Name: Sunil Christian

Graduation Year: 2023

“As a current candidate of Indiana University’s Master of Science in Healthcare Management program, I’ve been granted great privileges and opportunities, chief amongst them being the opportunity to participate in a rewarding and impactful practicum experience. During my time in the program and its related practicum experiences, I’ve been assigned to the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Resource Services (ADRS) office at IU Health Bloomington, which serves all 11 counties of IU Health’s South Central region.

Working under the direction of an ADRS leader Amanda Oporta, who is also the Dementia Friendly Indiana’s State Lead Liaison, I have been able to work on several meaningful projects, including onboarding and workflow optimization for community liaisons, contributing to the organization of the 2022 Dementia Action Alliance national conference, leading recurring Dementia Friendly Indiana state-wide liaison meetings, and helping with the development of a Dementia Friendly Indiana website.

I am proud of the contributions I made to these initiatives, and I have been very grateful for the opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge I acquired during the MSHM program in a real-world setting.

Additionally, I have formed many close connections with my peers. While this program offers educational opportunities to those far and wide, both to those remote or living in Bloomington, there is a true sense of community shared by us. My peers have been essential in helping me tackle challenging coursework, bouncing ideas off them, collaborative problem-solving in order to diversify my perspectives regardless of whether the issue was solely my responsibility or shared by others, supporting me through frustrations, etc. I’ve grown to love many of them in the same capacity that I love friends and family members. Furthermore, the MSHM Director, April Grudi, has been a great presence in my life, as she has supported me throughout this program and helped to champion me during opportunities outside her purview. She is a wonderful person whom I have a wealth of respect and admiration for… and I wish to convey to any prospective student that it is a joy to be under her leadership and mentorship.

These experiences have solidified my belief that a career in healthcare management is the right path for me, as well as equipped me with the tools needed to market myself as a worthwhile and successful prospect, and I am eager to continue making a positive impact in the field in the years to come.”

Connect with Sunil on LinkedIn!