Vol. 1 No. 3
Dec. 2011 - Jan. 2012
Clipboard NOTES The Department of Health Administration prepares servant leaders to shape the future of healthcare locally, nationally and globally.
Gwyndolan LaVergne Swain, RN, BSN, MBA, MHA, Ph.D.(c) came to Pfeiffer in September 2005 as an adjunct, teaching health care management classes in the School of Adult Studies. She joined the faculty full time in August of this year as an Assistant Professor.
MEET GWYNDOLAN SWAIN
Educated primarily in Louisiana, Swain graduated from Dillard University in New Orleans with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. A 2004 graduate of Pfeiffer’s joint Master’s degree in Business Administration and Health Administration, she has considerable professional experience in the health care industry. She has held operational leadership roles as an RN for more than 35 years in hospitals, home health, physician’s practices, human resources, and long term care. Swain’s academic experience includes teaching seated and on-line undergraduate and graduate courses in healthcare management, marketing, strategic planning, health policy, and medical communications. She also taught the EMT-A course for City Colleges of Chicago, while living in Bamberg, Germany. Her most recent faculty experience prior to Pfeiffer was with the Cabarrus College of Health Sciences teaching courses in Human Resources Management, Healthcare Marketing and Public Relations.
Swain is currently completing her Doctor of Health Administration and Leadership dissertation project at the Medical University of South Carolina. She is looking forward to graduating on May 18, 2012. Her life goal is to lead by example and be a role model for everyone that she comes into contact with and hopefully lead a life that is of service to mankind and pleasing in the sight of God. She is married to Brandt Allen Swain. The Swains have three children and they reside in Charlotte. Cover Story - Meet Gwyndolan Swain ......................................................................................... 1
Dr. Susan Wilkie Shares Holiday Coping Strategies .................................................................. 2
New Summer School Course ........................................................................................................ 3
Success Abounds!
WakeMed Rocks!
........................................................................................................................ 3
.......................................................................................................................... 4
Are you ready to graduate? Spring Semester Checklist
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Faculty News
........................................................................................................ 4
........................................................................................................ 5
............................................................................................................................. 5
What you are telling Clipboard Notes
.................................................................................... 5
Liberia Trip information ........................................................................................................... 6 School of Adult Studies – Health Administration Student Success .................................. 7 From the Director’s Desk .............................................................................................................. 9
Page 2
DR. SUSAN WILKIE SHARES HOLIDAY COPING STRATEGIES
The holiday season is a merry and exciting time, but for those who have suffered the loss of a loved one, family conflict or the loss of a job during a lagging economy, the usually joyous season can be a difficult and painful reminder. While experts say grief is normal, coping strategies can help people manage their feelings and enjoy the holiday season.
Dr. Susan Wilkie, a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (MFT) who specializes in grief and loss and is director of the MFT program at Pfeiffer University, said holidays can be the most feared and confusing time following loss.
Invite your
colleagues and
friends to attend
“This is an entirely new lens from which one sees the world,” said Wilkie, “The sense of tradition magnifies the loss of connection and roots.”
an information
session during
Experts say that often those who are dealing with loss sometimes feel forced to choose between the need to grieve versus being able to celebrate the spirit of the holidays.
an upcoming
“This time of year is usually a memorable time to get together with family and friends,” Wilkie explained. “But for those who are mourning a loss or are feeling stressed as a result of family conflict or unemployment, the holidays can, instead, be a reminder of what they no longer have.”
SPRING OPEN
HOUSE
Wilkie provides several suggestions that can help people cope:
CHARLOTTE –
1. Redefine your holiday expectations. Accept social support from friends and/or family members, but stay in control of narrow or broader windows of time as needed. Withdraw when you desire.
2. Begin new traditions and let others go.
3. Take some time out for yourself. Whether you pamper yourself or simply slow your daily pace, lend some time to your own personal needs and do something to soothe your troubled heart.
4. Give yourself permission to express your emotions. If you feel an urge to cry, let the tears flow. Tears can be healing. Scientists have found that certain brain chemicals in our tears are natural pain relievers. Share the memories and the experience of your loss. Remember, there are no time limits on grief. 5. Eat a nutritious diet, and get some physical exercise and plenty of sleep. Also, avoid excessive alcohol consumption. 6. Find activities that make you laugh. Remember, it is okay to laugh during hard times.
7. Reinvest in others as a volunteer or commit to helping with special events to focus on others.
Wilkie encourages those who yearn for support to seek the counsel of a professional therapist. The Pfeiffer Institute is adjacent to the Charlotte Campus and offers counseling for the community. Services provided include counseling for individuals, couples, and families who need confidential counseling or support. Help for a vast range of emotional, behavioral, and personal challenges is available at a nominal fee of $25 per session or on a sliding scale for those in need. Pfeiffer students pay only $10. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call the Institute at (704) 945-7324 (704) 945-7324 or contact www.pimft.com.
5:00PM January 9
February 28
March 22
April 16
May 8
RTP Campus – 5:45pm
January 10
February 13 March 20 April 17 May 7
If your Pfeiffer educational experience has made a
difference in your life please tell someone. Good news should be shared.
Page 3
ARE YOU LEAVING $$$ ON THE TABLE? The Department of Health Administration has three scholarships
available to be awarded for the spring semester. Additionally,
ACHE is offering the Albert W. Dent and/or Foster G. McGaw
Graduate Student Scholarship. These scholarships can help you
to finance your healthcare management education. The ACHE
scholarships are valued at $5,000 and 20 will be awarded. You can’t receive the money if you don’t apply. For more information please contact Dr. Carol Vogt.
(704) 945-7324 (704) 945-7324 or contact www.pimft.com.
SUCCESS ABOUNDS! Pfeiffer students have done it again! Two scholarships for the Triad region ACHE chapter were awarded to MHA students Natalie Talley from the Forsyth cohort class and Theresa Hopkins from High point. Dr. Carol Vogt and Natalie Talley are pictured below at the annual dinner event held in November at Grandover Resort in Greensboro.
Congratulations!
NEW SUMMER SCHOOL COURSE Do you need an elective? MHA 798 Special Topics –
Population Health will be offered summer 2012. It can be used in lieu of a MBA or MLS course. This
seated course will be offered at the Charlotte campus. Register early. Seating will be limited!
Page 4 A reception was held for
Pfeiffer President Mike Miller at the NC Museum of Art. Drs.
Tracy Espy, Barnett Parker and
Vernease Miller were in attendance. The next day Provost Espy and Dr. Miller visited the Rex Cohort in Raleigh.
WAKEMED ROCKS! Spring registration opened on
Monday November 7th and the entire WakeMed Cohort #7
registered by close of business on the 8th! GA Tina Schweback is on the job. Thank you
WakeMed for leading the pack.
If you have not registered for spring semester
please contact your
advisor immediately.
Classes are filling up.
Don’t miss the class you need. Register today.
ARE YOU READY TO GRADUATE? Applications for August graduation are due by February 1,
2012. Please contact Rick Kivior, Assistant Registrar, for more
information. Application forms can be downloaded at:
http://www.pfeiffer.edu/university/registrars-office.
Mark your calendar for graduation day, August 11, 2012.
Page 5
WHAT YOU ARE TELLING CLIPBOARD NOTES ….
SPRING SEMESTER CHECKLIST •
Check in with your Advisor
•
Classes begin January 17, 2012
•
Get textbooks from the Pfeiffer Bookstore
•
Sign in to online classes on the first day of class
•
Read your Pfeiffer emails
•
Have a great semester!
“As I watch highlights of the Michael Jackson trial with Dr. Conrad Murray on trial for his death I hear
terms such as duty of care, provider responsibility and care for the patient. It makes me reflect on these important issues learned in law and ethics
class and how necessary it is for people who
administer care to hold their patients in the highest
regards.” Randy Perry
“I just had to write to let you know what a great job
Dr. Agir Kurmanj is doing with our quantitative Health
Services Financial Management class. Even though
the material is complex, he communicates very well and
makes it clear for us to understand. His passion for
teaching and commitment to providing top quality
education is evident each week.” Richard Maas
“I suggest follow through when asking graduates to participate
FACULTY NEWS
in activities. Throughout the years I have volunteered and these
responses were never acknowledged or acted upon.” Monna
Gwyndolan Swain received a scholarship from
Hones, Class of 1996
5th
Clipboard Notes responds: Thank you for the feedback. Our
Medical University of South Carolina to attend the Annual
Disparities.
National
Conference
on
Health
The four day event was held in
department is trying to do a better job of staying in touch with
Students and faculty from across the country
demonstrate our desire to change that history. We will call upon
Charleston, SC and featured national speakers. participated.
alumni.
We hope that the outreach efforts being made now
you soon.
Clipboard Notes is interested in your feedback. Write us at healthadmin@fsmail.pfeiffer.edu.
Page 6
LIBERIA TRIP INFORMATION Is your passport ready? Registration is now open for MHA 776 - M35, the first international trip class to Liberia. Travel dates
are May 22 – June 1, 2012. Costs are currently estimated at
$2,393 for students and $3,126 for guests. The fee includes round trip tickets, hotel, daily breakfast, two dinners, and
transportation to and from the Monrovia airport. We will stay at the Krystal Oceanview Hotel http://www.krystaloceanview.net/aboutus.php, which just happens to be next door
to the American Embassy.
A trip orientation meeting will be held in early February at which time fees will be due.
Alumni are welcome to join us. Persons interested in going with the group should contact Dr. Vernease Miller at Vernease.miller@fsmail.pfeiffer.edu.
Best wishes to Dr. James Leist and students who will travel to London over the holiday break. Travel safely, take lots of pictures, and don’t
forget to come back!
Page 7
SCHOOL OF ADULT STUDIES – HEALTH ADMINISTRATION STUDENT SUCCESS Tim Ludwig graduated from Pfeiffer in 1999. “My educational experience at Pfeiffer was very rewarding.
In 2000, I moved to New Bern to accept a position as Radiology Manager at Carolina East (formerly Craven
Regional Medical Center). In 2006 I graduated from The
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Master of
Healthcare Administration degree and a little over 3 years
ago I was promoted to my current role as Vice President of
Ancillary Services. I was recently appointed by Governor Perdue to the
North Carolina State Health Coordinating Council and in my spare time,
I’m an adjunct professor at Mount Olive College in the HCM program.
I’m very proud of my accomplishments and I’m very proud that I can help deliver
quality health care to the people that we serve. I had to reach out to you and share
my comments after receiving your letter regarding Clipboard Notes. I will respond
to the email list to provide them with my contact information.”
Tim Ludwig, Vice President of Ancillary Services, Carolina East Health System
Clipboard Notes is proud of our alumni and we want to hear from you. Send your success stories to healthadmin@fsmail.pfeiffer.edu.
Page 8
Please plan to join us as Pfeiffer faculty, staff, students, alumni,
local healthcare leaders, community-based partners and government representatives come together to honor Dr. Joel E. Vickers for 17 years of
service to Pfeiffer University as Director of the MHA and MHA/MBA programs.
Page 9
FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK It is hard to believe that the semester is coming to a close. I’ve been the Department
Director for six months and oh boy have I learned a lot. I’ve enjoyed my travels across
the state to meet and see you in your daily work environments. My view of the University is from a whole new vantage point and I have a new appreciation for my fellow
professors and all that they do to make our department the stellar program that it is.
As you know, “servant leadership” is a lifestyle not just a philosophy. It takes personal commitment to practice the characteristics of listening, empathy, healing, awareness,
persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, building community and commitment to the growth of people in environments that are often stressed by constant dynamic change. Yet, that is what we as health administrators do. We
serve in spite of adversity.
I hope that you will take this holiday season and be kind to yourself. Caregivers need care. Rest, relax and restore yourself. 2012 is coming
and we will need renewed energy to meet the challenges it will bring. All the best,
Page 10 Pfeiffer University at Charlotte 4701 Park Road Charlotte, NC 28209 Phone (704) 521-9116 Fax (704)521-8617
Email Graduate Assistant Ankshika Punj, healthadmin@fsmail.pfeiffer.edu
The Department faculty and I join together to wish you peace, happiness, health and prosperity. Happy New Year.
HA Department Faculty Center:
Vernease Miller; Back Row:
Valerie Johnston, Joel
Vickers, Barnett Parker, and
Jamal Nahavandi Left to Right:
Katrina Graham, Carol Vogt
and Gwyndolan Swain
– Not pictured Dr. James Leist
Pfeiffer University at the Triangle 2880 Slater Road, Suite 100 Morrisville, NC 27560 (919) 941-2920 DEPARTMENTAL FACULTY Vernease H. Miller Chair & Director Professor
Valerie Johnston Assistant Director Assistant Professor Katrina Graham Assistant Professor James C. Leist Professor
Jamal Nahavandi Associate Professor Barnett R. Parker Professor
Gwyndolan Swain Assistant Professor Joel E. Vickers Professor
Carol A. Vogt Associate Professor