Thomas Dolan, PhD, FACHE, CAE, is the President of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE). The Association for Future Healthcare Leaders (AFHL) and the faculty, staff, and students of the Texas A&M Health Science Center’s Master of Health Administration (MHA) program had the pleasure of hosting Dr. Dolan’s presentation at the St. Joseph’s Hospital in Bryan, Texas on April 27th, 2012. His presentation was titled Future Scan 2012-2017 – Healthcare Trends and Implications. The presentation was very informative on certain future healthcare issues that executives will face. Dr. Murray Cote and Mr. Edgar Tucker, FACHE, ACHE SouthEastTexasChapter Regent provided additional insight on future healthcare trends after the Thomas Dolan presentation. Dr. Dolan also, visited the Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Rural Public Health campus. During this time, he visited the second year MHA students in the Healthcare Leadership Capstone course for student presentations the evening before.
The Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) Texas Gulf Coast Chapter visited our campus on April 19, 2012, to enlighten students on the opportunities within healthcare finance, as well as to award students with scholarships. Mai Hoang and Kyle Toomey were both awarded scholarships from the organization. Each year, the HFMA Texas Gulf Coast Chapter awards scholarships to deserving students studying in Health Care Finance or Health Care Administration. Our students submitted a typed, double-spaced essay detailing the reason they should receive a scholarship from HFMA. Their applications were accompanied by a professor's letter of recommendation and a copy of their transcript. In addition to this, they were evaluated against four criteria, including: Academic Achievement, Leadership Experience, and Community Involvement. Mai was graciously awarded the Arden Jean Biggar Scholarship. Arden Jean Biggar was a long-term leader in healthcare and someone who truly embodied the spirit of caring. She transformed the revenue cycle of several healthcare institutions and was frequently sought out to provide guidance around the world. She was a past president of the Texas Gulf Coast Chapter and served as a mentor to many who are healthcare finance leaders today. She loved to learn, share, mentor and was a friend to all. We appreciate the HFMA representatives who visited us, which included (from left to right): Academic Affairs CoChair - Mark G. Kline, FHFMA, Certification Chair - Mark Worthen, FHFMA, Program Chair - Jennifer Keller, RN, President - Julie T. Rabat-Torki, FHFMA, and Past President – Melissa Fisher.
The year of 2011-2012 was very successful for the Women’s Networking Series (WNS) of the Association for Future Healthcare Leaders (AFHL). The WNS has been beneficial for the MHA women students of TAMHSC and local women professionals. The quarterly event allows for the networking of students and administrators throughout the Brazos Valley Area. These connections have provided a solid foundation for future WNS events and these occasions will greatly help women who are currently in the workplace. The speakers during previous sessions included Cris Daskevich, FACHE, Senior Vice-President of Texas Children' Hospital and Kathy Powell-Florip. During the April WNS, a panel of executives including Kathy Krusie, FACHE, CEO of St. Joseph’s Regional Health System, Susan Barrent, CNO of The Physician’s Centre Hospital, Sherri Welch, CNO The College Station Medical Center, Peggy Brown, Administrator Brazos Valley Women’s Center, and Linda Clark, Administrator Scott & White Healthcare.
Sr. Gretchen Kunz served as a special guest during the April WNS. She was the CEO St. Joseph Health System for over 30 years and she retired in 2005. Her dedication and support has been greatly admired and was recognized during the April event.
We are proud to announce that our graduating class of 2012 has 9 students that are Certified Quality Improvement Associates (CQIA). The American Society for Quality (ASQ) provides this certification, which is considered a mark of quality excellence in many industries. It helps individuals advance their careers, and boost organization’s bottom line through their mastery of quality skills. Becoming certified as a Quality Improvement Associate confirms one’s commitment to quality and the positive impact it will have on one’s organization. The Certified Quality Improvement Associate has a basic knowledge of quality tools and their uses and is involved in quality improvement projects, but does not necessarily come from a traditional quality area.