Donor Funds International Internship Program
The Auburn University Health Administration Program (HADM) has established a funded international internship program for its undergraduate students thanks to the generous support and vision of alumnus Lee Spruiell (’83). Through the Spruiell Scholars program, qualified students are selected through a competitive application process to receive financial support to intern at pre-approved international health care facilities. The inaugural class of eight Spruiell Scholars was selected during the 2012-2013 academic year, and traveled to London during the summer for a six-week internship experience primarily at two leading National Service institutions, Kings College Hospital and the University College Hospital. The AU HADM program will be expanding the Spruiell Scholars program to include both Australia and Ireland in 2015.
HADM Experiences Record Student Enrollment & Alumni Employment Rates
Results of the most recent annual Auburn University Health Administration Program’s survey of its recent graduates indicate that 100 percent of the alumni were either employed in the health care industry or enrolled in a related graduate program approximately one-year post graduation. Enrollment in the HADM program is also at a record level with 144 full-time students.
Health Information Systems and Technology Opportunities Expanding
Auburn University is pleased to announce that it is partnering with CPSI, a leading health information technology vendor headquartered in Mobile, Alabama, to offer a new Health Care Information Technology Applications course to HADM majors. Through the hard work and generosity of program alumnus and CPSI Senior Vice President Troy Rosser, students in the HADM program will have access to a web-based EHR and billing system to provide hands-on experience with a fully integrated system. The HADM program has also received approval to develop a new health information technology minor for non-majors at Auburn University in 2015.
Faculty News
Cathleen Erwin, PhD, assistant professor, had research published in Journal of Health and Human Services Administration (Summer 2013) and Quality Health Care Management (July/September 2013) during the past year. She also received a Service Award from the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), and recently concluded her service as President of the Alabama Healthcare Executives Forum, the statewide chapter of ACHE.
Rene McEldowney, PhD, professor, led a group of 31 physicians to Denmark and Germany this summer to study the Danish and German health care systems. She also had research published in the Journal of Maternal and Child Health and gave an invited lecture at the University of Edinburgh.
Paula Bobrowski, PhD, Associate Dean, was elected President of the Alabama Fulbright Association.
2012-2013 Award Recipients
Spruiell Scholars
Alexandra Badea, Jonathan Corley, Brooke Gonzalez, Kierra Rumph, Kaitlyn Rush, Aubrey Spry and Leidy Vicuna.
The Spruiell Scholars Program provides outstanding students with financial support to participate in an international health care administration internship experience. The program is funded through a generous donation by Auburn University health administration alumnus Lee Spruiell (’83).
W. James Samford Award
Steven Sawyer
This University-wide award is named in memory of James Samford, a 1972 Auburn alumnus and AU Board of Trustee member. It is given to the most outstanding junior who has demonstrated selfless leadership and serves as a positive role model for undergraduates.
Alabama Healthcare Executives Forum Scholarship Award
Kaitlyn Rush
This award given by the state chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) provides financial support for undergraduate students to attend ACHE’s annual Congress on Healthcare Leadership in Chicago. Eligible students must be enrolled in a health administration program in the state of Alabama that participates in the ACHE Higher Education Network.
Upsilon Phi Delta Honor Society
The mission of the Upsilon Phi Delta Honor Society of the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) is to further the professional competence and dedication of the individual members for the profession of healthcare management. Members are selected on the basis of a GPA of 3.25 or above.
Alexandra Badea, Taylor Bell, Jonathan D. Corley, Matthew English, Brooke C. Gonzalez, Maegan Hamner, Devyn Jackson, Sally McKenzie, Kaitlyn E. Rush, Katie Smith, Briana Tekel, Leidy Vicuna