December will mark the graduation of the Healthcare Management (HM) program’s first four graduates. Since enrollment for the HM major kicked off in the fall of 2015, the program has seen tremendous growth and is already congratulating the first students on completing their degrees.
“Our first four graduates seized available opportunities to begin and complete this new HM major in a short amount of time,” says Jane Delehanty*, HM Academic Advisor. “They’re leaving the University prepared to improve health and well-being in our community. I’m excited to see the variety of ways they’ll apply what they’ve learned. They’re ready!”
“I am so proud of the first HM graduates,” says Sue McClernon**, Faculty Director of the HM program. “They have exhibited excellent leadership and management skills while balancing busy schedules. We will be celebrating with them at graduation, welcoming them as our first official HM alumni!”
We took time to speak with each of the four graduates—Jane Danielle Bro, Blake McManus, Molly Moomaw, and Abby Skoyen—about their interest in healthcare management and their plans for the future. Read about why these graduates of the HM program are thrilled to have this degree in hand.
Jane Danielle Bro
What attracted you to the HSM major?
It’s a very unique major, to say the least. I loved the flexibility within the program, and the real-life experience and professional connections students get to make as well. It’s a growing major with brand new courses. There were no under-utilized technologies or outdated information that we were learning. The professors were exciting, and they knew their material inside and out because they themselves deal with the healthcare industry every day at their full-time jobs.
Did you have a favorite course?
I really enjoyed Caroline Carlin’s Health Economics course. Although it was a challenging class, it was very interesting to see how a “basic” class like freshman year economics can be so relevant in any industry, especially healthcare.
What is it about the healthcare management field that excites you?
This degree offered something that was important to me—comprehension of healthcare. For some odd reason, throughout all my years of schooling, nobody has ever helped me to understand what it means to have health insurance, how healthcare works, the complexity of it all, the politics involved, the moral struggles... the list goes on. I have the answers to those questions now, and I’m excited to take that education out into the world as a healthcare management professional.
Jane Danielle Bro is a recipient of the Rosslyn S. Kleeman Scholarship.
Blake McManus
Tell us about what drew you to the HS major.
I pursued this degree because healthcare is an industry that continues to grow and is always changing. I also joined the HM program because I wanted to be a part of something that benefits others, as I have a strong passion for healthcare.
Specifically within the HM program, I appreciated the real-world applications that were available through the adjunct instructors who taught the courses. Getting examples from our instructors that were rooted in reality was helpful in visualizing what the future might hold for us. I got a lot of hands-on education, too, especially through my internship with RespirTech, a company that deals with high-frequency chest compression devices for patients with cystic fibrosis. There, I was in charge of a contract administration data management project.
What advice can you offer to future HM students?
This major is great for getting into the healthcare field because not only do you receive a great education, but you are also able to network and make great connections with so many people involved in the healthcare industry.
What’s next for you?
I’d like to pursue a graduate program as well as work in a hospital setting.
Molly Moomaw
How did you find out about the HM major and what made you want to enroll?
The administration of healthcare is so fast-paced and dynamic. I see importance in this type of career. Having efficient healthcare organizations is a need and crucial component of the healthcare delivery system.
I found the HM program at the end of my sophomore year when I was close to the deadline for needing to declare a major! It was exactly what I had been looking for. There are so many different avenues to follow from here, now that I’ve graduated. Healthcare is constantly evolving, so it’s an exciting field to be going into. I also appreciate all the real-world perspectives that the courses offered. The information is all applicable in the industry.
The HM program requires an internship in order to graduate. Tell us a bit about your internship experience.
My internship was in the pharmacy benefits management realm. The experience was very eye-opening to the insurance industry, and I learned skills that will be transferrable to any healthcare sector.
Any additional comments about the HM program?
I love this major, and I’m happy that I stumbled upon it at the right time. I think this program will be so valuable to the University as well as healthcare organizations in general.
Abby Skoyen
What excites you about the HM program and what drew you to this degree?
I’m pursuing a career in Healthcare Management because I am attracted to the healthcare industry, but I’m not interested in providing direct care. I enjoy working with others and want to leave work each day feeling like I made a difference in someone’s life. It’s rewarding to help others in a healthcare capacity, as health and wellness is an area I am passionate about.
My experience in the HM program has been sensational. By my sophomore year, I had bounced from major to major and did not feel like I had a firm grasp on what career path I wanted to pursue. Just as I was about to transfer schools, I heard about the HM major coming to the University of Minnesota in the fall of 2015. I was ecstatic!
The HM program is exciting because healthcare is an ever-changing field, and this program prepares you to respond to change and enter the workforce as a confident leader. What I appreciated most about the courses was their focus on real-world applications. Many of the courses took general topics like finance and put a healthcare spin on them so students are able to understand how they will apply what they learn. The major course requirements expose students to the interdisciplinary nature of healthcare management, and the required internship helps to solidify which direction students want to take their career.
What advice would you offer to anyone considering the HM program?
Take the time to get to know your classmates and professors within the major because they are great resources for advice and helpful connections to have in your future professional career. Also, get involved in the healthcare industry as soon as you can to determine which area you would like to focus your career on and gain experience. Whether it’s volunteering at the University hospital, a local nursing home, or in various other capacities, it will benefit your future career in the healthcare industry.
2023 Update:
*The academic advisor for HM is Alissa Bigelow.
**Frances Fernandez is the faculty director for the HM program.
