name:  Keith Mueller  Title(s) and Position(s):  Gerhard Hartman Professor and Department Head   How long you have been teaching at Iowa?   6 years Graduate Training:  PhD from U of Arizona in Political Science Classes you teach:   Seminar in Health Policy, Introduction to US Healthcare System, Introduction to Healthcare Management Research Interests:  Rural Health – access and health system development Current Projects:  Director, RUPRI (Rural Policy Research Institute) Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis – projects include Accountable Care Organizations in rural places, future of rural pharmacies, Medicare Advantage, Health Insurance Market Recent Awards:  University of Iowa Regents Faculty Award Why Iowa?  One of the nations’ premier research universities, highly regarded College of Public Health, strong history of this department, including its nationally ranked programs in Health Administration (MHA and PhD) If you coul

Name: Carly Correll Undergraduate University/Degree: University of Iowa, B.A. in Health and Human Physiology Current Program: Master of Health Administration  Areas of Interest: Patient Experience, Health System Operations Why Iowa?  Everyone is genuinely nice. I rarely pass someone without saying hello or smiling. I also think the pride alumni take in the University of Iowa speaks for itself.  Why Healthcare? It's fast-paced, always changing, and challenges me to think strategically and in an innovative manner. This, combined with being able to improve patient care, is what motivates me each day.  Favorite Graduate School Experience: My favorite experience has been getting to know my classmates and see how much we've grown in our short time as graduate students.  In kindergarten, what did you want to be when you grew up? I told my parents I wanted to be a doctor, but I really just wanted to be a professional napper. What would we be

Name:   Nabil Natafgi Hometown:   Beirut, Lebanon Undergraduate University / Degree:   American University of Beirut / BS in Medical Laboratory Sciences Graduate University/Degree:  American University of Beirut / MPH in Health Management and Policy Current Program:   PhD in Health Services and Policy Areas of Interest:   Quality of care and patient safety; Performance measurement and reporting; Telehealth effectiveness and evaluation; Health services outcomes and evaluation Why Iowa?   A good program for health services research / funding / recommended by alumni of the program who are doing great in their career Why Healthcare?  A very complex system with so many entwined challenges and opportunities for improvement Favorite Graduate School Experience?  "When Patience and Jure entered my office" - Jure Baloh (September 9, 2016) P.S. Jure was next to me while I was answering these questions! In kindergarten, what did you want to be whe

Name:  Kim Ogden Hometown:  Bettendorf, Iowa Undergraduate University/Degree:  B.B.A in Business Management and B.A. in Psychology from the University of Iowa Current Program:  Master of Health Administration Areas of Interest:  Currently, I do not have any specific areas of interest, although I cannot wait to find mine over the next two years! Why Iowa?  During my time as an undergrad at Iowa, I had opportunities to grow inside and outside the classroom in ways I never imagined. I wanted to continue to receive that top notch education while pursuing my graduate degree. Why Healthcare?  Growing up, I experienced the healthcare system through my own injuries and illnesses, as well as those of my family members. There were countless times where I was unimpressed by the lack of timeliness and care quality, and I saw the way it could affect a patient's well being. These experiences put a fire in me to improve the healthcare system and make a difference in the lives of

Name: Khusbu Patel Hometown: Algona, IA  Undergraduate University / Degree:  University of Northern Iowa, BA Biology Current Program: Masters of Health  Administration   Areas of Interest: Working in a children's hospital or mental health facility  Why Iowa?  Why not?  :)   There are just so many great things to say!     In kindergarten, what did you want to be when you grew up?  Barney What would we be surprised to know about you?  I've spoken on the phone with Tim Allen. (I was hoping to talk to Beyonce...but it just wasn't meant to be.)                                       

Name:   Joe Kim Hometown:   Wilmette, IL Undergraduate University / Degree:   Pre-Med & Music Current Program:  MHA Areas of Interest:   Individuals with special needs, end-of-life care Why Iowa?   I came here for my undergraduate degree and couldn't find a reason to leave. The people, culture, and environment are top of the line. The kind, generous, and hardworking mentality of Iowans are contagious.  Why Healthcare?  I've always had an interest in medicine. Through two organizational leadership opportunities in undergrad, Founder & President of the University of Iowa Special Olympics Organization and Founding Father of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity, I realized that the best way I can be utilized is through health administration. In the end, what's most important to me in my work is that I have the chance to help people.    Favorite Graduate School Experience?  Holiday Hop In kindergarten, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Name: Lauren Waggoner   Hometown: Des Moines, Iowa   Undergraduate University / Degree: Iowa State University – BS in Marketing   Current Program: Masters of Healthcare Administration   Areas of Interest: Business Development and Patient Experience   Why Iowa? The University of Iowa has one of the top MHA programs in the country, and working in a hospital setting has always appealed to me. Favorite Graduate School Experience?  MHA 2nd-year vs. 1st-year kickball game In kindergarten, what did you want to be when you grew up?  Flight Attendant   

Name: Madeline Sherman Hometown: Evergreen, Colorado Undergraduate University/Degree: University of Iowa, BS Human Physiology and a certificate in Entrepreneurship Current Program: Masters of Health Administration Areas of Interest: Working with kids and general health care Why Iowa? I attended Iowa as an undergrad, so I absolutely love the University of Iowa. I feel that it is my home away from home because of the lively atmosphere and the fun, friendly people that come here! In kindergarten, what did you want to be when you grew up? In kindergarten I wanted to be a children’s book illustrator. What would we be surprised to know about you? A fun fact about me is that I performed at Red Rocks Amphitheater when I was in high school.

Name:   Kim Merchant Position:  Research Associate How long have you been at Iowa?  As CPH staff, since June 2008.  Before that, as a graduate student and graduate assistant.  Way before that, when I got my BA. Graduate Training:  MA in Journalism, with electives in Public Health (Dec 2007) Research Interests:  currently - telehealth, rural health; ongoing - eating disorders, wellness Best part of your job:  Flexible working arrangements and academic environment where learning is ongoing. Current projects:  Projects in the Rural Telehealth Research Center and the Center for Health and Policy Research in HMP. Recent awards:   2016 CPH Staff Research Award Why Iowa?   I want to make a difference and hope that by being here, especially in CPH, I can help impact health and well-being. If you could tell your younger self something, what would it be?  Keep that employee stock option plan! What is public health and how does it relate

Name: Weston Riesselman Hometown: Boone, IA Undergraduate University / Degree: University of Northern Iowa with a degree in Health Promotion: Global Health and Health Disparities Current Program:   Master of Health Administration Areas of Interest: I am someone that loves to move, run, lift weights, and cook meals with others.  I enjoy cool weather outside, and a football game with some of my close friends. Why Iowa?   Iowa has an absurdly strong reputation in the areas of health, and I wanted to be able to be a contributor to that reputation.   Why Healthcare?  Healthcare is a mix of service, sales, and customer experience. It has business decisions mixed with moral decisions, and how they are intertwined is extremely interesting to me. There are many ways that healthcare has failed individuals and families, and I want to be part of the process that makes healthcare better than it currently is. There are so many ways to make progress, and I want to hel

By: Brian Rose IPE – Not just another acronym   On the eve of the Cy-Hawk trophy football game, all first-year healthcare students from the University of Iowa gathered at the Iowa Memorial Union for our initial interprofessional education (IPE) meeting. I’d like to share a few of my thoughts. First, as I and many others settled into our respective seats in the ballroom, my initial thought was, “Wow, there are a lot of students here.” This was reaffirmed as we were told just how many students from each program were in the room. If my memory serves me right, over 70 teams comprised of eight to nine students from varying programs were in attendance. Programs included: medicine, pharmacy, nursing, physical therapy, social work, dental, physician assistant, speech pathology, and health administration. I don’t think I would be speaking only for myself when I say that I think most people would rather be doing something else on a Friday afternoon. Yet, we were all here – not

Name:  Brad Wright, PhD Title(s) and Position(s):   Assistant Professor, HMP and UI Public Policy Center How long you have been teaching at Iowa:  I joined the department in September 2012 and started teaching in August 2013. Graduate Training:  George Washington University (MS in Health Policy 2006); UNC-Chapel Hill (PhD in Health Policy & Management 2011); Brown University (Postdoc 2012) Classes you teach:  Intro to Healthcare Organization and Policy, Intro to the US Healthcare System, Health Policy (EMHA), Health Policy Analysis Research Interests:   Health Politics & Policy; Health Care Reform; Health & Health Care Disparities; Underserved Populations; Federally Qualified Health Centers; Medicare-Medicaid Dual Eligibles; Observation and Emergency Medicine; Patient and Public Involvement in Health Care; Primary Care; Hospital-Based Care Current Projects: 2015 – 2017     Iowa Department of Human Services (Contract MED-15-004)

Name: Catherine Gehlsen Hometown: Ankeny, IA Undergraduate University / Degree: Luther College; Biology and French Current Program: Masters of Healthcare Administration Areas of Interest: Rural Health, Women’s and Children’s Health Why Iowa? Iowa has one of the best alumni networks in the country, and it offered me a chance to be a part of something great in my home state. Favorite graduate school experience?  My summer internship at Mercy Health Network really gave me a wonderful perspective of what is in the healthcare field. I had so many valuable experiences this summer, and I am really itching to get back! In kindergarten, what did you want to be when you grew up?  Definitely a dancer. That ended when I went to my first dance class. What would we be surprised to know about you?  I was a soccer player through college and had the chance to play at Luther! I played center-mid, and that's where I get my love of running. I ran ALL the time. I don't get t