In our Alumni Career Spotlight series, you will meet some of our alumni and learn about the important work they are doing to create a healthier nation and world.
Matthew Lyman
Employer: Elevance Health
Current position: Business Change Director
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Degree(s): Master of Health Administration, Indiana University, 2019
Why did you choose your major/program?
I wanted a career that allowed me to make an impact. As an industry, healthcare accounts for nearly a fifth of the entire U.S. economy. There’s no shortage of opportunity or problems to solve. Nearly everyone born in this country will have an experience with the system at some point in their lifetime and a career in healthcare allows one to solve uniquely complex problems that truly change individual lives for the better.
Do you have any research interests?
I’m interested in ways that various industry players (providers, payers, pharmacies, drug manufacturers, etc.) can find mutually beneficial strategies to align incentives that impact cost, access, quality and experience. I’m also interested in ways that digital technologies can achieve these objectives.
Briefly describe your career path.
I started as an intern at Elevance (formerly Anthem) in 2015 just as I began my graduate studies. I chose to complete the program part-time and work full-time during the days to gain experience concurrently with my classes. Since starting with the company, I’ve held various roles throughout the organization in different lines of business and segments. Some key highlights include my experience with a major corporate transformation initiative, business support to the office of the CAO (chief administrative officer) and leading an innovation team that identifies and implements major cost of care initiatives across the organization.
Describe what an average day for you might be like.
My average day is highly variable. At a high level, my job is to get things done. It’s focused around collaborating with our clinical and executive leadership to develop new ideas and push them through the stages of business case refinement to implementation. I’m also the lead on a key clinical pillar (area of strategic focus) and ensure interventions are being executed across the enterprise, so time is spent daily reviewing this work and our progress to goal. Generally speaking, my average day consists of managing these various moving parts, making sure we’re progressing and removing impediments to ensure our priorities are met.
What advice would you give your college self about pursuing your current career path or industry?
I would tell my college self to stress less about the unknown. Sometimes it can feel like there’s a lot of pressure to get the perfect internship or perfect job right out of school, etc. Odds are things won’t go exactly as planned. Think about where you want to be in the future and do your best to get there, but embrace the unexpected impediments and opportunities that will present themselves. In the end, everything will work out and the experience you gain from your experiences will help you achieve your long-term goals.
What is a lesson learned at FSPH that you have been able to apply to your career?
The FSPH MHA program helped me understand ways to tell a persuasive data-driven story. The various case studies, data analysis and statistics lessons in the program all helped me convey key information and support my recommendations throughout my career.
What is the most significant thing that’s happened to you since graduating?
Since graduating my wife and I bought our first house and are expecting our third boy. Many big personal milestones since graduating. We’re exited for the coming years and the continued joys of parenthood.
What’s next for you?
Just keep on moving forward, embrace the unknown and what opportunities and adventures lay ahead.
What is your favorite IUPUI/FSPH memory?
I personally enjoyed the friendships made with my peers. Everyone was passionate about healthcare and wanted to make meaningful change. I also loved racing in the IUPUI Regatta race.
Leave a Reply