UAB Department of Health Services Administration 2020-21 Annual Report

UAB DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

LIVING OUR VALUES • 2020 -2021 uab.edu/hsa

SCHOOL OF HEALTH PROFESSIONS

The University of Alabama at Birmingham

C H A I R ’S L E T T E R

C ON T E N T S

Summer 2021 • HSA Annual Report Greetings,

4 LIVING OUR VALUES ◗ Collaboration ◗ Integrity ◗ Respect ◗ DEI ◗ Excellence

16 DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHTS ◗ New Hires ◗ Retirements ◗ Faculty Awards ◗ Alumni Awards

20 ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT ◗ Events and Updates ◗ Awards ◗ WIHL

26 GIVING BACK

I am delighted to share with you the activities and accomplishments from UAB’s Department of Health Services Administration during the pandemic – a period of history we will never forget. I am proud of how our faculty, staff, students and alumni responded, with creativity, humility, grit, team spirit and a bit of humor. From day one, we kept our values at the center of our decisions and actions.

In our Annual Report, we focus on how we live our values – collaboration, respect, excellence, integrity, and diversity, equity and inclusion – and how we hold ourselves and each other accountable for them. I hope you enjoy reading about the wide range of ways our values guide and impact our mission to develop leaders to shape tomorrow’s health care.

I am honored to work with the HSA team in Birmingham and around the world. We have found new ways to stay connected as we tackle some of the most vexing issues facing our industry. I have never been more optimistic about the future.

This is because of the emerging leaders we meet in every entering class and the fabulous things our alumni are doing to improve health and health care in their communities.

We all wish you great success this year and beyond. We are excited to continue to engage with you, to support your work and to hear about your successes.

Best wishes,

Christy Harris Lemak, PhD, FACHE Professor and Department Chair

➤ Visit uab.edu/hsa for HSA news and information

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BY THE NUMBERS

429

131

COURSES TAUGHT

CAPSTONE PROJECTS

15

AWARDS & HONORS

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131

BOOK CHAPTERS 9 BOOKS

POSTERS & PRESENTATIONS 8 KEYNOTES

825

STUDENTS (SPRING 2021): 384 UNDERGRADUATE, 358 GRADUATE, 83 DOCTORAL

159

PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS

124

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL SERVICE POSITIONS 30 IN LEADERSHIP Photography disclaimer - some event images were taken prior to COVID-19 masking mandates. uab.edu/hsa

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UAB DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

LIVING OUR VALUES We identified a set of values that we hold dear and pinpointed behaviors and expectations for each: collaboration, integrity, respect, diversity, equity and inclusion, excellence. We strive to hold ourselves and each other accountable toward living our values in all that we do.

COLLABORATION

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INTEGRITY

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RESPECT

DEI

EXCELLENCE

COLLABORATION Successful collaboration requires cooperation, communication and coordination. In HSA, we go further by bringing transparency, teamwork and trust to every project.

UAB School of Medicine and UAB Health System

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he evolution of the Learning Health System (LHS) model is a recent example of how we collaborate. The LHS is rich in inspiration and guidance for individuals, groups, and organizations that are motivated to undertake the twin challenges of implementing the model and of assessing progress along the way. There is increasing interest in health care organizations functioning as LHS to improve the quality and efficiency of health care delivery while generating new knowledge.

We have embarked upon several initiatives that will integrate research, academics and industry. This effort leverages our faculty members’ expertise to solve issues identified by health care organizations.

The UAB Center for Outcomes and Effectiveness Research and Education (COERE) cultivates a community of interdisciplinary health services, outcomes and effectiveness investigators. Our faculty and alumni hold significant leadership roles in this organization.

Allyson Hall, PhD, professor and director of our Graduate Programs in Healthcare Quality and Safety (HQS), is co-director of COERE and with Director Michael Mugavero, MD leads the COERE’s LHS initiatives. Larry Hearld, PhD, associate professor, serves as a COERE Associate Director and leads the Dissemination, Implementation, and Improvement Science core of the COERE. Monica Aswani, DrPH, assistant professor, Kiersten Kennedy, MD, MSHA (E45), Sarah Nafziger, MD, MSHA (E53), and Robert Weech- Maldonado, PhD, professor and L.R. Jordan Endowed Chair of Health, are members of the COERE Steering Committee.

Working with Allyson and our HSA colleagues has been like the scientific equivalent of ‘form meets function’ as we discuss operational changes and initiatives that directly impact patient care, but with their insight on how best to measure that impact in a way that can be disseminated. In a practice that is at high risk for change fatigue, it allows us to share thoughtful outcomes data with our team so that they can see that the changes made, while exhausting at the time, made a difference in the care that we deliver.

— K I E R S TE N K E N N E DY, M D ( M S H A E 5 3)

Dr. Kierstin Kennedy, MD, MSHA collaborating with colleague.

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COLLABORATION

The UAB COERE cultivates a community of interdisciplinary health services, outcomes and effectiveness investigators. It supports the training and conduct of rigorous person-centered outcomes research, spanning health system, community, and population health settings.

Hall, along with Ria Hearld, PhD, director of our PhD in Administration-Health Services program, Ferhat Zengal, PhD, associate professor (PhD 2013), Sue Feldman, PhD, director of our Graduate Programs in Health Informatics, and PhD students Greg Orewa and Sandra Chrapah, work closely with physicians in UAB Hospital Medicine to conduct quality improvement research. Their most recent paper documents how Accountable Care Teams on hospital medicine units have had an impact on timely discharge.

Hearld is collaborating with Ahmed Zaky, MD, professor in the Division of Cardiothoracic and Critical Care Anesthesiology and an MSHQS student, in an analysis of data to better understand the impact of anesthesia on hyperglycemic patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Reid M. Eagleson

(MSHQS 2020, BSHCM 2017) PhD student

Double-alumnus and current PhD student Reid M. Eagleson (MSHQS 2020, BSHCM 2017) plays a part of the LHS from being a doctoral student and as an active member of the UAB Hospital community where he is involved in the Center for Nursing Excellence (CNE) supporting new quality initiatives and the collection and reporting of nursing quality indicator data.

Heather Martin PhD student

Heather Martin, PhD student, and COERE LHS fellow, provides leadership in the development of LHS related manuscripts and other dissemination activities and will help develop processes further connecting UAB Health System’s continuous improvement projects to research opportunities. Martin is also the Alabama Health Professionals’ Opioid & Pain Management Education (ALAHOPE) project lead.

ALAHOPE is a joint project between the UAB School of Health Professions and Jefferson County Department of Health whose goal is to develop an online, multi-media opioid prescribing and dispensing practice curriculum. ■

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We value partnerships and recognize that our success is due to the talent and time of the entire team.

O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center at UAB Soumya Niranjan, PhD Assistant Professor

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iranjan is working to evaluate a lung cancer screening education program. Her work is exploring the results compiled from the initial training, program evaluation and lessons learned, in collaboration with the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Office of Community Outreach and Engagement.

Her project, Alabama Lung Cancer Awareness, Screening, and Education (ALCASE), uses the highly regarded Deep South Network (DSN) Community Health Advisor (CHA) Model in an effort to reduce lung cancer disparities in medically underserved counties of Alabama. Specifically, CHAs were recruited to provide education and awareness initiatives together with increasing the availability of screening programs in local healthcare facilities with community-based implementation support.

The project works in one urban county and six rural Black Belt counties. The Black Belt region, located in the mid-south areas of Alabama, are characterized by poverty, rurality, unemployment, low educational attainment, and disproportionate lack of access to health services. The ultimate goal is for CHAs to identify 250 individuals across all seven counties involved in ALCASE who would be ideal candidates for lung cancer screening. ■

GREENE

JEFFERSON

HALE

SUMTER DALLAS CHOCTAW MARENGO

AHIMA Foundation Research Network Shannon Houser, PhD Professor

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ince 2019, Houser, has served as chair and leader for the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Foundation Research Network.

Annually she works with 10-14 AHIMA members from multiple universities across the U.S. Under her leadership and collaborative work, the group

accomplished four research studies, delivered eight presentations at national and regional conferences, and published four peer-reviewed articles. The group research included telehealth use and clinical documentation requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic, cancer registry and care coordination along with data collection and data use during the COVID-19 pandemic, and population health skill set requirements aligned with Health Information education. ■

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INTEGRITY Integrity is who we are; this is where our values become our actions; this is where you witness our character.

Baldrige Awards — Legacy of Performance Excellence Charles D. “Chuck” Stokes FACHE (MSHA Class 17)

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harles Stokes began his work career as a nurse. He ended his work career as CEO and president of Memorial Hermann – a health system based in Houston with 28,000 employees, 6,500 physicians, and nearly 300 care delivery sites.

In between, he served as chairman of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and led several hospitals and health systems across the southern sections of the U.S. Twice, Stokes-led organizations achieved the pinnacle of performance excellence and were awarded the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. In 2006, it was North Mississippi Medical Center (NMMC) in Tupelo, Mississippi, while he served as president, and in 2016, it was Memorial Hermann’s Sugar Land Hospital in Texas.

In 2021, Stokes was awarded the Foundations Award for Leadership Excellence by the Baldrige Foundation. This award recognizes leaders who provide exceptionally outstanding support to Baldrige and the Foundation’s mission. Throughout his career, he has contributed sustained, outstanding service of a magnitude worthy of Baldrige recognition. Personal dedication and selfsacrifice are the cornerstones of Chuck Stokes and he brings those to UAB today as a faculty member and Executive-in-Residence where he is directly influencing the integrity of tomorrow’s health care leaders.

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John Kueven, FACHE (MSHA Class 41)

Like Stokes, John Kueven was trained as a nurse and has twice been a member of Baldrige Award winning teams. Once with Stokes, as part of the Memorial Hermann Health System in 2016, and again this year when WellStar Paulding Hospital, where he serves as president, was awarded the nation’s highest honor for performance excellence.

Kueven also serves as interim president of WellStar Cobb Hospital and senior vice president in the WellStar Health System. And in an identical setting to his Baldrige win in 2016, the CEO and president of the Health System he works for, is led by another of our alumni – Candice Saunders.

Candice Saunders, FACHE (MSHA Class 24)

Saunders, who joined WellStar in 2007 and was elevated to president and CEO in 2015, is a giant in Atlanta where she has been included with John Lewis, Ted Turner and Sanjay Gupta on lists of the most influential people in the city. She is also a health care influencer and chair of the Georgia Hospital Association, is a recently named Healthcare Champion by The National Association for Female Executives, and was the only woman in health care to receive a Women of Excellence award in 2015.

We are committed to honesty and authenticity, adhering to strong moral and ethical principles in everything we do.

Saunders is also dedicated to reaching back to our program in order to help move forward the alumni and students that follow in her footsteps. Most recently, she is an inaugural member of our Women in Healthcare Leadership (WIHL), which provides mentoring to alumni and students and delivers programming to promote inclusive leadership at all levels.

It is no surprise that Stokes, Kueven and Saunders are all Baldrige honorees – they exemplify integrity as members of their communities, as leaders in their organizations, and as members of our alumni family. ■

Dean Butler with Baldrige honorees John Kueven and Chuck Stokes and Christy Harris Lemak

Before and After: The Value of Integrity

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very year, the new residential MSHA cohort attends orientation where one of their first activities is to write their personal mission statements and values on index cards. This activity, led by Executive-in-Residence Mike Williams, FACHE (MSHA Class 14) and department chair, Christy Harris Lemak, PhD, prompts students to immediately connect with their own values and recognize the importance of honesty and authenticity.

Two years later, as they begin their administrative residency year, we ask them to reflect on their time on campus and their original list of personal values. ■

Residential MSHA student orientation at Alabama 4-H Center

I still carry those index cards and what I wrote hasn’t changed.

As I have grown, how I live them has changed — it has forced me to slow down, listen well, and respond with compassion in pursuit of excellence. Teams I previously worked with were single-disciplinary with similar backgrounds, but for the rest of my career, teams will be diverse with different areas of expertise. This emphasizes the need to live out my values to pursue my mission.

I am thankful for a program that emphasized this so well.

— C H R I S TO P H E R D O D S O N ( M S H A C L A S S 5 5)

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RESPECT Respecting Individuality in a Team Environment

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e all know the cliché – “There is no ‘I’ in ‘Team’” – but the reality is, we are a collective group of I’s – a group of individuals (which has three I’s by the way). It is our individuality that delivers unique ideas to the team and in turn makes us a stronger collection of I’s. But our individuality – along with our respect for individuality – can create distance and build differences if we are not aware of ourselves and others.

Our MS in Health Informatics program recognized all of this recently and created a “Finding the Good” Virtual Gratitude Board to celebrate the individualities that make them such a strong group.

With so much fear, negativity and uncertainty in the world today, it was really nice to have a way to share some positivity. It was also a great way for us all to get to know each other since we are all remote and have not had an opportunity to meet in person yet.

— K AT Y W H ITE ( M S H I , 2 02 2 )

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Faculty recognized the first-year MSHI students were experiencing a lot of angst – as you would expect, it is not an easy degree and it was during the pandemic. The virtual gratitude board became a supplement to faculty office hours and student counseling appointments.

“Expressing gratitude allowed me to be vulnerable with my classmates and professors,” said Clarke A. Tulloch (MSHA Class 56, MSHI 2022). “Our gratitude board revealed how blessed I was and alleviated the stress associated with school and the pandemic.”

Even more importantly, the board allowed the students to support each other. Witnessing each others’ worlds opened up students’ eyes to the variety of challenges they each faced. They saw similarities, differences and opportunities to grow in their respect of others and themselves.

“One of the best things someone can do in their self-improvement journey is to journal every day or write down one thing that made them happy, and the gratitude wall is a communal approach to that,” said Shafiq Islam (MSHI 2021). “I really valued taking a few minutes to reflect on my day and think about something or someone who made me smile. When you’re busy and constantly going, it’s very easy to get caught up or stuck in your perspectives and outlooks.

The board is something so simple, but it helped me feel a lot better over time.” ■

We honor and appreciate the traditions, beliefs, and individuality of all.

Celebrating the Future of Respect in Health Care Ari Villanueva (BSHCM 2021)

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ri earned a Lavender Leadership Award for their LGBTQ+ leadership and work with The Alabama Youth Activist Institute, as president of Planned Parenthood Generation action at UAB, and their service to URGE (Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity). UAB’s Lavender Celebration is an annual event where LGBTQ+ students receive recognition for their contribution to campus and their success in graduating.

We believe it is important to respect, support and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community because so often the narrative surrounding their experiences revolves around suffering and discrimination. While we work to uplift them and celebrate their accomplishments, we also acknowledge and let others know that queer folks are multifaceted and can accomplish amazing things despite marginalization.

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SHA Class 55 students revealed their respect for others in their Capstone course project.

They read Leading Through a Pandemic: The Inside Story of Humanity, Innovation, and Lessons Learned During the COVID-19 Crisis, and created an inspiring Word Cloud that caught the eye of the editors of Modern Healthcare magazine. The word cloud was featured in the May issue.

Our MSHA Student Group also won two UAB 2020-21 Student Involvement & Leadership awards: Outstanding New Organization and Commitment to Community Engagement. ■

Viewing Health Care Workers as People, Not “Tools” Katherine Meese (PhD 2019) Director, Graduate Certificate in Health Care Leadership

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eese serves as director of research for the UAB Medicine Office of Wellness. Her research focuses on individual well-being, team functioning, and work redesign. She is concerned that too much research and discussion on well-being centers on specific roles within the healthcare team such as physicians and nurses. During her own large study of healthcare workers during COVID-19, she found that all health care workers were at risk of high distress, including administrative and non-clinical

employees. As a result, Meese is working on several experimental projects aimed at improving work design and the team environment.

The crux of her research is the importance of showing respect for ALL members of the health care team and recognizing their value by giving them the healthy work environments they deserve. “In our industry, we tend to talk about healthcare workers as tools that can be optimized for increased efficiency or production. Working to improve the well-being of our caregivers and reduce work-related sources of distress is part of the goal to respect their incredible contributions to our patients, and most importantly – their humanity.” ■ uab.edu/hsa

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Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) We are recognized and supported for our DEI efforts and for being deliberate in our words and intentional in our actions.

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UAB Health System Creates John Lewis Scholars

AB Health System provided a $25,000 gift to establish the John Lewis Health Equity Program Support Fund. Their generosity will support our UAB Academy and honor the life and legacy of Alabamaborn civil rights hero John Lewis.

The fund will be dedicated to reducing health disparities through the development of diverse, inclusive health care leaders as it supports the UAB Academy for Addressing Health Disparities Through Health Care Leadership, an enrichment program focused on future health system leaders (undergraduate students) who identify as Black,

Latinx, Native American or multi-cultural, those from rural, urban, and other underserved communities, and those who are the first in their families to attend college or graduate school.

Academy participants will be called “UAB John Lewis Health Equity Scholars.” The Academy supports students in graduate school application preparation and providing knowledge about the wide array of career opportunities in which they can get in “good trouble” to reduce health disparities, including health care leadership, health policy, health informatics, health care quality and safety, public health, and others. ■

Faculty Scholarship in DEI Leads to Action Soumya Niranjan, PhD

Geoffrey A. Silvera, PhD

Assistant Professor

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iranjan has lead efforts in studying increasing minority participation for those who have been historically underrepresented in clinical research, particularly in oncology clinical trials. Although many patient-related barriers have been studied, the role of bias within the context of recruitment of racial and ethnic minorities to cancer clinical trials and infrastructure is under-explored. Her work establishes the presence of bias and stereotyping among clinical and research professionals recruiting for cancer clinical trials. She and her co-authors have proposed strategies and partnerships which encompass providers, community partners and institutional level investment may facilitate greater minority participation in cancer clinical trials.

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Assistant Professor

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ilvera, one of our newest faculty hires, recently published a paper in State and Local Government Review entitled, “Toward the Roux: Explaining the Adoption of Inclusionary Practices in Local Governments.” This study explores the relationship between local government inclusion practices and community demographic and structural characteristics. Building off this work, Silvera and a co-author hosted a three-part webinar series with the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) called, “Equity and Inclusion: A Strategic Organizational Approach” to aid local government officials in initiating DEI efforts. They have also been invited to produce a two-part workshop at the ICMA’s annual conference in October. ■

We believe our diversity is a source of our strength and strive to understand, value and involve all.

Students Named Diversity Champions

MSHA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Student Council

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he UAB President’s Diversity Champion Award for student organizations was awarded to 27 MSHA students who created the MSHA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Student Council. The council’s purpose is to prioritize DEI as fundamental pillars of the MSHA program and bring heightened social awareness.

Founding leaders include Brianna Houston, Mark Lainoff and Damini Patel (MSHA Class 55), and Rana Webb (MSHA Class 56).

“These students are creating a more inclusive community here and will create organizations and

I’m proud of where the program is today and where the students will take it tomorrow. Their enthusiasm, courage and commitment to diversity will have a lasting impact on the leadership of health care organizations.

— TI F FA N Y C H A N E Y ( M S H A C L A S S 3 6) Chief Diversity Officer, Baptist Health, Montgomery, AL

communities that are more equitable and inclusive as they embark on their careers,” said Amy Landry, PhD (PhD 2006, MSHA Class 35), MSHA Program Director.

The MSHA DEI Student Council came about during the summer of 2020. The students found themselves navigating the COVID-19 pandemic as well as digesting an influx of media focused on social injustices across the country. ■

Honored for Inclusive Excellence Ronald Wyatt, MD (MSHA Class E41)

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yatt was selected by More Inclusive Healthcare as a Physician Champion for Quality and Equity.

Wyatt is passionate about challenging the healthcare system and racism through his own experiences and real-life stories that have impacted his views and perspectives. He wrote an opinion article, “The HealthCare Industry Doesn’t Want To Talk About This Single Word,” that appeared in the Washington Post on April 5, 2021. Over the years, he has spoken around the country, including to our students, on ways to improve healthcare and reduce disparities. ■

SHP 2020 Student Awards ◗ Diya Ann Jacob (BCHCM 2021)

Alfred W. Sangster Award for Outstanding International Student - recognizing academic and non-academic accomplishments ◗ Ari Villanueva (BSHCM 2021) Dean’s Award for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - recognizing a student who has made significant efforts in the areas of DEI

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EXCELLENCE Excellence has been our hallmark since 1967.

Alumni Earn Excellence Honors

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ive alumni have been recognized in the 2021 UAB National Alumni Society’s Excellence in Business Top 25. This honor was created to identify, recognize, and celebrate the success of the best UAB alumniowned or UAB alumni-managed businesses. Awarded annually since 2015, it is determined through a revenue verification process by Warren Averett. ■

Greg Hulsey*

Greg Merrill

(MSHA Class 30) Maynor & Mitchell Eye Center

(MSHA Class 28) Radiation Business Solutions

“My experience at UAB has been so vital to the success of my career.”

“The foundation of my career started through my administrative residency through the UAB MSHA program.”

Mazi Rasulnia*

Mickey Trimm (PhD 1996) Kolbe Clinic

(MSHA Class E51) Relias Healthcare

“I would not be here without UAB’s support and the mentos I’ve had over the years.”

“UAB provided me with a superior education, which I use every day.”

“I’m thankful to the faculty and staff that supported me and the friends and colleagues I’ve made along the way.”

(PhD 2006) Pack Health

Luke West*

➤ Visit youtube.com/UABSHP to find each award recipient’s response video.

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Wiechart’s Work Named Best Paper

ichael Wiechart’s (DSc 2019) paper based on his dissertation was chosen as the best paper submitted to the Public and Non-Profit Management Special Interest Group at European Academy of Management. Wiechart’s paper was selected from among 78 papers submitted from around the world. His dissertation work was completed with faculty co-authors Bob Hernandez (MSHA Class 5), Steve O’Connor (PhD 1988), and Jeff Szychowski. ■

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We are driven to do our best, learn from our setbacks, and tenaciously seek to improve.

Case competitions provide students with a venue to apply what they are learning in the classroom to a real-world problem, demonstrating excellence in the field.

UAB Students Dominate Case Competitions Building a cohesive group with strong internal relationships of trust is key to project success, and remaining focused on strategic alignment is also critical. Another priority was to center the patient experience and utilize technology to enhance the patient-physician relationship.

Christopher Dodson, WIll Ferniany.

Brianna Houston and Mark Lainoff

— L A R I S S A P I E R C E , M D ( M S H I 2 022 )

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ur students won the UAB Health Administration Case Competition, for the first time in its 15-year history. Christopher Dodson, Brianna Houston, and Mark Lainoff (all MSHA Class 55) defeated 42 teams, with the help of their faculty coach, Nancy Borkowski, DBA. Kellie Barrett, Matthew Stisher and Ann Freeman

For three weeks we were able to use all we had learned, culminating in the best finish to our time on campus. I will remember this experience forever!

— C H R I S TO P H E R D O D S O N ( M S H A C L A S S 5 5)

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e took home 1st place in the Ohio State Case Competition - team members Kellie Barrett, Ann Freeman and Matthew Stisher (all MSHA Class 56) beat 24 teams. Heather Lee, MSHA Director of Operations served as their faculty coach. The OSU competition is unique in that it invites first-year MHA students to participate and analyze an operational issue.

Robert Gallagher, Larissa Pierce, and Ashley Beasley*

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he HIMSS Global Case Competition was won by our MSHI students for the second straight year. Team members and analyst Robert Gallagher, Larissa Pierce, Ashley Beasley and Katy White, all first year MSHI graduate students, were advised

by Sue Feldman, PhD and Eta Berner, PhD. ■

*Image was taken before the COVID-19 pandemic.

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D E PA R T M E N T H I G H L I G H T S

New Members of Team HSA Abdulaziz Ahmed,

Eileen Hatfield,

Geoffrey Silvera,

PhD, Assistant

Academic Advisor II

PhD, Assistant

Professor Ahmed teaches in the Graduate Programs in Health Informatics.

His research focuses on applications of novel optimization and machine learning in improving complex systems in healthcare. He has published several conference proceedings and journal articles in prestigious journals such as Expert Systems with Applications, Operations Research for Health Care, and Healthcare Management Science.

Hatfield comes to the HCM program from Kennesaw State University where she was an Athletic Academic Advisor.

She was responsible for the academic advising and tracking the NCAA continuing eligibility and academic progress of Men’s and Women’s Track & Field, Golf, and Women’s Soccer studentathletes. She earned a master’s and undergraduate degree from Samford University, where she was a member of the women’s volleyball team.

Professor Silvera is a management scholar primarily focused on the influence of executive decision-makers on end-user outcomes. In the field of diversity management, his work has centered on the institutionalization of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in local government. In addition to his academic position, he serves on the editorial board of Health Care Management Review and as the Associate Editor of Patient Experience Journal. ■

Retirements Jose B. Quintana (PhD 1984) retired

after teaching in our department for more than 30 years. He has taught every level of student, served as an amazing faculty coach for students in the Master of Science in Health Administration program, and has taught courses in operations management, quality management, and quantitative methods. He is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, a member of the Academy of Management, the American Society for Quality and the Association of University Programs in Health Administration.

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Midge N. Ray, PhD retired after

working in our department for more than 35 years. Most recently she was a professor in our M.S. in Health Care Quality and Safety and M.S. in Health Informatics programs and an associate scientist in the UAB Minority Health & Health Disparities Research Center. One of Midge’s lasting legacies was a lead role in the implementation of UAB Profiles, which created an internal profile of faculty, and the development of Scholars at UAB, which is the public profile of UAB faculty. ■

D E PA R T M E N T H I G H L I G H T S

Notable Faculty and Staff Awards Michelle Brown,

Sue Feldman,

Christy Harris

PhD - Graduate

RN,PhD - HIMSS

Lemak - Leader in

Dean’s Award for

Changemaker

Excellence in Mentorship — Brown is one of ten

UAB faculty members to receive this award for her tremendous impact on her students.

Dr. Brown has modeled and inspired continued professional development and life-long learning.

She ensures her students know the value and benefit for continued development. What makes a mentor outstanding is the initiative and passion to find what sparks the interest of a mentee and providing the support and guidance towards those pursuits. I have my dream position, thanks to her support and guidance.

— KELLY ROSZCZYNIALSKI, MSHS,MD, Clinical Asst.

Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University

— one of 11 recipients of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Changemaker in Health Award.

The award is determined by a public vote, making it a unique representation of the voices of the health care industry.

One of the criteria is driving “transformational change, leading to improved health outcomes for patients through the advancement of the best use of information and technology within communities.”

Feldman, director of the UAB Graduate Programs in Healthcare Informatics, has been a leader in UAB’s GuideSafe™ platform that has monitored symptoms, exposure and risks of COVID-19 for colleges, universities, K-12 schools and medical institutions.

“Sue is an example of how the commitment and ingenuity of UAB faculty and staff made a positive difference in our community and beyond throughout COVID-19. I credit her and the team behind GuideSafe™ for saving numerous lives and helping so many manage the worst pandemic in our lifetimes,” said, Ray L. Watts, UAB President.

Feldman led development of the “Map it, Zap it” coronavirus symptom tracker, adopted by nearly 100,000 community users.

In addition, the GuideSafe™ Event Passport — part of an ongoing COVID-19 symptom monitoring program to manage building entry — reached 250,000 daily users.

Diversity Award

— the only UAB employee to be selected as an individual Leader in Diversity by the Birmingham Business Journal. Throughout her 30year career in healthcare management education, she has been a catalyst and trailblazer for increasing the diversity, equity and inclusion in healthcare industry leadership roles. She has dedicated her research, teaching and service to making healthcare leadership an inclusive reality.

In 2017, she created the Academy for Addressing Health Disparities Through Health Care Leadership, with the primary objective of increasing the diversity of students entering graduate degree programs in health management and leadership.

As a transformative healthcare leader, dedicated to cultivating the next generation of leaders, Dr. Lemak’s impact in my life has been monumental — with her mentorship I am on my way to achieving my purpose.

— KORTL AND HUDSON (MSHA CL ASS 54) Practice

Administrator, Baylor Scott & White Health – Waxahatchhie

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D E PA R T M E N T H I G H L I G H T S

Ria Hearld, PhD - 2021 President’s Award for Excellence in Support of UAB and Shared Governance — Hearld, associate professor, PhD in Administration-Health Services Program Director, and past chair of the UAB Faculty Senate, received this award because she exemplifies the UAB core value of unity of purpose through shared governance that propels our institution to achieve excellence in all parts of its mission. Perhaps at no time in UAB’s history has the need for collaboration and communication been more urgent than in the past year, as a global pandemic and nationwide attention on longstanding issues of racial injustice led to unprecedented responses from the entire university community.

Her knowledge and expertise in the realm of health care administration, coupled with her affable and approachable nature, helped her be a voice of reason and leadership during a difficult time for the university. I am certain that her leadership in the Faculty Senate helped the university with the smooth transition to remote operations. Throughout it all, she always maintained a calm, cool and collected demeanor.

— JOSH CARTER, PhD , Executive Director for Strategic

Leadership Recruitment , UAB School of Medicine

Shannon H. Houser, PhD, MPH, RHIA, FAHIMA - AHIMA Triumph Award —

for the second time in her career, she wins an American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Triumph Award.

Houser was honored with the Mentor Award for a long record of transforming lives and launching careers. In 2007, she won the AHIMA Triumph Award for Research.

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Two HSA team members receive the inaugural President’s Award for Excellence in Shared Values The award honors Blazers who demonstrated one or more of UAB’s shared values in the course of their work during the extraordinary times presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rachelle Lawhorn, Administrative Supervisor, exemplifies the shared values of collaboration, excellence and achievement and stewardship. HSA is a large and complex department, a nominator says, and amid the uncertainty and stress experienced as faculty moved courses online, internships were changed or canceled, and employees transitioned to remote work, Rachelle organized weekly huddles, check-ins and other routine communications. A multitude of additional tasks added to Lawhorn’s plate during the pandemic, yet she did not drop the ball or miss a single deadline.

Jessica Hillman Williams, PhD,

Associate Professor and HCM Program Director, exemplifies the shared value of diversity and inclusiveness. During the pandemic and periods of civil unrest in the country, Williams facilitated conversations about diversity with students and helped Master of Science in Health Administration students form a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Council to ensure future cohorts remain committed to fostering inclusive environments among students. Jessica also volunteered to facilitate DEI discussions among students in the Department of Physical Therapy, which is outside her academic and research responsibilities. ■

D E PA R T M E N T H I G H L I G H T S

Notable Alumni Awards ◗ Adrienne Benton (MSHA Class 19) received the

◗ John Kueven (MSHA Class 41) selected into

◗ John Betts (MSHA Class 53, MSHQS 2020)

◗ Jason Little (MSHA Class 33) is a 2021 Change

2020 Inner City 100 (IC100) award, which recognizes the 100 fastest-growing firms in under-resourced communities across America.

received the 2021 Humanitarian Service medal for his COVID-19 Response, as well as a Navy and U.S. Marine Corps Commendation Medal. ◗ Steve Branton (MSHA Class E52) selected as

2020 Non-Clinical Manager of the Year for Merit Health Wesley. ◗ Tiffany Chaney (MSHA Class 36) received the

Girl Scouts Leading Ladies Award, celebrating individuals who are making a positive impact in the professional lives and in their communities, especially when they are directing those efforts to support the advancement of girls and women.

◗ Rob Crabtree (HQS 2018) was a Birmingham

Business Journal’s 2020 CEO Awards Finalist (100-299 Employees Category). ◗ Donna Crew (BSHS 2003) is serving as the

AAHIM President 2020-2021.

◗ Deborah Grimes (MSHQS 2016, HQS 2013)

received the Top 100 Diversity Officers by DiversityFIRST.

◗ Jim Houser (MSHA Class 51) selected into

International Hospital Federation and WittKieffer 2021 Young Executive Leaders and one of four USA Delegation of this elite group. ◗ Daniel Huggins (MSHA Class E52) named to

Mobile Bay’s 2020 Class of 40 Under 40.

International Hospital Federation and WittKieffers 2021 IHF Young Executive Leaders and one of four of the USA Delegation of this elite group.

Maker Honoree by Leadership Memphis.

◗ Thany Mann (MSHA Class 24) received the

Frances McKenney Award at the SERA Winter Business Meeting 2020. ◗ Stephanie Manson (MSHA Class 32) named

Baton Rouge Business Report 2021 Influential Women in Business. ◗ Craig Maxey (MSHA Class 40) received the

Birmingham Business Journal’s 2020 Veterans of Influence. ◗ Tom McDougal (DSc 2015, MSHA Class 27)

elected as Regent, Mississippi Region of ACHE. ◗ Nir Menachemi (PhD 2002) received the

AcademyHealth’s 2021 Health Services Research (HSR) Impact Award for his research examining how organizational strategies and societal policies impact health and healthcare outcomes.

◗ Travis Pinnix (MSHA Class 44) named to 2020-21

Leadership of Central Kentucky.

◗ Terri Poe (HQS 2016) selected Alabama’s

Top 10 Nurses for 2020.

◗ Evan Ray (MSHA Class 38) named National

Diversity & Leadership Conference’s Top 50 Leadership Excellence Award for 2021.

◗ Erin Yarbrough (HQS 2014) was a Birmingham

Business Journal’s NextGen Health, Tech & Innovation.

uab.edu/hsa

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A LUMNI ENGAGEMEN T

GPHA serves to support lifelong relationships with UAB HSA graduate program alumni who provide their time, loyalty and resources to support UAB’s pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, and public service.

GPHA Activities and Updates Webinars

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OVID helped us re-think alumni engagement. Our monthly webinars showcased how alumni and their organizations worked through issues and challenges during the pandemic, how operations changed and how working from home impacted lives. Alumni, students, faculty, and friends attended the webinars each month for a total of 1,741 registrants.

SAMPLE TOPICS ◗ The Next Step in Your Career: How to Give Yourself An Edge ◗ Constant Upheaval: Disaster Planning for Sustained Uncertainty ◗ Healthcare Leaders’ Role in Addressing Racial Inequity ◗ Being at Your Best: Courageous Leadership for Creative Problem Solving

UPCOMING WEBINARS 12:00-1:00 PM CST

◗ October 14 ◗ November 10 ◗ December 9

➤ LEARN MORE about upcoming webinars at uab.edu/shp/hsa/alumni/webinars

GPHA Student Emergency Fund

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uring spring 2021, the GPHA Board established the GPHA Student Emergency Fund to provide financial assistance for students when unanticipated needs arise. The fund will aid in the retention of students in the department’s various programs by supporting the successful and uninterrupted studies of these future healthcare leaders. Funds have already been awarded to help students with emergencies, such as professional clothing for job interviews. ■

➤ GIVE TODAY Contribute to the GPHA Student Emergency Fund through Venmo - @UABGPHA 20

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A LUMNI ENGAGEMEN T

Alumni-led Events

Nashville, Tennessee

Dallas, Texas

Judy and Chuck Stokes giving vaccinations in Huntsville

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raduates of the Department of Health Services Administration span the country and the world. We have two regional areas that have committed to organizing and hosting alumni-led gatherings. Heather Hubbs (MSHA Class 51), Sallie Walker (MSHA Class 50) and Matthew Wallace (MSHA Class 40) spearheaded the first group and hosted an event in January 2020 in Nashville. In May 2021, Allison Clemmons (MSHA Class 45), Benton Sprayberry (MSHA Class 47), Timia Acklin (MSHA Class 54, BSHCM 2018) and Marshall Ward (MSHA Class 54) initiated an event in Dallas, Texas. ■

➤ INTERESTED IN HOSTING AN EVENT? Contact Randa Hall randahall@uab.edu to learn more.

GPHA Committee Members EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Melissa Mielcarek (MSHA Class 38) President, Executive Director, Cardiovascular Service Line St. Mary’s Medical Center, Huntington, WV

Greg Neal (MSHA Class 25)

Secretary, Connecting/Engagement (Chair), Strategic Advisor, The Summit Companies, Kingsport, TN

John Kueven (MSHA Class 41)

Treasurer, Finance/Fundraising (Chair), SVP & Hospital President Wellstar Paulding Hospital & Interim President Wellstar Cobb Hospital, Atlanta, GA

Gordon Ferguson (MSHA Class 18)

Immediate Past-President, President & CEO Ascension Saint Thomas Rutherford Hospital, Murfreesboro, TN

➤ VISIT uab.edu/gpha to learn about the many ways that you can stay connected with us!

CONNECTING/ENGAGING

FINANCE/FUNDRAISING

Ryan Campbell (MSHA Class E42)

French Forbes (MSHA Class 50)*

Gordon Evans (MSHA Class 49)*

Larry Katzovitz (MSHI 2011)

Vice President, CarolMont Medical Group, Gastonia, NC Vice President, Operations at Guthrie, Corning, NY

Stephanie Manson (MSHA Class 32)

Chief Operating Officer, Our Lady of the Lake Regional Med Center, Baton Rouge, LA

Phil Mazzuca (DSc 2017, MSHA Class 17) CEO, Williamson Medical Center, Nashville, TN

Chad Simpson (MSHA Class 32)

EVP, Realty Trust Group, Knoxville, TN

Ishwari Venkataraman (MSHA Class 32) Principal, Adira Management

Executive Administrator, UAB Medicine, Birmingham, AL Senior Advisor, Impact Advisors, Chicago, IL

Tom Miller (MSHA Class 18) CEO, UofL Health, Louisville, KY

Monica Richey (MSHA Class 37)

VP, Physician Revenue Cycle, Grady Health System, Atlanta, GA

Joe Stough (MSHA Class 31)

EVP/COO, Infirmary Health, Mobile, AL * Young alumnus volunteer (not elected board member

Consulting LLC, Oakland, CA

Lisa Warren (MSHA Class 28)

CEO, Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopedics, Birmingham, AL

Jeff Weier (MSHI 2011)

Sr. Director of Operations, Inpatient, Central Ohio Primary Care, Westerville, OH uab.edu/hsa

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ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT

Three New GPHA Awards GPHA introduced three new awards recognizing outstanding alumni in 2021. Award criteria were developed by GPHA’s Connecting and Engaging Committee.

Alumnus of the Year John Kueven (MSHA Class 41) SVP, President, Wellstar Paulding Hospital, Interim President, Wellstar Cobb Hospital (Atlanta, GA)

Chad Simpson and John Kueven

This award recognizes outstanding leadership by alumni of our graduate programs in all sectors and work settings who have at least 10 years post degree or 10 years in senior management. The honor reflects the breadth of graduate alumni working in medical group management, post-acute care, pharma, insurance, hospitals and health systems, academia, and more.

Emerging Leader of the Year Caroline Sarratt (MSHA Class 45) Associate Administrator, Mayo Clinic (Jacksonville, FL)

Greg Beliles, Christina Zorn, Chief Administrative Officer at Mayo Jacksonville, Caroline Sarratt, Lauren Poist, Weston Gray and Alexis Jackson

This award recognizes outstanding leadership by alumni of our graduate programs in all sectors and work settings who have at least five and less than ten years post degree. The honor reflects the breadth of our graduate alumni working in medical group management, post-acute care, pharma, insurance, hospitals and health systems, academia, and more.

Unsung Hero Award Sarah Nafziger, MD (MSHA Class E53) Professor and Vice President Clinical Support Services, UAB Medicine (Birmingham, AL)

Lisa Warren and Sarah Nafziger, MD

This award honors alumni who instill pride in our department and especially highlights the silent heroes who all too often go unrecognized and unsung. This is an award that inspires others to follow in the hero’s path and demonstrates how a GPHA member is making the world a better place above and beyond what is required in any way that matters

Inclusive Excellence Award Jared Fitzpatrick (MSHA Class 48) SVP of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Dallas Regional Chamber (Dallas, TX)

Jared Fitzpatrick and Mike Williams

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This award recognizes GPHA members who demonstrate leadership in diversity, equity, inclusion, and cultural competency. We define diversity to include issues of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability, and any other way individuals or communities are excluded from the health system or experience disparities. Recipients will demonstrate leadership and achieve measurable results in DEI and cultural competency. ■

A LUMNI ENGAGEMEN T

GPHA Outstanding Student Award Recipients

Each year, GPHA recognizes an outstanding student in each graduate program.

MS in Health Informatics Carole Richardson, PharmD (MSHI 2021) exemplifies the typical MSHI student: family, high stress job, community member. Throughout her time in the program, she has contributed to multiple winning case competition teams, authored manuscripts, and has maintained a solid 4.0 GPA. Richardson is a board-certified pharmacotherapy specialist and Pharmacy Informatics Manager who is interested in optimizing transitions of care and the use of data analytics in the fields of public health and health services research.

MS in Healthcare Quality & Safety Sarah Ryan, PhD (MSHQS 2021) is a licensed clinical psychologist in the Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Division of the UAB Department of Pediatrics.

She has taken on a Quality Improvement role within the division and expects to continue these activities upon completion of her degree. She specializes

in diagnostic and support services for individuals with or suspected of having an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) across the life span. Ryan is chair of the diagnostic and intervention subcommittee for individuals 21+.

MS in Health Administration (Residential) Mark Lainoff (MSHA Class 55)

served as President of the MSHA Student Organization, was cofounder of the MSHA DEI Student Council, mentored in the HSA Bridge program, a graduate student representative on the School of Health Professions DEI Committee, and an administrative intern within the UAB Health System Office of Strategy and Business Development.

Lainoff has also published research in the Journal of Health Care Finance and facilitated community development projects across the Southeast.

MS in Health Administration (Executive) Rob Optican, MD (MSHA Class E55)

has been involved

in governance both within his private medical group in Memphis, Tennessee, and within his large hospital system for more than 20 years. He has been very active in radiology’s national organization, the American College of Radiology, where he has earned the title of Fellow.

For the second time in his career, he is serving as president of the Tennessee Radiological Society, the state chapter of the ACR.

MS in Healthcare Simulation Kimberly Schertzer, MD (MSHS 2021)

stands out as a thought and discussion leader and as a student who promotes the use of theory and evidence-based practices in designing and implementing simulation. In 2019, she won the Outstanding Educator Award for the Stanford Department of Emergency Medicine. She has received numerous education awards and is an associate professor, director of Simulation in the Department of Emergency Medicine, and director of the Emergency Medicine Simulation Fellowship at Stanford University. ■ uab.edu/hsa

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A LUMNI ENGAGEMEN T

Women in Healthcare Leadership (WIHL) In 2020, the efforts of the UAB WIHL initiative crystallized into a formal structure with a charter and four committees: Executive, Awards, Mentoring and Programs.

OUR GOALS ◗ HIGHLIGHT successful female leaders through award nominations and on-campus presentations ◗ ESTABLISH mentoring programs for mid-career women and current department students ◗ PROVIDE programming for all students and alumni of the department related to topics that would promote inclusive leadership and organizations where all individuals can thrive ◗ SECURE funding to support and sustain WIHL activities.

Famous Firsts in HSA Women’s History

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OFFICERS FOR 2021 ◗ President: Teresa Shufflebarger (MSHA Class 23) ◗ Vice President, Programs: Sandy Thurmond (MSHA Class 22) ◗ Vice President, Mentoring: Mary Temm (DSc 2013) ◗ Vice President, Awards: Dawn Bulgarella (MSHA Class E46)

MSHA Class 56 Students Receiving Welcome Boxes

ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS ◗ Fall 2020: Welcomed incoming residential students with a “Welcome to Birmingham” box of goodies. ◗ March 31, 2021: Celebrated Women’s History Month – webinar celebrating many “female firsts” within the Department of Health Services Administration (145 event registrants) 24

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Claire Underwood with Class 1 & 2

◗ 1967*: Claire Underwood (MSHA Class 1), first female graduate of the department. ◗ 1974*: Gertrude Adams and Jacquelyn Adcock (BSMRA) ◗ 1981*: Cindy Freund (PhD) ◗ 1983*: Mary Baize and Billie Schoppman (BSHCM) ◗ 1993*: Mamie Van Dyle (E27) ◗ 1994*: Joan Hicks and Deborah Toney (MSHI) ◗ 2012*: Lisa Jones (DSc) ◗ 2016: MSHQS, 8 of 9 in 1st graduating class ◗ 2019*: Kelly Roszczynialski (SIM) ◗ 2020: Graduate Certificate in Applications of Mixed Methods Research, 9 of 9 in 1st completing class *Denotes first female program graduates

ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT

WIHL Directory AWARDS COMMITTEE

MENTORING COMMITTEE

PROGRAMS COMMITTEE

Neeysa Biddle (BSHS 1989, MSHA Class 26) Retired, CEO, Ascension,

Dawn Ahner (DSc 2018)

Kyle Akins (MSHA Class 41/ MSHI 2008), Director, Performance

Dawn Bulgarella (MSHA Class E46)

CFO, UAB Health System, Birmingham, AL

SVP & Hospital President, Wellstar Kennestone, Atlanta, GA

Tiffany Chaney (MSHA Class 36)

Shelby Bennett (HCM 2016)

Anna Coreno (MSHA Class E49)

Olivia Dansby (MSHA Class E54)

Praneetha Elugunti (MSHA Class 50)

Dawn Fizer (MSHA Class E54)

Sarah Hereford (MSHA Class 51, MSHI 2017), Manager, DHG Consulting,

Albertville, AL

Chief Diversity Officer, Baptist Health, Montgomery, AL Sr. Quality Management/Plan Performance, BCBS of Alabama, Birmingham, AL

Jamie Dabal (MSHA Class 39)

VP, Operations, Children’s of Alabama, Birmingham, AL

Barbara Estep (MSHA Class 22)

VP, Administration, Noland Health Services, Birmingham, AL

Meagan Fowler (MSHA Class E54) Director of Specialty Pharmacy, UAB Hospital, Birmingham, AL

Laurie Hunter (HQS 2018)

Sr Director, TKC Clinical Svcs, UAB Medicine, Birmingham, AL

Lori Moler (MSHA Class 23)

VP, Customer Service, Children’s of Alabama, Birmingham, AL

Davina Patterson (BSHS 2009)

Director, North AL CIL, Huntsville, AL

Nan Priest (MSHA Class E38)

Retired, EVP & Chief Strategy Officer, St. Vincent’s Health System, Birmingham, AL

Windsor Sherrill (MSHA Class 23)

Professor & AVP Health Research, Clemson University, Clemson, SC

COO, Acute Serv, Renown, Reno NV

Callie Andrews (MSHA Class 41)

Director, Strategic Business Operations, Sentara Leigh Hospital, Virginia Beach, VA Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, UAB Hospital, Birmingham, AL

Program Manager, MHRC Training, UAB Minority Health & Health Disparities Resource Center, Birmingham, AL

Laura Kowalczyk (HQS 2018) VP, Supply Chain & Support Svs, UAB Medicine, Birmingham, AL

Beth Keyser (MSHA Class E37)

President, BCBS of Indiana (Anthem), Indianapolis, IN

Donna Lawson (MSHA Class 28)

System VP Quality & Patient Safety, Atlantic Health System, Morristown, NJ

Delicia Mason (HQS 2015)

Coordinator of Nursing Quality Outcomes, Children’s of Alabama, Birmingham, AL

Meghan McCarthy (DSc 2020)

System Director, Community Health, Peace Health, Vancouver, WA

Katherine Meese (PhD 2019)

Assistant Professor, Director of Research, UAB HSA, UAB Medicine, Birmingham, AL

Mary Chris Ponder (MSHA Class 42, MSHI 2009), Exec. Director of Oncology

Improvement, WellMed Medical Management, Birmingham, AL

Amanda Chambers (HQS 2015)

Sr Director Neuroscience, Palliative Care & Comfort Care, UAB Nursing Services, Birmingham, AL Operations Manager, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ

Greenville, SC

Lenetra King (MSHA Class 38)

SVP/COO, Prog Dev + Integration, Texas Health Resources, Fort Worth, TX

Rica Lewis-Payton (MSHA Class 17)

Operations Consultant, Community Health Center Association of Mississippi, Jackson, MS

Tamichael Marbury (HCM 2008)

Market Operations Manager, Brookwood Baptist Health, Birmingham, AL

Sarah Nunnelly (MSHA Class 43)

EVP, COO, East Alabama Health, Opelika, AL

Karla Parmer-Rodgers (BSHS 2006)

Human Resources/Practice Manager, Sunrise Dermatology LLC, Mobile, AL

Caroline Sarratt (MSHA Class 45) Associate Administrator, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL

Brandy Simpson (MSHA Class E46) VP, Revenue Cycle Optimization, MedCo Services/Healthcare Revenue Cycle Solutions, Huntsville, AL

Sandy Thurmond (MSHA Class 22)

Lead CRNA, UAB Medicine, Birmingham, AL

Services, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, DC

Vanessa Walls (MSHA Class 24)

Patricia Pritchett (HQS 2013)

Cristie Travis (MSHA Class 13)

Melissa Schuermann (MSHA Class 45)

Samika Williams (MSHA Class E46)

Kesha Thurston (MSHQS 2020)

EVP-Northern Market, Children’s Health, Dallas, TX

SVP, Ambulatory Svcs, UAB Health System, Birmingham, AL Senior Adm, Gynecology & Obstetrics, Emory Healthcare, Atlanta, GA

Lauryn Schultz (MSHA Class 34) Sr. Administrator, DOM, UAB TKC, Birmingham, AL

Mary Temm (DSc 2013)

President, Temm & Associates, Phoenix, AZ

Yameeka Williams (MSHA Class 39)

VP, Primary Care Services, Children’s of Alabama, Birmingham, AL

CEO, Memphis Business Group on Health, Memphis, TN Director, BCBS of Alabama, Birmingham, AL

Lindy Winter (HQS 2014)

Assoc Prof, Pediatrics; Neonatology, UAB Medicine, Birmingham, AL

Teresa Shufflebarger (MSHA Class 23) Chief Administrative Officer, UAB Medicine, Birmingham, AL

Asst. Administrator, Kaiser Permanente, San Diego, CA uab.edu/hsa

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GIVING BACK

Our department strives to enhance health care management and leadership education to promote equity, inclusiveness and cultural awareness.

Our Commitment to Change

I

Virtual Event Raises over $50,000 to Endow DSc Scholarship

n fall 2020, the DSc program hosted two alumni Zoom sessions that included updates on priorities, initiatives and a highlight of the program’s commitment to DEI. Thanks to alumni feedback, we also shared curriculum changes and an enhanced recruitment strategy.

During these events, alumni were asked to consider giving to a scholarship that would support executives from underrepresented groups as they work to attain a

doctoral degree. The scholarship campaign to create the Executive Doctoral Endowed Scholarship for Diversity and Inclusion in Healthcare Leadership was launched in 2018 by DSc students.

Fast forward two years and the time was right to ask for help reaching the endowment level.

During the 2nd session, our alums made the scholarship a reality, with commitments that totaled over $50,000. It was remarkable to see our alumni come together

this way, resulting in the first scholarship in our department to be established through a Zoom meeting! ■

DSc 8th Cohort

➤ VISIT go.uab.edu/dscgive to Learn more and make your commitment.

Hernandez Family Endowed Scholarship Established

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rogram Director S. Robert Hernandez (MSHA Class 5) received scholarship support to earn his master’s and doctoral degrees, so he knows first-hand the value of scholarships. He and his wife, Joy Hernandez, established the Hernandez Family Endowed Scholarship to promote diversity and inclusion in honor of his parents, Marie and Sam Hernandez (pictured left). The scholarship will offer financial assistance to students from underrepresented groups in the Executive Doctor of Science in Healthcare Leadership Program. ■

The DSc program accepts a strong number of qualified applicants from underrepresented groups every year. However, every year there are members of these groups who ultimately are unable to enroll because of the financial burden of a high-quality healthcare leadership education.

— S. ROBERT HERNANDEZ , Distinguished Professor, Director, Executive DSc in Healthcare Leadership Program

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GIVING BACK

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MSHA Students Create Endowed Scholarship

urrent MSHA Class 55 has created an endowed scholarship to support future generations of leaders who will guide our industry toward high-reliability, inclusivity, and service excellence. This scholarship was championed by current students who were inspired by the positive responses to COVID-19 challenges and the health disparities that were highlighted by this crisis.

Thank you to the alumni, friends and healthcare organizations who contributed their sponsorships of the 2020 MSHA Golf Classic to the scholarship fund.

MSHA Class 55

MAKE A LASTING

DIFFERENCE Blazing the Way Scholarship Match Your gift can now go twice as far through the creation of an undergraduate endowed or sponsored scholarship through the Blazing the Way initiative. Scholarships are a vital part of UAB and this partnership helps to increase the number of scholarships being awarded by matching donor investments.

Robert Howard (DSc student) and his wife Casey have established the Howard Family Endowed Scholarship — the first Blazing the Way Scholarship for the Healthcare Management program.

To join Robert and Casey and learn more about this exciting opportunity, visit uab.edu/blazingtheway or scan the QR code.

Leann Pelliccio • lneal@uab.edu • 205-996-5930

UAB Department of Health Services Administration 1720 2nd Ave South, SHPB 530B Birmingham, AL 35294-1212 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

STAY CONNECTED WITH UAB// HSA twitter.com/UAB_HSA

linkedin.com/groups/82352/profile

www.uab.edu/hsa