Who lives, who dies, who tells your story
This is the final song in Act II of the Tony Award winning play Hamilton. The words that struck me most:
Let me tell you what I wish I’d known when I was young and dreamed of glory. You have no control. And when you’re gone, who remembers your name? Who keeps your flame?
I have a personal history with Hamilton. His duel with Aaron Burr occurred in New Jersey, my home state, in the city of Weehawken, Exit 16e on the New Jersey Turnpike. This is an insider’s joke where your life revolves around the exits off the Turnpike so you can remember where you are. Aaron Burr’s great niece, Anna T. Burr, was my grammar school principal at Clara Barton School. Ms. Burr kept control of her students through the threat of bodily injury. As a six-year old, I did not understand duels and why Burr shot Hamilton. What I did understand was that my grammar school principal was related to someone who did shoot Hamilton and perhaps she would inherit that tendency to strike out against her students. That threat kept all the students in line. As I got older, I realized how ridiculous my fear, but it encouraged me to read history books so I could understand the motivation behind the actions of historical figures. My addiction to AUPHA’s history is a childhood fascination. So, we are going to tell our AUPHA history. Here goes with an update.
Michael Meacham, JD, MPH, is well on his way to telling the AUPHA history and celebrating its legacy in health management education. His goal is to work with an editor and complete the book in celebration of the AUPHA 70th anniversary at our 2018 annual meeting in Philadelphia. Just think about it – unveiling our history in the City of Brotherly Love, the first capital of the United States. Jerry Glandon, PhD, has reached out to the book editor, a Cornell University graduate, who has worked on comparable history projects. In addition to publishing the AUPHA history book, AUPHA will be introducing its Hall of Fame, where we will recognize individuals who have had a significant impact on the Association. Leigh Cellucci, PhD,. is leading this initiative and has developed criterion on the induction of our Hall of Famers. Leigh and her committee will be soliciting nominations on our future inductees.
Thanks to Cindy Watts, PhD, and the Graduate Program Committee on extending Leaders Conference to a full-day event during the ACHE Congress on Management on March 28, 2017. This was a recommendation made following our Kansas City Annual Meeting that members want more workshops and opportunities to dialog at table topics. The keynote speaker will be Halee Fischer-Wright, M.D., President and CEO of Medical Group Management Association. Her topic will be “Challenges and Successes in Identifying and Preparing Healthcare Leaders: A View from the Field.” Workshops will be presented on Effective Use of Practitioner Faculty; Service-based learning; Using Mindfulness at Work; and Table Topics that address Alumni Relations, Accreditation, Teaching Population Health, Developing Academic Leadership Skills, and Fostering Positive Values and Attitudes Among Students. So, please plan to attend.
We want to hear your fellowship stories
The NCAF fellowship offers were extended on November 14, 2016. There were celebrations and tears from students who received and did not receive offers. I wish there were more fellowship opportunities to move students into the world of work. If you have reflections on the positives and non-positives of the process, please let your Board know so we can provide feedback to NCHL.
There is always a story. One of my students was having a minor breakdown prior to a fellowship interview. She had all this negative self-talk going on in her head that I had to ask her to take a time-out and reflect on how fortunate she was to be invited for an onsite interview. Her interview involved one-on-one meetings and a formal PowerPoint presentation on a clinical expansion project. I spent three-hours listening to her angst and presentation and then made sure she had nice shoes to wear to the interview. She just needed a little TLC before she went to the airport. Students falling apart is not new, but it sure reminded me of the importance of the AUPHA vision and what we do – Developing leaders who possess the values and competencies necessary to drive improvement throughout the health system.
Diane Howard, PhD, MPH