Exploration of Healthcare Management Careers

"In the heart of healthcare lies a simple truth: every voice matters, every story counts. As future healthcare leaders, let us champion a system where diversity is celebrated, equity is the standard, and empathy and compassion drives every decision. Together, we can build a healthier, more just world—one inclusive step at a time. Our Healthcare Management (HM) program helps create a great foundation where students thrive with innovation, open perspectives and passion to effect change and meet the needs of our growing and diverse communities."

MHSA, health services administration, Florida International University; BA, business administration, Interamerican University of Puerto Rico

Frances Fernández has over 25 years of experience in both nonprofit and for-profit executive healthcare leadership in a variety of settings, including home health, hospital-based outpatient services, research and education, assisted living, and consulting. She is particularly interested in human development and minority empowerment, and works fearlessly to promote inclusivity, diversity, and equity in healthcare services. Frances is an advocate of mental health awareness and education and organ donation and in her professional career has received accolades and recognition for quality initiatives and multi-million dollar grant allocations for access, increased and improved healthcare services for the HIV/AIDS population. She enjoys teaching and developing course materials as well as mentoring our future healthcare leaders.

Frances has been a member of the CCAPS DEI Faculty Committee and CCAPS Student Success subcommittee among other groups, where she has collaborated to effect changes and improvement in diversity, equity, inclusivity, and belonging as well as continued student success initiatives for the program and the College. For more about Frances's career and visions for the HM program, read "A New Era in Healthcare Management" and "Putting the 'Care' in Health Care."

• HSM 3001 – Exploration of Healthcare management Careers
• HSM 3521 – Health Care Delivery Systems
• HSM 4193 – Directed Study
• HSM 4521 – Inclusion and Equity in Healthcare Management

MA, public, human service, and healthcare administration, Minnesota State University Moorhead; BS, public administration with a minor in economic development, St. Cloud State University

Since 2022, Michael Brethorst has been an online instructor within the University of Minnesota system, covering healthcare disparity, healthcare leadership policy, and introduction to healthcare systems. Before that he was director of financial preservice at a multistate integrated healthcare system, managing $2 billion in annual transactions. He has also been a city and county administrator, overseeing comprehensive financial operations and transactions. In those roles, he completed comprehensive annual financial reports (CAFRs) and implemented reforms in accounting and financial practices, including securing bond financing and managing debt refinancing totaling over $350 million. He served 22 years in the Minnesota National Guard, where he achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and served multiple tours overseas.

• HSM 3001 – Exploration of Healthcare Management Careers
• HSM 4101 – Applied Healthcare Management Economics
• HSM 4541 – Healthcare Management Finance