Association of Future Healthcare Administrators Fall Newsletter A Word From the AFHA Board The Association of Future Healthcare Administrators (AFHA) happily welcomes a new semester. This year, the AFHA Board aims to bring more collaboration across the School of Public Health and amongst our MHA cohorts. We are living in an exciting time for healthcare. In our current healthcare climate building strong relationships and collaboration fosters creativity and progress. AFHA is excited about new opportunities for students to build stronger relationships and collaborations that will help all individuals through the progression to early careerists. AFHA wishes all current and former students well in their endeavors.
UIC Students on the Move Presentation in Atlanta Kianna Walton (a 2nd Year student) had the opportunity to attend the annual American Public Health Association Summit, on behalf of Erie Family Health Center (EFHC). Kianna presented a poster presentation focusing on promising practices and lessons learned in oral health integration at EFHC. Prior to dental and medical integration, Erie dental clinics were each their own separate entity. Erie decided to integrate and co-locate their dental and medical sites in order to increase the number of patients receiving both medical and dental care as well as increase medical and dental collaboration to improve clinical care and overall patient health. NAHSE Case Competition Finalists Our MHA case competition team, Heather Afriyie, Stephanie Guinto, Alex Paul, and Alan Yung (and who could forget their faithful mascot Sparky) competed in the 22nd annual Everett V. Fox Student Case Competition at the National Association of Health Services Executives in San Antonio. The team placed 5th out of 30 competing schools. Team members were charged with making Oakland the healthiest city in America, and presented their analysis to judges over the course of two days. The team would like to thank our faculty advisors Larry Wrobel and Katie Carow for their dedication and time spent in the MHA lounge.
MHA Newsletter Fall 2017
Faculty Spotlight: Nick Tilipman The MHA program is happy to welcome Professor Nick Tilipman to its faculty. The AFHA Board sat down with Professor Tilipman to get to know him a little better. AFHA: Where are you from originally? NT: I’m from northern New Jersey – Livingston, close to Newark.
Cornell for my Ph.D.
AFHA: Where did you complete your undergrad? Grad school? NT: I went to Rutgers for undergrad. After I graduated I worked for three years at Columbia in New York as a healthcare policy researcher. It was in 2007, before the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and national healthcare reform was not in the national lexicon. We helped develop models for New York to simulate the effects of implementing reforms similar to the 2006 Massachusetts legislation. After three years at Columbia, I applied for Economics PhD programs and ended up going to
AFHA: What is your experience in healthcare? How did you get to UIC? NT: I studied healthcare economics at Cornell, specifically the industrial organization of healthcare markets. I am trained in modeling and theory and how market dynamics relate to healthcare policy. In addition, I took a year of leave from my studies to work at the Council of Economic Advisors in Washington D.C. The council is a 40-person organization in the White House that is staffed by senior academic economists and graduate students. I specifically worked on health and labor policy issues and the impact of the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. After a year there, I went back to finish my dissertation, and once I finished, I came to UIC. AFHA: What will you be teaching? NT: Quantitative Methods, HPA 470. I am interested in teaching students statistical methods and econometrics, as well as basic research methodologies that will enable them to use big data to answer policy-relevant healthcare questions. AFHA: What are your research interests? NT: I was interested in health labor initially, and over time that has evolved into competitiveness of healthcare markets and firm behavior. AFHA: What drew you to healthcare? NT: When I graduated undergrad, I found a job working for a professor full time as a healthcare researcher and took an immediate liking to it. I liked that healthcare wasn’t so political (back then) and we could go deep into the weeds on policy. Particularly, the rapid emergence of new health data (such as claims data) enabled us to answer really interesting policy questions. I went to grad school with the full intention of studying healthcare economics. AFHA: When you aren’t working at UIC where could we find you? NT: I am a foodie, so you could find me eating my way through Chicago, or in a dive bar – I love a good cocktail. I like to cook a lot, take weekend trips and watch stand up comedy.
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MHA Newsletter Fall 2017 AFHA: Which pizza is better: Chicago or New York? NT: New York. Not even a question. Deep dish is quite good, but it is not pizza. Deep dish is more like a calzone. AFHA: What have you been reading, listening to and watching? NT: I have been on a pretty big old instrumental hip-hop kick: Madlib, Flying Lotus, etc. The best album of the past five years, in my opinion, is The Epic by Kamasi Washington, which is a really great jazz record. I read all the new sci-fi and fantasy books. The Ancillary Trilogy is a dystopian set of novel from the point of view of an AI system, which I thought was interesting. In terms of movies, there have been two: 1. Moonlight (which is very serious and dark and good) and 2. Hunt for the Wilder People, a very funny indie movie reminiscent of Wes Anderson films. AFHA: One piece of advice you have for current and future UIC students? NT: A lot of people go into healthcare not realizing how important data has become. Getting really good information from data has almost become a job requirement. Having a strong set of analytical skills is important for being a strong candidate for a job in healthcare.
Recent Graduate Profile: Jennie Folk ‘16 UIC’s MHA program has propelled alumni into meaningful and interesting positions. Jennie Folk (a 2016 grad) took the time to tell AFHA what she has accomplished since graduation. AFHA: Where are you from (hometown)? JF: I’m originally from Hinsdale, Illinois. I lived and worked in Chicago for a long time before returning to the suburbs. AFHA: What brought you to UIC, and what year did you graduate? JF: As a respiratory therapist at Christ (Advocate Christ Medical Center) I noticed that clinicians were not involved in making hospital-wide patient care decisions. I wanted to be involved in those conversations and provide the clinical perspective. To sit at that table, I needed a master’s degree. I choose UIC because of its location in relation to the big health systems in Illinois. UIC is in the perfect location and I graduated in May 2016. AFHA: What have you been doing since graduation? JF: I work for Advocate Healthcare in the Advocate Operating System (AOS) department. I am doing exactly what I wanted to do – re-designing healthcare to be more safe, effective, and efficient. Although we are called consultants, we don’t work as a traditional consultant group. Instead of going to a new engagement with the exact blueprint of how to solve the problem, we use TPS (Toyota Production System) to examine the situation and re-design the operations to better solve the problem and ensure sustainment. The team works in both the inpatient and outpatient environments and we take pride in being “in the work.” It is a boots on the ground
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MHA Newsletter Fall 2017 approach. After everything is pilot tested, we hold summits to cascade the learning and coach the leaders on how to implement the solutions. AFHA: What are your interests in healthcare? JF: I actually have a B.S. in Advertising from UIUC. I was working in consumer research when my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer. I saw how well the respiratory therapist treated him. I wanted to feel like I was helping someone that much. I went back to school and earned an associates in Respiratory Care from the College of DuPage in 2009. Having a consumer research and clinical background greatly helps me in my current position with AOS. AFHA: When you aren’t working what can we find you doing? JF: I am a DIY-er and I’m currently re-modeling my bathroom. I also have an artsy side and have been making stained glass panels for about 15 years. AFHA: What have you been listening to, reading and watching? JF: I listen to a lot of podcasts and watch a lot of documentaries. I just read When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi and Being Mortal by Atul Gawande. AFHA: What was your favorite class at UIC? JF: My favorite class was Healthcare Law. I understand so much more about our healthcare system after having taken this class. During my internship with Advocate Healthcare’s Neuroscience team, I was reviewing contracts and BAAs and just last week we had a conversation about HIPPA and what constitutes identifiable medical information at work. AFHA: What is some advice you can give to current and future UIC students? JF: Current students – take advantage of your internship and capstone. The experience gained at your internship can be invaluable, but it is all what you make of it. My preceptor is the person who introduced me to the AOS team. I also often see Directors and Managers I worked with at my internship at the AOS-hosted Summits. As it turns out, I now present to them regarding healthcare issues and efficiencies. Future students – keep in touch with professors; they can give you career advice not found anywhere else.
Hot Topics in Healthcare Reflections on the Current State of Opioid Addiction in America By: August Brill The opioid epidemic has taken its toll on American communities. Over 90 people die from opioid overdoses daily, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Families have been torn apart throughout the country, and many communities do not have the resources to combat opioid addiction. Hidden amongst these facts is opioids’ impact on the employment rate throughout the country. In fact, record numbers of Americans are unemployed right now partially because opioids have reduced the numbers of “prime age” men. In July 88.4% of men between ages 25-54 were employed, historically one of the lowest numbers since the 1950’s. Labor participation for this group was nearly ten Page 4
MHA Newsletter Fall 2017 percent higher back in 1954. According to Goldman Sachs in July of this year, 1.8 million workers did not participate in the labor market, classified as “other� for reason. Half of that number admitted to taking an opioid the day before. Losing this key demographic in the economy has stagnated expected economic growth. Washington D.C. does not appear ready to tackle the topic of addiction. President Trump called the opioid addiction a health emergency, but did not request any additional funds to address the state of emergency. Battling opioid addiction will take additional resources to truly overcome. Users of the drug use opioids to battle depression caused by unemployment or underemployment. When jobs are available, like they currently are, many cannot handle the simplest of responsibilities that a basic job entails, impacting not only themselves but their local community as well. This is because that community must now care for these individuals through shoe string budgets, overcrowded Emergency Rooms, and shortage of trained professionals. Potential employers may require drug tests for entry level positions. Passing a drug test offers the greatest barrier to employment for opioid users. Existing employees, suffering from addition, offer little to no production while at work. Individuals addicted to opioids suffer from declining brain function and productivity. Reaction times are also changed. Those in some positions they have put others in danger, such as construction or machine operating can endanger coworkers. Opioid users are more likely to not report to work or use benefits creating a further divide between those employees and employers. Opioids have wreaked havoc on rural America to a great degree. This havoc is due to the lack of jobs and opportunities in these areas. Furthermore, opioid addiction is more prevalent in certain rural areas of the country, with Arkansas and Louisiana owning the highest rates of addiction. In turn, it appears that some of the poorest states in the United States are disproportionally effected. Total American employment numbers may look good, but the reality is that many states will be left with the challenge of caring for opioid users and their families. The only viable solution will be to increase taxes to ensure resources are made available, effectively negating any economic benefits that should have occurred. Americans, as a whole, must look at all forms of opioid abuse including heroin and other illegal fentanyl that account for tens of thousands of deaths each year. Any successful approach will include education, treatment, recovery, urgent overdose reversal and better physician education. If America continues down the current path the opioid epidemic will only continue to deteriorate. Page 5
MHA Newsletter Fall 2017
Meet the 2017—2018 AFHA Board Taylor Moore – President I graduated from the University of Missouri - Kansas City with a Bachelor’s of Business Administration with an emphasis in Management. I am a full-time second year student. I am an Administrative Intern at AMITA Health under the Population Health department. I decided to pursue this MHA program at UIC because of the experience and networking opportunities that the program provides. After graduation, I would like to work on the provider side of healthcare and either focus on population health, or performance improvement within the healthcare system. Alex Paul – VP of Operations I grew up in northwest Indiana, and graduated from DePauw University in 2013. Before attending UIC I worked as a health policy consultant at Navigant, focusing on state Medicaid reform. Currently, I am full-time second year student doing my preceptorship at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. I have a passion for healthcare policy, and hope to inflict positive change through reform. When I am not studying (or working!) I enjoy watching all Chicago sports, sitting in dive bars drinking Coors, and binging reading/listening to NPR. Serena Dayal – VP of Social Programming I graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology. I am a full time second year student. I work as an Operations Administrator under the COO at UI Mile Square Health Center. Working in a physical therapy clinic made me decide to pursue of Masters in Healthcare Administration. When I graduate I want to work in operations and process improvement in a healthcare system. Dani Romero – VP of Finance I graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in May 2016 with a Bachelor's Degree in Community Health. I am a full-time, second year student in the UIC MHA Program and I intend on graduating in May 2018. My preceptorship is at the American Medical Association (AMA) where I am interning in the Enterprise Communications and Marketing business unit. My area of interest in the field of health care is project management. My long-term goals include reducing disparities in access to care amongst medically underserved populations and improving health outcomes.
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MHA Newsletter Fall 2017 Brittany Cumberland – VP of Community Relations I am from Cincinnati Ohio, and attended Ohio University majoring in psychology. As an advocate for health equity, I am passionate about developing sustainable health care solutions that will lead toward a better future. I enjoy innovating and leading initiatives that challenge old patterns of thought and positively disrupt existing market dynamics. I enjoy all things sports related and could eat cake for breakfast! Liz Brann – VP of Part-time Students I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign in Integrative Biology in 2009, and currently work at UIHealth as a Registered Vascular Technologist. I have been a part time student since 2015, and hope to graduate in May 2018. This program has enhanced my ability to care for patients on a daily basis, and I hope to continue serving the community at an administrative level in the future. Taryn Ouellette – First Year Representative I was born and raised in Santa Barbara, California and I first moved to Chicago to study Biology at Loyola University Chicago. After graduating I moved home and started working as an Emergency Department scribe where I was able to develop close relationships with the physicians and interact with patients on a daily basis. I decided to get my Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration, so I moved back to Chicago because I knew it was an ideal place to begin any career in health care. I found UIC’s MHA program was especially enticing because of the opportunity the program provides to work in one of the city’s health systems for a full year through a preceptorship. I am now a full-time student. Emily Town – First Year Representative I am a first year MHA student at University of Illinois at Chicago. I grew up in Northbrook, Illinois and graduated from the University of Illinois-Champaign/Urbana with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2013. For the past four years, I worked as an oncology and hospice nurse at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital. During that time, I served on the Quality and Safety Council where I developed a passion for improving the quality of patient care. I chose the UIC MHA program for the strength of the preceptorship program and to build a network in the diverse healthcare community of Chicago.
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