AUPHA: What’s your educational background and why did
you choose the areas of study?
Blake: I
am a registered nurse with a BSN,BS, MPH and EdD. I became a nurse because I wanted to be help
people maintain or improve their level of wellness. I became interested in health administration
through a faculty mentor and a hospital administrator. They both felt that I was a good nurse manager
and suggested that I return to school to obtain my MPH with a focus on health
administration because I had a passion for working in teams and helping organizations
meet their mission. After working in administration
and supervising Inservice Education, I became interested in teaching and
education administration outside the hospital setting and that motivated me to
obtain an educational doctorate. I
really felt that developing the health workforce on a broader scale was important
to my commitment to quality care.
AUPHA: What jobs did you hold before your employment
in academe?
Blake: Prior
to teaching I was a nurse manager and administrative supervisor in hospitals in
New York City and Connecticut.
AUPHA: Where have you held faculty appointments
during your career?
Blake: I
have held faculty appointments at:
NYU-SCPS
Paul McGhee Division NY, NY
St.
Francis College, Brooklyn New York
State
of Connecticut Regional Vocational Technical System (Department Head Practical
Nurse Education Program)
Hartford and Manchester Campus
AUPHA: What is your current position, and what made
you choose the program you are currently appointed to?
Blake: Presently
I am Clinical Associate Professor, Healthcare Management, and Coordinator of
the Undergraduate Healthcare Management Program.
I chose this program because
I was interested in the teaching and learning opportunities that would be
available to me at NYU. I also selected
this university because of its reputation as a research and teaching
institution.
AUPHA: What is unique about your program, faculty and
students?
Blake: The
program is unique because it provides adult students the opportunity to return to school or start and finish an
undergraduate degree during days and times that are best suited to working
adults. Additionally, we offer students the opportunity to write Prior
Learning Portfolios to obtain college credit for prior learning that meets the
course requirements within the degree.
Students attend a Prior Learning Seminar where they are guided and
encouraged in the approach to writing a portfolio. The division and NYU provide free tutoring,
and a myriad of other support services and social interaction for our students.
Our faculty hold leadership
positions in the healthcare industry, and bring their current “Real” experiences to share with our students. The faculty possess expertise in hospital
administration (Ambulatory Care, Clinical services, Patient/Guest Relations,
Quality and Risk Management, Legal, and
Financial Management) and Long Term Care Administration ( Nursing Home and
Assisted Living).
Our students are diverse by
age, ethnicity, gender, work experiences, professional goals, learning styles,
and geographic location (tri-state area).
AUPHA: What’s the greatest challenge in your role at
your current program?
Blake: My
greatest challenge presently is student recruitment during the current economic
crisis.
AUPHA: What do you consider your greatest
accomplishment during your tenure at
your current program?
My greatest accomplishment
has been the students who have obtained advanced degrees (law, doctorate in
epidemiology, and masters degree in several fields).
At the program level my
greatest accomplishments have been the creation of concentrations for the
degree and approval from NYS to accept the degree as a “Degree in the Field”
for students who want to apply for examination
to become a nursing home administrator.
AUPHA: What keeps you in the field despite the
challenges you mentioned above?
Blake: I
have remained a faculty member because I feel that the healthcare industry
should strive on an on-going basis to improve the quality care, and the
industry needs leaders to model the way for employees. This means leaders that are visionary and
strongly support the concept of lifelong learning in an industry that changes
constantly.
AUPHA: If making a living/money were not a consideration,
what would you be doing instead?
Blake: If
I did not have to work for a living I would volunteer in several community and
professional organizations. I would also
become more active in my local political club and in my role as a community
policy activist. When I am engaged in these activities I would write, read, and
travel more than I do now.