Lisa Rafalson
D'Youville College
Health Services Management
What's your educational background? Why did you choose your area(s) of study? What did you do before entering academe?
I have a master's degree in epidemiology and a PhD in epidemiology and community health. My research interests are in the area of etiologic risk factors for Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Prior to earning an advanced degree I had a B.A. in Spanish Language and Literature. After I completed my undergraduate degree I worked for the Social Security Administration as a claims representative interviewing the public for claims for retirement, survivors, Medicare, and disability benefits. I then worked for a law firm that specialized in representing Social Security disability claimants as the VP of corporate accounts working with large, national insurance carriers who paid long term disability claims. Because I read so many claims files I came to recognize patterns of disease distribution in populations and this is what got me interested in epidemiology.
What is your current position and what made you choose your current program?
I am an Associate Professor and Chair of the Health Services Administration department at D'Youville College. I have been chair for five years.
What is unique about your program, faculty, and students?
Our program is one of the few in the area that specifically focuses on health care management. Highlights include two internship opportunities for students. Many of our students already work in the field. They are a diverse group. Many students are first time college students so it is a real thrill to see them grow into professionals. We have a great and diverse faculty whose research interests range from maternal and child health to community health workers and community resilience post disasters. We have several faculty with clinical degrees and several decades of experience in health care administration. We offer a nurturing environment; we do not utilize teaching assistants so our students know their instructors well.
What trends do you see occurring in your program and in the field?
Locally, the area is in resurgence, with an emphasis on healthcare. The Buffalo- Niagara Medical campus includes a nationally renowned cancer center, a large health care system, a state university, and research facilities as well as incubator start up cooperatives. So the job market here is robust and growing. I've noticed a demand for more internship and networking opportunities over the past five years. Students entering programs want to know where and what type of jobs they will have after graduation.
What are the biggest challenges and opportunities facing your program?
Challenges include the overabundance of Colleges and Universities in the Western New York region and a shrinking pool of high school students to draw upon. High school graduation rates are about 57%, but only about 41% immediately go into college. The graduation rates are expected to remain stable or decline by 2019. Another challenge is tuition. Although D'Youville College has one of the lower tuition bases for a school of higher education, it is still over 20K. With a large proportion of first time college attendees comes the concomitant high needs student body. In terms of opportunities, most students want to attend college within a 100 mile radius of home, which is good for D'Youville College. However, there are numerous higher education alternatives even within a 10 mile radius, including the State University and State College, which have lower tuition rates.
Which AUPHA benefit has been the most valuable to your program?
The opportunity to connect with other professionals in the field has been most beneficial. Recently, I queried other members about practices for the internship/capstone course and asked for examples of syllabi for various courses that we are revamping to sit for accreditation. People were very generous.
What do you consider your greatest accomplishment during your tenure at your current program?
As Chair of the department I actually oversee five programs. During my time as the chair, I developed and approved three programs. In addition to program development, I was able to hire the entire faculty and they are an incredible group of talented, hard-working, student-centric and cooperative individuals.
What might your fellow AUPHA members be surprised to know about you?
I am legally blind.
If making a living were not a consideration, what would you be doing instead or what would you do in retirement?
I would be working for a non-government organization or a government organization in a Spanish speaking country doing work in public health.