Students are pictured in the order they are mentioned in the story.
GENERATION of HEALTHCARE LEADERS Thousands of healthcare leaders arrive in Chicago every spring for the American College of Healthcare Executives’ (ACHE) annual convention, the “Congress on Healthcare Leadership.” Last year, five Seton Hall Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) students were among them. MHA Program Director Anne Hewitt, PhD, says ACHE is “the” professional organization for healthcare executives. “The Congress is both wellknown and a huge opportunity to network, which is why we want our students to participate.” The MHA students, who received scholarships from the School of Health and Medical Sciences in order to attend, embraced this new experience.
ADMINISTRATIVE FELLOWSHIPS Many hospitals and medical centers offer fellowships for healthcare administrators. Veronica Barone heard about these opportunities in her MHA classes; at the convention, she learned all the details and met past recipients. “Now I know it’s something I definitely want to apply 12
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for after I graduate,” she says, noting that community relations is an area of interest.
NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES Chelsea Cieker reunited with members of her MHA online learning team at the Congress. Her networking didn’t stop there, though. She also met a healthcare administrator from Puerto Rico, a Veterans Affairs (VA) director and MHA students from Xavier University. Cieker says the population health sessions helped inform her current work in a community hospital.
LESSONS LEARNED Abigail Kent, an administrative resident at a VA hospital in Orange, New Jersey, found inspiration in a session titled “Toward Zero Harm: Building an Effective Quality and Patient-Safety Program.” She says: “I could see myself one day working for The Joint Commission. Overall, the Congress was wonderful, and I hope to go back next year.”
LEADERSHIP TRACK As someone just starting her career, Neha Patel is always on the lookout for networking opportunities. She found plenty at the Congress, where she met a fellow Rhode Islander who works in a not-for-profit health system. As for sessions, one that focused on pursuing leadership positions was a standout for her. “I’d like to be in a leadership role faster than people might think.”
PICKING UP POINTERS Much like Barone, Michelle White says the conference illuminated the administrative fellowship process — and with her interest in strategic planning and operations, she’s been preparing for one ever since. White also picked up networking tips from presenters, including the importance of sending thank-you notes after interviews and the benefits of having a strong mentor. — Molly Petrilla