Nichole Rodriguez appreciates the way her research for classes in the IU South Bend MPA program places her work as a physician recruiter at St. Joseph Health Systems in context.
“Recently I’ve had the opportunity to focus on environmental factors in health, specifically rural health outcomes,” Rodriguez says. “This helps me to research and understand the impact I have by placing physicians in our rural, underserved practices.“
Rodriguez, a student in the Health Systems Management and Policy concentration of the IUSB MPA program, will graduate in the Spring of 2022. She’s found the convenience of the program’s evening classes, which allow her to balance work, family, and school life, to be a key benefit.
In both her professional life and her coursework, Rodriguez finds that a focus on the local is rewarding. One of her favorite courses in the MPA program featured an emphasis on the relationship between place and health outcomes, and in her career at St. Joseph Health Systems, she finds distinct value in “bringing talented new providers to the Michiana area to care for the residents and community I adore.”
The MPA degree from IU South Bend will be Rodriguez’s second degree in the field of public affairs, and her second degree from an IU institution—her undergraduate degree in public affairs is from IUPUI. In her time at IU South Bend Rodriguez says she’s enjoyed the small class sizes and connecting with other students who are working professionals in the community. In addition to collaborating with students in the classroom, she has taken on a leadership role in the MPA Student Association this year as the treasurer.
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