LEADERSHIP & PROFESSIONAL STUDENT ENGAGEMENT

Program Excellence

ONU Healthcare Management Club

Olivet’s Healthcare Management concentration has continued to excel each year bringing in more students and increasing the pass rate of the Lean Six Sigma Certification exam. This semester 6 out of 8 students passed the exam to earn this highly valued designation.

“Once I heard that I could become certified in Six Sigma, I knew that I needed to take the Health Lean Process Improvement course,” student, Joel Brawly says. “It is extremely helpful in developing one’s knowledge of healthcare while also bringing a prestigious title to a resume,” he reflects. “Olivet’s healthcare division will definitely challenge you, but it will also set you up for a very bright future.”

Professor Alexandria Harris, faculty sponsor of the Healthcare Management Club believes that now, more than ever, people should be encouraged to enter into the healthcare field. “On the bright side of this pandemic, students pursuing healthcare management were reaffirmed of their decision,” she says. “We need strong leaders in Healthcare Management. Even during this semester, we were able to meet with profound leaders in healthcare and take the Lean Six Sigma certification exam. I am so proud of my students.”

Professor Alexandria Harris Although COVID-19 put a halt to some of the normal semester activities of the Healthcare Management Club, it has given the students who control the club the opportunity to prove who they are in the face of adversity.

The Healthcare Management Club hosted a meeting via Zoom with Dr. James Forshee who is the Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Priority Health. Dr. Forshee leads clinical and pharmacy programs, the development and coordination of population health programs, and chronic disease management strategies. He provided great insights into the most rewarding aspects of working in healthcare, what students should know going into the workforce, the power of connection, and professional goals.

Briana Bolser, co-president in the Healthcare Management Club says, “Even though we were unable to meet as a club, we were constantly planning and preparing events for this upcoming semester. Throughout the fall 2020 semester, we worked hard to find guest speakers and volunteer opportunities for the students who plan on getting involved in our club this spring!”

MADEIRA SHERWOOD

Madeira Sherwood embodies the spirit of the McGraw School of Business. She is a model of excellence in the classroom and lives a life of service to God and humanity.

As a freshman, Madeira joined Enactus and has served as the co-president the past two years. Her passion to serve others and natural leadership ability is a shaping force on the team.

Additionally, Madeira was one of the key students who initiated the Food Recovery Network at Olivet. Our FRN team partnered with our foodservice Sodexo, and Madeira led the effort to win the Unilever Bright Future Project Accelerator grant to fund this work. Because of this grant and her initiative, we have collected and delivered over 20,000 pounds of food to our local Salvation Army over the past three years. This translates to over 16,000 hot meals for people in need in our local community. In addition to her involvement in Enactus and the Food Recovery Network, Madeira has served as an ambassador for Institutional Advancement and has volunteered through VITA as a tax-preparer for low-income families in Kankakee County. She is a servant leader.

This year, while preparing for the CPA and maintaining a 4.0 GPA as an Accounting and Business Administration student, Madeira chose to complete her research project for the Honors Program by developing a model that could be used at other universities to fight waste and feed people. Because of her deep commitment to this initiative, the success of our Food Recovery Program will be duplicated on other university campuses.

Congratulations to Madeira Sherwood, the recipient of the 2021 McGraw Leadership Award.

- Lynda Allen