
Q: Where were you prior to MSHM?
A: Prior to the MSHM program, I got my undergraduate degree in Biology from IU Bloomington in Spring of 2024. I also minored in medical sciences and healthcare management & policy, which sparked my interest in pursuing the MSHM degree
Q: What are you most excited about for this coming year?
A: For the coming year, I am most excited about my Practicum experience with Dementia Friendly Indiana Communities. Based on the work I have already begun and the discussions being had, I believe this role will allow me to truly be impactful in the state of Indiana and potentially even broader than that. I am excited about the opportunity to grow as a healthcare leader and to make impactful contributions to the healthcare field. Already I have seen my passion developing in my Practicum experience and so I am excited to see where it takes me and the ways I can help out those in and around the Dementia community.
Q: What does it mean to you to “Lead for the Greater Good”?
A: For me, to “lead for the greater good” is about leading for the empowerment and uplifting of others. I believe that the job of every leader is to help uplift those around them and push them to work for something bigger than themselves. The “greater good” is personal and different to every single person, but the idea is that there is some larger goal or purpose that we work for. In essence, being a leader who leads for the greater good is about helping people grow and find the reason they continue to work, knowing that they are impactful in the world around them.
Q: What types of roles are you looking for post-graduation?
A: After graduation I am looking for roles mainly in project management, specifically related to clinical and process improvement, clinic management, etc. I ultimately plan to go to medical school though and become a physician with the hopes of one day becoming a physician/practice administrator
Q: Do you feel supported by program faculty and staff?
A: I do feel supported by the program faculty and staff. I feel most supported by April, the program director, who is constantly working with each and every one of us to make sure that our needs are being met and that we are benefiting from this program. Besides April, I have found my professors to be very caring people who genuinely want us to succeed
and often offer additional support to help us in our educational journey.
Q: Do you feel connected to your peers (in your cohort)?
A: I feel connected and supported by my cohort very much. I am a busy person who balances a lot outside of the program, and my cohort has been very understanding of this and often checks up on me and even specifically asks about what times work best for me to be able to attend hangouts. I have developed relationships within my cohort and love to see the diversity in our cohort and how we all have something to contribute. I love how supportive the entire cohort has been for one another and it makes me genuinely feel a sense of belonging and community with my cohort. A specific example of this was when I was sick earlier in the semester and missed a week of classes. During this time i had multiple members of the cohort reach out to check up on me and offer to get me anything I needed and to provide any notes or such that I missed.
Q: What is your favorite part of the MSHM program thus far?
A: My favorite part of the MSHM program so far has been either connecting with the members of my cohort or the lessons we have learned in Practicum 1. I have appreciated the opportunity to get to know each and every member of my cohort and hang out outside of the classroom too. As for the Practicum 1 lessons, I have begun to apply these habits/choices in my personal life and share them with friends too, and it has helped me out a lot already. Therefore, the Franklin Covey certifications have been a big help for me both in and out of the classroom.
Connect with Christian on LinkedIn!