Unsung Heroes of Healthcare

UNSUNG HEROES OF HEALTHCARE THREE TU ALUMNAE SHARE THEIR STORIES

During this period of great unease created by the pandemic, much of the public has found comfort through the attention and advice of healthcare experts and medical personnel, and in hearing of their unwavering dedication to their work. These committed frontline heroes, as well as the teams of infectious disease specialists behind them, have worked diligently to provide the best possible care to those in need. While vaccine scientists, doctors, nurses and intensive care staff have rightfully been dubbed our healthcare heroes, one group within this world hasn’t received the same level of recognition, though the work they do is of equal importance. These behind-the-scenes administrative specialists are essential in the successful execution of daily operations. At the pandemic’s height, numerous executive leadership teams were called upon to navigate how to handle influxes of hospitalizations surpassing the number of available beds across the globe. Those who fill management roles within these circles make decisions that could spell miracle or tragedy for patients at the drop of a hat, and the above scenario is just one of countless matters that fall under the jurisdiction of these overlooked leaders.

Tiffin University is immensely proud to have helped shape many such frontrunners in this line of work, and recently had the privilege of sitting down with a few to ask about how their time as students prepared them for this demanding profession. Below are the testimonies of three alumnae who have had momentous success in this behind-the-scenes work.

Jaime Campbell 12', 14', 21'

has served as both the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at a California-based hospital, and is the current President of a medical center in Colorado. With over a decade of diversified experience, Jaime is highly trained in Hospital Incident Command Systems (HICS) and the practice of hospital safety and security. She also has a demonstrated history of success in operations, lean process improvement and organizational structure and management, to use the industry-specific terms. She is a three-time Dragon, having completed both her undergraduate and graduate work at TU.

“I have a bachelor’s degree in organizational management, an MBA in management and a concentration in healthcare administration, all from Tiffin,” said Jaime. “In the field of healthcare, higher education is required – especially if you are not a clinical care provider. My wide array of skills has been critical to the advancement of my career, and I owe all of that to Tiffin.”

Jaime believes that one thing separating TU from other schools, specifically referring to our MBA programs, is the real-world knowledge students gain through their coursework.

“Both MBA programs made frequent use of relative current events to drive meaningful discussions. By applying specific scenarios to current theoretical topics, students are challenged to think of issues in a different way and prove they understand how the theories or strategies apply to these cases. This creates a personal knowledge base that is far more beneficial than just learning about an idea one-dimensionally in a textbook or lecture.”

Jaime then continued this sentiment, shifting her focus to talk about the institution as a whole, including all the ways in which TU made her as a non-traditional student, feel valued and cared for to the same extent as oncampus learners.

“I am probably Tiffin’s biggest fan! Their online programs are so well structured and easy to use that there is no excuse not to pursue one’s higher education with them. My favorite memory was in 2012 when I earned my bachelor’s degree and was able to physically go to the commencement with on-campus grads. This made me feel like a real student and I was treated exactly the same as everyone else. Meeting some of my professors in person was an amazing experience. I will never forget that.”

Ronda Lehman 03' is the current President of Mercy Health in Lima, Ohio and is responsible for the oversight of all subsidiaries, including St. Rita’s Medical Center, three local urgent care facilities, a Putnam Countybased emergency room and the offices of twenty-three practicing physicians. As a seasoned professional in this industry with numerous awards and accolades to her name, TU was proud to hear that she attributes some of her related successes to the skills she cultivated during her time as a student. Ronda began her journey as a Dragon in the hopes of building upon the training she received during her undergraduate work, and found TU to be an engaging, rewarding

environment. “TU did a great job of preparing me. They provided me the flexibility and small class sizes I was seeking, and the diversity of thought that I knew was important to me as I furthered my education,” she said. “When I started TU’s MBA program, I was newly appointed as the Director of Pharmacy. I was looking for a program that would help me succeed in my current role and augment my primarily clinical undergraduate training with business training.”

Ronda went on to assert that TU’s MBA program effectively prepared her to tackle industry responsibilities falling outside her immediate wheelhouse by requiring her to expand her breadth of knowledge.

“The MBA program helped enable to me to see how our current operations fit into a larger picture of both healthcare as an industry, as well as other non-healthcare sectors. I specifically chose to do an MBA program as opposed to a master’s in healthcare administration program so that I would have a more diverse portfolio not simply focused on healthcare. This program gave me precisely what I was looking for!”

When asked what advice she had to offer for any young professionals looking to enter her line of work, Ronda responded with eloquent and enthusiastic words of encouragement.

“Go for it! I honestly can’t think of a more rewarding profession. It’s challenging, diverse and each day you have multiple opportunities to make peoples’ lives better. The opportunities are limitless. Start early! Regardless of what you are interested in pursuing, getting started in any entry level healthcare position can be very eye-opening and help current students see the many possibilities.”

Jennifer Williams 06' is the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Vice President (VP) of Financial Services for Wayne HealthCare in Greenville, Ohio, a rural community hospital and wellness center. She is also heavily involved in local philanthropic circles, participating as Treasurer for the WHC Foundation Board. In addition, she chairs the Edison State Community College Foundation Board in Piqua, Ohio. She is an alumna of TU’s MBA program in business administration, and highlights the quality of instruction she received.

“The education I received through TU’s MBA program allowed me to advance my career and gain enough relevant experiences to become qualified for my current position,” said Jennifer. “I still have notes from my classes that I look back on to help me make decisions as Wayne’s CFO and VP.”

According to Jennifer, the main reason she selected TU for her graduate and continuing studies was due to the program’s flexibility, a feature that was especially appealing to her as a non-traditional student. Ultimately, she enjoyed the experience, and applauds her former professors for their abilities.

“I completed my degree in three years instead of the standard two, and this afforded me enough time to spend with my family and on meeting my work obligations while still pursuing the degree. I took some courses in person and some online, and built many friendships while working on group projects and presentations. I can honestly say I enjoyed every class I attended, and appreciated the vast working knowledge my professors brought to their class discussions.”

When asked about her favorite memories as a TU student, Jennifer said, “My favorite memories are of the time spent with my classmates. We were a small cohort, all working full time and pursuing our MBA degrees, and this bonded us. After our last class together, we rented a limo, went out to dinner and celebrated. I still stay in contact with some of them.”

The participants were also asked to make note of how their professional lives have been and continue to be impacted by the presence of COVID-19. Impressively, while they were interviewed individually, a common theme emerged in each of their answers. All three executives mentioned that while they are concerned about the physical and emotional toll this new normal is taking on not only them, but the members of their teams, they are continuously amazed by the resilience and compassion exhibited by those with whom they work and supervise.

Each of them acknowledged that while this field is not low-stress, especially at the moment, those interested in pursuing a career in healthcare administration would be hard-pressed to find a professional community with more compassionate, kind and resilient people. They are grateful for being able to participate in such impactful work, and for doing it with coworkers whom they trust unwaveringly. After listening to their stories, TU believes that compassionate, kind and resilient are apt descriptions of these three, too, and extends sincere gratitude to each of them for continuing to engage in this necessary labor.