Alumnus: Colin Slaughter
Graduation Year: 2021
Q: Where were you prior to MSHM? (Undergrad major, undergrad university, job?)
A: Prior to joining the MSHM program, I had a Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree from Indiana University and was contemplating what my plans for graduate school would be. I always wanted to be in the Healthcare field and heard about the MSHM program while searching for healthcare-related Master’s programs. I met with Director April Grudi once and knew that it was the program for me. I joined during the COVID pandemic, and the faculty did an incredible job in preparing for (and executing) a purely online curriculum.
Q: Where are you at now?
A: My current role is as a Clinical Informatics Operations Analyst with the Electronic Health Records Optimization team at HCA Healthcare, based out of the corporate office in Nashville, TN. HCA Healthcare owns over 2,000 points of care for patients, including over 180 hospitals. I am honored to be at a company that has over 33 million patient interactions a year, and I am excited to be directly interacting with clinical team members to improve the EHR systems that HCA utilizes.
Q: What are your biggest takeaways from the program?
A: One of the key takeaways from the program was a lesson that Director April Grudi taught very early on – to be your “authentic self”. The idea that people will trust you as a team member and leader if they know who you really are was an impactful message that I watched faculty and my cohort members put into practice on a daily basis. I was my authentic self at my first job out of the program, and created many lasting connections, even after departing for a new role. It allowed me to step into my new role and make instant connections and impacts with my team. Being your authentic self builds trust with your coworkers immediately, and allows you to develop strong relationships both personally and professionally.
A second takeaway would be the Project Management skills learned through both classes and Franklin Covey’s learnings. I have worked in two fast-paced environments since graduating from the program, and these skills have allowed me to always remain composed and organized, allowing me to be successful early on in my career.
Q: Is your current job directly related to your college major?
A: My current job is directly related to my graduate degree, but not to my undergraduate degree. Clinical Informatics was a new concept to me when I joined the MSHM program, but thanks to the skills learned from classes and my practicum, I was able to find myself in a role within a field that I absolutely love.
Q: Do you feel our school adequately prepared you to find a job?
A: Absolutely – I don’t think there are any programs out there quite like the MSHM Program. Both of my jobs after the program used the “First 90 Days” as a reference for starting. They were surprised but pleased that I already knew the steps to take to be successful and adapt to a new environment early on. Additionally, learning how to read and understand healthcare issues has allowed me to better understand the underlying question of “why” the work I do is so important.
Since my undergraduate degree was not directly involved in the healthcare field, or with informatics, I have to say that the MSHM program not only exposed me to them as career options but prepared me to step directly into the healthcare field.
Q: Did the curriculum prepare you for your next job?
A: The MSHM Curriculum absolutely prepared me for my job. Right out of the MSHM Program, I joined a Pharmaceutical Consulting firm, “PRECISIONxtract”. The project management skills that the MSHM Program focused on allowed me to step into a project manager role immediately. While the software used to manage projects is different across companies, having a holistic view of “project management” as a concept really allows me to take strides in understanding my work.
At my new job, the classes focusing on healthcare policy and quantitative analysis have given me the tools to succeed in a new role. For instance, when working with the EHRO team, we have changes requested that are regulatory changes. Using skills taught in classes that focused on teaching us how to research and understand trends in Healthcare allows me to see why these regulatory changes are necessary, and even notice trends when something new is coming. The skills taught in quantitative analysis have allowed me to use Excel in a meaningful way not just for me, but for my whole team, especially when it comes to generating reports that are easy to understand and use.
Q: What books are you reading right now?
A: My current “Professional Reading” book is “Atomic Habits”. I picked this up to improve the way I operate within and outside of work, and to really create a solid foundation to start my morning, and then continue that start into a successful and productive day.
My personal book series is the “Wheel of Time” series. I remember seeing them at the library when I was in middle school, but never committed to reading them until now.
Q: What are some new industry trends we should prepare our students for during the program?
Home Healthcare. This is going to be the next big thing in Healthcare – a lot of insurances, both private and practice, are starting not just to reimburse, but prefer home healthcare options. I find this an absolutely critical part of our current healthcare system, as it allows individuals with transportation issues, accessibility struggles, or any other reason that going to the doctor’s office may be cumbersome a way to receive healthcare in their own home. Many healthcare networks are starting to form home healthcare teams, and I think it is a space in which MSHM students can really make a strong impact in after graduation.
Q: Did you feel supported by the program faculty and staff?
A: Absolutely. April is ALWAYS available to chat and has been there for me countless times. Professor Chris Jackson was actually my preceptor at the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services when I was in the MSHM program, and when I was looking at jobs in Lansing, he was a valuable resource. Outside of that, multiple faculty do a good job of keeping up via LinkedIn, whether it is messaging or comments on status updates.
Q: What was your favorite part of the MSHM program?
A: Without sounding too generic, it actually is hard to pick a favorite part of the MSHM program. I would have to say that it was the curriculum – I was initially incredibly worried about the number of credit hours, but the faculty put so much passion and effort into their courses that it never felt like too much. As someone who came from a Psychology background, my only business experience was a “Consumer Psychology” course I took 3 years before I joined the program. However, I felt remarkably prepared for all roles in the healthcare field when I graduated from the program.
Q: Did you feel connected to your peers (in your cohort)?
A: Yes, which I think is a testament to the program design by Director April Grudi. We were entirely remote when I joined the program (Summer of 2020, still impacted by the COVID pandemic). My cohort made an effort to chat in a GroupMe, and even schedule outings for those of us in or around the Bloomington area. I formed a close bond with multiple team members, and hope that the trend continues for all MSHM students.
Q: What is some advice you have for the next generation of MSHM students?
A: Be brave. As someone who entered the program with no experience in the business or healthcare fields, I struggled with imposter syndrome during the program and at my first job. Transparently, I still struggle with it at my current job, as I am surrounded by doctors, nurses, and project managers who have been in the healthcare field for over 20 years. It takes courage to confront those feelings, but once you take a look at everything you accomplished within the program, you will see that you are so well prepared for the future. I initially felt that I was asking too many questions at my first job, but I found that leadership appreciates when you ask questions – they want to see you learn and succeed. My biggest piece of advice is a phrase I started using at my first job, and even heard my coworkers start to use it: “It is only a mistake if you don’t learn from it”.
Additionally, always connect and chat with Alumni. I am always willing to be a new connection and answer any questions – whether it is about the next steps in your career, or about your defense presentation.
Connect with Colin on LinkedIn!