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Alumni career spotlight: Kendall Ranges

Posted on by Andy Ware

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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.

Kendall Ranges

kendall rangesEmployer: Elevance Health
Current position: Clinical Quality Strategy Intern
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Degree(s): Bachelor of Science in Health Services Management, 2022

Why did you choose your major/program?
I chose health services management to observe how the intersection of business professionals in healthcare can improve community health and patient health outcomes. I never really heard of health administration and like the majority of my peers you have always seen it but never knew what it was or how impactful it can be without giving hands-on healthcare delivery.

Briefly describe your career path.
My career path is still part of the early stages, but I have served in two very rewarding internships with the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center and Elevance Health, formerly known as Anthem at corporate headquarters. I also still serve as a traditional reservist for Grissom Air Reserve Base as a quality engineer going on five years.

Describe what an average day for you might be like.
An average day for me looks like prioritizing what I will need for any upcoming meetings with the clinical quality strategy team and gathering research on market competitors. With this, I also juggle my MHASA presidential role and commitment to NAHSE to ensure that I am still developing professionally and helping my peers by being a leader above all else.

I also frequently have mentor meetings to juggle with varying executive leaders on how to improve or make the most impact on my skillset and identify any opportunities for strengthening.

What advice would you give your college self about pursuing your current career path or industry?
I would tell my college self to continue to invest in and maintain professional relationships. Support peers and continue to help others because the smallest amount of assistance means the world to someone else!

What is a lesson learned at FSPH that you have been able to apply to your career?
The lesson is that communal factors and disparities cause health inequities that impede patient outcomes even if delivered with quality that was effective and affordable.

What is the most significant thing that’s happened to you since graduating?
Continuing to further my education as an MHA student going into my second year from when I started as an accelerated student.

What’s next for you?
Hopefully to gain a fellowship this year in the state and if not then I want to apply for my MBA with a concentration in entrepreneurship/management.

What is your favorite IUPUI/FSPH memory?
Being a graduate teaching assistant for Introduction to Public Health for an entire academic year. This helped me be more of a mentor to students, especially those still contemplating on their career path who might want extra guidance.

 

Gaining new perspectives: public health and entertainment

Posted on by Andy Ware

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actors from The Last of Us

We asked our student ambassadors to recount the last movie or TV show they watched, or the last book they read and how it tied back to public health.

Kate Colpetzer, Health Services Management student

kate colpetzer

Today I want to talk about movies! The last movie that I watched was Little Women (2019). This movie has some of my favorite actors and actresses, from Timothée Chalamet, Emma Watson, and Florence Pugh. It is a phenomenal movie!

Did you know Little Women could be related to public health? Taking place during the American Civil War, disease was rampant in this time. Due to battle conditions, unsanitary practices, and lack of medical/public health knowledge, some common diseases during this time include: scarlet fever, measles, and smallpox. According to Jonathan S. Jones, nearly two-thirds of deaths during this time were from diseases.

It really puts into perspective how lucky we are today to have the public health knowledge we do! Now go watch Little Women!

Lucy Khatib, Epidemiology student

Lucy Khatib

The Last of Us is a new TV show that involves a lot of public health topics. The show is based on a game that follows two unlikely heroes in an apocalyptic world.

The apocalypse started by a pandemic of human-infecting fungus. We learned about a similar fungus called cordycepts that turns the ant into a zombie. It’s interesting to see how the show imagines this disease to have a new vector of humans, rather than ants. There are public health workers present in the show who try to mitigate the pandemic.

This show also is reminiscent of the Zombie Apocalypse and Doomsday Infections class here at the School of Public Health. I would recommend trying the class out and the show if you are interested in infection and pandemics!

Jaida Speth, Health Services Management student

Jaida Speth

“Mental health needs a great deal of attention.”

The most recent book I read was called The Defining Decade. The author, a clinical psychologist, breaks the book into three sections: work, love, and the brain and the body.

The chapters under the brain and the body section stood out to me the most because it provided tools to make the most of your relationships and identity in a decade of life when more and more young people are reporting feeling socially inadequate, socially isolated, and socially behind. She paints a picture of how important it is that mental healthcare expands to have the equal footing that physical healthcare has.

Public health touches everything in the world around you; it is in the water, air, buildings, people you encounter in every moment of every day, movies you watch, and even the books that you read!

What is your dream for the world?

Posted on by Andy Ware

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martin luther king jr

In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day last Monday, we asked our student ambassadors, “What is your dream for the world?”

Kate Colpetzer, Health Services Management student

kate colpetzer

When prompted to think “what would make the world a better place,” it is easy to want to jump to large, significant movements that would completely reshape society as we know it. For me, while I may have some ideal situations in my head, I believe that real, lasting change takes time.

One thing that would help make our world feel more whole again is common ground. I believe that ideas, opinions, and different lifestyles help humanity flourish. We are all entitled to our own experiences and ways of living. However, I wish there was more space for common ground, where people could come together and listen, appreciate, and learn from each other.

Lucy Khatib, Epidemiology student

Lucy Khatib

As Martin Luther King Jr. was celebrated this week, his message is still as strong as ever. Just this past weekend near a university in Indiana a student was attacked for being Asian. Dr. King’s dream still has yet to be fulfilled as many are still targeted and discriminated against.

Discrimination is an aspect that public health aims to combat as it works to help marginalized groups. As those working in public health, we must carry on Dr. King’s dream and work for a better future. I am hoping for a speedy recovery for the student that was harmed this week.

Jaida Speth, Health Services Management student

Jaida Speth

“Even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream.” In honor of Maritn Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, I wanted to talk about my own dream for the world.

My dream is that people stop existing and start living in this world. I am certain we have all heard the cliché a thousand times, but life is so very short and so very precious. Merely existing in life is like being on autopilot; eyes open yet not seeing anything, arms out and hands open, yet never really feeling or experiencing. Here are a couple of ways to start seeing, feeling, and experiencing:

* Don’t ignore your passions, potential, or purpose.
* Acknowledge your feelings.
* Learn to let go.
* Fall in love with who you are. Right now. In this very moment.
* And practice gratitude.

You were put on this earth to eat good food and drink great coffee and laugh with friends and discover new books and music and to go to new places and cry and dance and learn new things.

Even though you are facing the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I challenge you to start living.

Alumni career spotlight: Calvin Roberson

Posted on by Andy Ware

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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.

Calvin Roberson

Calvin RobersonEmployer: Indiana University Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center
Current position: Director of Operations, Office of Community Outreach and Engagement
Location: Fishers, IN
Degree(s): Master of Health Administration (2003); Master of Public Health (2003); Bachelor of Science (Health Education, 1997)

Why did you choose your major/program?
I chose a major that would allow me to optimally help people based on my gifts, talents, and abilities. Health education and public health allow me to exercise my ability to teach, train, coach, create, inspire, and build people.

While completing an internship during my undergraduate studies, I realized that sound business skills were needed to oversee and manage public health programs so I decided to pursue a health administration degree. I wanted to be able to account for, forecast, market and strategically utilize the resources that are necessary for supporting public health programming and associated efforts.

Currently, I am working on a Ph.D. to explore how help-seeking behaviors in disparate populations can be better promoted by the appropriate messengers.

Do you have any research interests?
I am interested in researching help-seeking behaviors for public health crisis of violence. Violence has been the fifth-leading cause of death for African Americans in Indiana and is a top leading cause of death for African Americans nationally. I would like to develop an instrument for assessing the meaning of, influencers of the meaning of, and the optimal point for promoting help-seeking for violence in young adult African American males (18-25 years of age).

I would like to know what help looks like and who would be the most appropriate persons to serve as the ‘helper’ for this phenomena, which can lead to a more formal approach to tackling this ever-growing issue.

Also, I am interested in researching the role of faith-based institutions in preventing and intervening in violence at home (partner abuse, child abuse, sibling abuse, and sexual abuse) through promoting healthy relationships.

Briefly describe your career path.
My career path started at the IU Bowen Research Center as a research assistant. Afterwards, I became an adolescent health educator for the Marion County Public Health Department. Then I served for 20 years in multiple capacities at the Indiana Minority Health Coalition (IMHC). At IMHC, I started as a project coordinator, then transitioned into regional technical assistance coordinator to research director to vice president of research to vice president of research and training to finally vice president of planning and program development.

Upon the completion of my 20th year, I was recruited by the Indiana University Simon and Bren Comprehensive Cancer Center to serve in my current role as director of operations. Ultimately, I would like to serve in a leadership role that influences policies, trains the emerging generation of health professionals, and leaves a legacy of hope to benefit the nations of the world.

Describe what an average day for you might be like.
On an average day, I am participating in a lot of meetings. Most of which is building partnerships with community-based organizations interested in working with the center to reduce the cancer burden in Indiana. Also, I am meeting with faculty, researchers, and staff to explore and plan opportunities to get more engaged with community to inform the center’s research, programs and services.

Additionally, I coalesce my office team to work together to strategize about working with community and cancer center faculty and researchers to create mutually beneficial directional communication that strengthens cancer burden reduction. Furthermore, I work with the diversity, inclusion and equity leader of the center to infuse this work in community and among cancer center faculty, researchers, and staff. Lastly, I work to tell our story through evaluation and reporting.

What advice would you give your college self about pursuing your current career path or industry?
My advice would be to enhance your leadership by getting more involved in committees, councils, boards, and external groups with the intention of becoming a leader. This would be distinctive and a great need. It would also allow you to exercise the ability to work in groups, build consensus, strategize, and understand systems and how they work in the community and state.

What is a lesson learned at FSPH that you have been able to apply to your career?
The most important thing that I learned is the value of team and being flexible. As a public health professional, most of the work that you are engaged in involves consensus building and cooperation for performing the work. Also, the landscape and context changes and warrants the professional to be flexible. Both of which I consistently apply in my career.

What is the most significant thing that’s happened to you since graduating?
I adopted my first child. I bought my first home. I transitioned from a position after vesting in 20 years of service. I have led the following groups: 1) establishing a multi-disciplinary cultural competency training standards, 2) multi-disciplinary action research in Allen, Lake and Marion Counties focused on disproportionality, 3) a guide for equity considerations, and 4) recommendations for developing an equity office in an institution adopted by the commission in improving the status of children, and 5) presenting at national and international conferences promoting community-based participatory research.

What’s next for you?
I am currently working on a Ph.D. Also, I am looking into getting involved in social justice issues and its intersection with public health.

What is your favorite IUPUI/FSPH memory?
My favorite memory of FSPH is when I attempted to switch my major from health administration to public health. Elise Papke told me that I was too far into the MHA program to just switch, so she said consider a dual degree. I had not considered it, but it was best advice that I received that enriched my experience in the program.

COVID-19 public health emergency: renew or expire?

Posted on by Andy Ware

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symbols of covid

With the COVID-19 public health emergency extension currently in place until mid-January, we asked our public health student ambassadors if they believe the emergency should be renewed further or allowed to expire.

Kate Colpetzer, Health Services Management student

kate colpetzer

The Covid-19 emergency has been extended into mid-January. The question is, should this emergency be extended further into the year?

As a public health student, I believe that it should. As you can see on the two graphs below from the CDC, deaths from Covid-19 are forecasted from December 1 to January 1.

graphs of cdc data

The CDC is predicting another rise in deaths, which means there is going to be a rise in cases. With people traveling for the holidays, I believe that we should extend the emergency into mid-spring so that our country is adequately prepared to address the influx of Covid-19 infections across the country post-holidays.

Lucy Khatib, Epidemiology student

Lucy Khatib

The COVID-19 emergency status has been extended to mid-January. As a student of public health, I believe that this status should continue past January of next year. This virus is still impacting people, especially those who are older or are immunodeficient. COVID is still around, and keeping a high guard is what is needed to keep numbers low.

With the holidays coming up there can be a potential boom in case numbers, which could lead to a ripple into January and February. I feel that it would be best for the U.S. to continue with this emergency status.

Make sure to practice COVID safety measures during the upcoming holiday! What do you think is the best way for the U.S. to continue with COVID emergency status?

Jaida Speth, Health Services Management student

Jaida Speth

So close, yet so far.

The Department of Health and Human Services did not alert states of any intent to lift the public health emergency for the 12th time since January 2020, which means it will remain in place at least through mid-January 2023.

The declaration of the public health emergency has expanded public health insurance through Medicaid and CHIP and it has given hospitals and other healthcare providers more flexibility in operating.

It is hard to tell today if the public health emergency should be extended past January 11, 2023, but public health officials are expecting another Covid surge this winter as people gather for the holidays and cases are already on the rise.

Keeping an eye on hospitalizations of patients with Covid for the next couple of weeks will be helpful in predicting whether or not the public health emergency will be extended for a 13th time.

In the meantime, get your flu shot and stay up to date with your boosters!

Alumni career spotlight: Mariam Sylla

Posted on by Andy Ware

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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.

Mariam Sylla

Mariam SyllaEmployer: UW School of Medicine and Public Health, Public Health Madison and Dane County
Current position: Population Health Fellow (Maternal and Child Health/FIMR)
Location: Madison, WI
Degree(s): Bachelor of Science in Health Services Management, IUPUI, 2020; Bachelor of Arts in French, IUPUI, 2022; Master of Public Health with a concentration in Social and Behavioral Science and a focus in Global Maternal and Child Health, IUPUI, 2022

Why did you choose your major/program?
I always wanted to be in healthcare. I became interested in education, outreach, and prevention. I decided to chose a path in public health. As I worked in the Office of Health and Wellness Promotion at IUPUI, I quickly realized that improving community and population health is my passion. So I decided to pursue an MPH with a concentration in SBS.

Do you have any research interests?
I was always interested in women and children’s health. Growing up in Guinea-Conakry, there are many issues that women and children face such as gender-based violence, inequality, malnutrition, etc. When I moved to the United States, I observed similar issues.

Addressing MCH issues are very important for the health and well-being of women and their children but also it is important to know that improved maternal health benefits not just the mother and her family’s health, but also the number of women in the workforce, which boosts the economic prosperity of communities and nations. So I think we need more folks involved in GMCH especially that it is one of the most important healthcare priorities.

My other interests that I would like to explore more include immigrant health in the United States, children with neurodevelopmental disabilities, and the well-being of mothers and children living in Africa.

Briefly describe your career path.
I was very involved at IUPUI. It has always been my home since I moved to the United States. I worked in the Division of Student Affairs at the Office of Health and Wellness Promotion, the Office of Housing and Residence Life, and the Office of International Affairs as an international peer mentor. I also worked in the Division of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion as the graduate assistant for the social justice education program in the Multicultural Center (these are some highlights of my many leadership roles on campus).

The involvements helped me grow so much into the person I am today because I had the opportunity to interact with and serve people that are different from me. I also received multiple awards on campus. I learned and developed many skills that apply to my career path.

I am currently in the Wisconsin Population Health Fellowship program at the University of Wisconsin (UW) in Madison.

Describe what an average day for you might be like.
In my new role, an average day for me consists of having my breakfast first to be energized, meeting with my supervisor and the different teams I am in, to talk about MCH or FIMR planning. I meet with many different people and have the flexibility to be involved in projects or topics that interest me. Ever since graduation I get to have my weekends to relax, spend more time with family and friends, or volunteer when I can.

What advice would you give your college self about pursuing your current career path or industry?
I am very proud of the career path I’ve taken and the connections I made. I want to thank my college self for creating lifelong connections, utilizing career services that led me to this prestigious fellowship program in Wisconsin, and other opportunities through Indianapolis while in grad school.

I am thankful that I set up meetings with my advisors when necessary, to help me explore my career options. In undergrad I was in HSM and had the opportunity to learn a lot about health administration. Pursuing an MPH gave me the community health experience that I heartily enjoy! I am super proud of what I did. I only wish I had spent more time in public health during undergraduate outside of my campus involvements, because in grad school I had a lot of catching up to do.

What is a lesson learned at FSPH that you have been able to apply to your career?
Almost everything I have learned in my MPH program applies to my current role and what I foresee to be my career path. I am very proud of that! I have also learned that seizing any opportunities in my capacity is important, especially if it benefits my growth and the community, which is very helpful to my career and goals that I hope to achieve in the future.

What is the most significant thing that’s happened to you since graduating?
I started a project called “Helping Hands” in January 2022. It consisted of collecting donations for two orphanages in Conakry, GN (Kiridiya) and Coyah (Dimakanai). The project was a total success. I was able to get a lot of clothing from residents in Indianapolis and raised monetary donations that helped me alleviate the cost of shipping to Guinea.

We collected so many clothing donations, and sent six big barrels full of clothing that are new or in very good condition. I supervised and delegated tasks to a volunteer team of 17 people for our two service days. We distributed clothing to two orphanages and one of the national maternity clinics (Ignace Deen). My team and I were able to also provide food for the children, the orphanages’ staff, the mothers, and the hospital providers.

This is a project that holds a big place in my heart and I am hoping to get more support to keep it sustainable, to expand the area to serve such as other African countries and other places in other continents in the world.

What’s next for you?
As mentioned previously, I just started a position as a population health fellow for the Wisconsin Population Health Fellowship program with UW School of Medicine and Public Health and the UW Population Health Institutes. I am placed in Public Health Madison and Dane County for the next two years where I am doing FIMR work and other MCH and population health-related work.

My dream job is to work for any global and humanitarian organization or any of the UN agencies (such as UNICEF, WHO, UN Women) or US AID or an embassy.

What is your favorite IUPUI/FSPH memory?
My favorite part about IUPUI is my many involvements on campus. I remember always being late to most of my classes because I would always see two or three people that started a conversation with me. I enjoyed being an international peer mentor and the resident assistant of the International House. I had so much fun with my mentees and my residents, just showing them around, which reminded me of when I first came to the United States. I really loved and enjoyed the opportunity of supervising amazing social justice scholars.

I just really loved my experience at IUPUI. It was very unique and special. At the School of Liberal Arts I had some amazing connections that gave me the first opportunity to be involved and I also got scholarships to study abroad in Aix en Provence, France. At FSPH, I also got scholarships and I am thankful that I met some of my best friends during undergrad.

In grad school I really enjoyed the growth and the knowledge that was poured into me. I had an amazing and unique relationship with most of my professors. I also really loved the environment we created within the MCH cohort, it was just inclusive, fun evening classes, engaging. I’m thankful for the multiple awards that I got or was nominated for on campus and in the community. I will miss going to award dinners and the identity-based dinners (Africa Night, MLK, Harvey Milk, Caesar Chavez, Asian Heritage).

I am privileged with my education and opportunities, and I am thankful!

Alumni career spotlight: Lauren Clark

Posted on by Andy Ware

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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.

Lauren Clark

Lauren ClarkEmployer: IU Health-Methodist
Current position: Infection preventionist
Location: Indianapolis
Degree(s): BSPH-Environmental Health Science, IUPUI, 2013; MPH-Health Policy and Management, IUPUI, 2017

Why did you choose your major/program?
I chose public health because I knew I always wanted to be in healthcare but wasn’t sure I wanted to do beside. I took the undergraduate intro to public health class and instantly knew that was the career I wanted to go into.

Briefly describe your career path.
I started at the Indiana State Department of Health (IDOH) in 2014 in the immunization division as a field representative. I spent 3 1/2 years in that division and made my way up to the supervisor of the field representatives. I worked there all through grad school and when I was done with grad school I thought I wanted to do strictly policy work.

I transferred over to Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) and worked in policy work for six months but I quickly missed the public health aspect of my career. So, I went back to IDOH and did work in the Lead and Healthy Homes and the HIV/STD divisions. I decided to leave state government and got a job at IU Health Methodist in the infection prevention department. I have been an infection preventionist for the last 2 1/2 years and it has been the craziest time to be in infection control.

Describe what an average day for you might be like.
An average day for me starts with completing an analysis of all of the labs performed within the hospital in the last 24 hours. We look through the labs to ensure that any patient that needs an isolation order receives one in a timely manner. After that, we round on our specific units and work with healthcare staff to reduce hospital acquired infections (HAIs). The reduction of HAIs is the major focus of my job and we work on various projects to come up with new ideas to reduce these infections. My job works with a wide range of disciplines in the hospital and it is important to be able to work as a team.

What advice would you give your college self about pursuing your current career path or industry?
Some advice I would give myself in college is to explore as many facets of the public health industry. I wish I would’ve done more internships in my undergraduate year to help me understand what I wanted to do further along in my career. I was able to do this while working at an IDOH but I wish I would’ve been able to do it sooner.

What is a lesson learned at FSPH that you have been able to apply to your career?
I think a major thing that helped me in my career today is the understanding of how to work with various people to complete a project. I know that group work can be very frustrating at times but it is important to be able to work as a group, especially in public health. There is never a one size fits all solution and it is important to always bring in various people who have expertise in a variety of roles.

What is the most significant thing that’s happened to you since graduating?
I think the most significant thing that has happened to me is starting in my role as an infection preventionist right before COVID hit. I went into the role not completely understanding what I was getting into, and it has been a complete whirlwind.

When the vaccine became available, I was able to bring in my knowledge of immunizations and vaccination clinics to IU. Through that, I was able to help run the biggest COVID-19 vaccination sites at IU Health Methodist and at the Indianapolis 500. I will never forget that experience and the partnerships I made.

I got to work with old colleagues at IDOH, along with the National Guard to vaccinate thousands of people. It is an experience I will always look back on and be proud of how much we did for the community. I was able to also be part of the opening ceremonies for the Indy 500 last year and be recognized as a healthcare hero, along with other amazing individuals who helped combat COVID-19.

What’s next for you?
I am still working at IU Health and plan to continue my career as an infection prevention. However, I have started to do volunteer work again and I am currently on the board of the Indiana Immunization Coalition.

What is your favorite IUPUI/FSPH memory?
My favorite FSPH memory would be making connections with my peers. I have some lifetime friends that I made while attending IUPUI and they’ve helped me in my career path.

Music and studying: Do they go together?

Posted on by Andy Ware

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student listening to music while studying

We asked our student ambassadors, “Do you like to listen to music while you study, or do you prefer to study in silence?”

Kate Colpetzer, Health Services Management student

kate colpetzer

Music can be a great medium for students to focus and relax during their study sessions.

There are thousands of study playlists on YouTube that students can use to make studying less dull and more engaging.

Lucy Khatib, Epidemiology student

Lucy Khatib

For long study sessions, I always make sure to have some relaxing music playing. For me I always go to the Gymnopedies by Erik Satie. I usually have these songs on repeat. Personally, I can’t focus on homework with songs that involve words.

Classical music is a way for me to have some background noise but nothing to distract me while I’m reading. I would recommend having a few go to study songs that get you in the mood to work hard🎶📚 What do you listen to when studying or working?

Jaida Speth, Health Services Management student

Jaida Speth

It may seem counterintuitive, but music can actually make you a more effective studier! A big part of the effectiveness is finding the best music for you to have on in the background as you study.

Calming music with fewer lyrics can work best most of the time, but it really depends on the day for me and how focused I am on my external study environment.

I have reaped each and every benefit of listening to music while studying that I have listed, but that may not be the case for some. As our FSPH ambassadors mentioned last week, everyone learns differently!

Alumni career spotlight: Thomas Hudgins

Posted on by Andy Ware

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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.

Thomas Hudgins

Thomas HudginsEmployer: Retired
Location: Las Cruces, NM
Degree(s): 1968 BA Business Administration, Marian College (now University); 1974 MHA, Indiana University School of Medicine

Why did you choose your major/program?
I chose the business administration degree as I was uncertain about a specific career and felt it would give me a choice of opportunities where I could grow professionally.

The MHA came after I took a position at the Krannert Institute of Cardiology on the IUMC campus to manage grants in 1969. The position evolved into being the administrator reporting to the director of the institute. My exposure to the hospitals on the campus and the creation of the MHA program in 1969 offered me an opportunity to obtain an advanced degree that would offer opportunities to grow in healthcare administration.

Describe your career path.
My 46+ year career in healthcare administration began by chance in 1969. My first job was with an IBM subsidiary in 1968 that provided data services to businesses. About six months into my training, IBM lost a lawsuit to H. Ross Perot and the subsidiary I was working for was part of the settlement. We learned that only the technical staff were going to be retained and the marketing staff were let go.

I reached out to the placement office at Marian and learned that they had been contacted by the dean’s office of the IU School of Medicine, which was assisting the Krannert Institute of Cardiology with a search to find someone with a business degree to manage the grants they had. After my interviews, I was offered the position and accepted. Once I was onsite, the position evolved into an administrative role that included supporting the clinicians and researchers with oversight of operations.

Shortly after starting, I learned that the MHA program was being developed with a targeted start in the fall of 1969. My role supporting the clinicians included interacting with staff at several hospitals on the campus. I saw and learned many things in my early days in my role, some to do and some not to do. This learning process would continue through my career.

I applied to the MHA program and was admitted in 1971. I graduated in 1974 and continued in my role at Krannert that continued to grow in a variety of ways. I stepped into my first hospital role in 1978. My career took me through five hospitals (the last two as the CEO) and several consulting projects before I retired in 2015. Each stop along the way had learning experiences that benefited me going forward. I am also a Life Fellow of the ACHE.

The two CEO positions were particularly satisfying as I led the effort to build replacement hospitals in rural communities that had aging facilities that would have cost more to renovate, let alone try to operate during renovation, than to replace. The first one took approximately seven years from inception to completion. The second took a little over 13 years driven by the financial upheaval in 2008 and several external challenges that arose.

Along the way, I served on hospital association boards, committees and was a board member and board president for the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network. I look back at my journey with fond memories of people I worked with and goals accomplished even though there were times it felt like someone hit the puree button on the blender.

Describe what an average day for you might be like.
Each day had experiences that made them more unique than average. Often times the interactions with staff, physicians, patients, families, the public and even regulatory bodies had special meaning.

What advice would you give your college self about pursuing your current career path or industry?
Be comfortable with change and learn to utilize the skill sets of people you work with to improve the processes that are ever evolving in healthcare. Recognize that many challenges are similar across healthcare but locations such as metropolitan, urban and rural have their individual opportunities to address healthcare needs.

What is a lesson learned at FSPH that you have been able to apply to your career?
After starting in the MHA program, I realized I had a lot more to learn and that realization stayed with me for my career.

What is the most significant thing that’s happened to you since graduating?
I married Joyce in 1973 and we had two daughters of whom I am very proud and a grandson she never met as breast cancer claimed her life in 1998 before he was born. In 2002 I was blessed to meet Bonnie and we married in 2004. Our combined family has two daughters, three sons, a grandson and two granddaughters.

What’s next for you?
I still stay in touch with people at the two rural hospitals I was at and am proud to see how they have flourished through the challenging times. I also have maintained connections with the architectural firm and construction management firm I was fortunate to work with on both replacement facilities. The people I worked with from both quickly became friends.

My time is spread across staying in touch with family, playing golf, physical fitness, digitizing old audio tapes, trying to learn to play the guitar, volunteering, being a dog father and being open to other options.

What is your favorite IUPUI/FSPH memory?
My favorite memory is the time I spent with Sam Hopper who made the case to Walter Daly MD, who was the dean of the IU School of Medicine, that a program to develop healthcare administrators was a growing need in Indiana. Many of the people I met, particularly in my early years, in administrative roles in hospitals had no healthcare experience prior to taking the positions.

In Case You Missed It: FSPH 10th Anniversary Edition

Posted on by Andy Ware

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On September 27, 2022, the Fairbanks School of Public Health celebrated its 10th anniversary. With an emphasis on our health administration programs, we have pulled together some milestone events and stories from the last 10 years!

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