MHAAlumni:RebecaCovarrubias
Interviewer:SharonCao,PrakrutiPatel,MathildeHanchard
Date:02/15/24
1. Introduction (i.e., background, current job, roles and responsibilities, etc.)
a. ‘17 - fellowship at Erie and been there since, Director of Patient Access Operations, ; back-end of provider schedules, referrals, DEIB, alumni council; love coaching and developing teams & students; and sorority students at UW, lol airport house
b. Bachelors in community health - passion in community health and equity
c. Support employee staff inclusion, University of Wisconsin alma mater
2. Can you share a particularly rewarding moment or accomplishment from your career as a healthcare administrator?
a. Student experience that led to her job-- capstone led to job at Erie-- improving patient satisfaction with ease of scheduling-- schedule more effectively and standardization-- remain in community health
b. Capstone → Job (job offer in February!) showing dedication through program is an accomplishment ; difficult/ challenge at first to manage people and team the first couple years, learn from mentors in Erie
c. Transition to EPIC in 2022 ; most stressful time; dedication! Learning curves ; capstone, networking, seminars, leadership development, conferences guides you to make decisions and implement change in organization and careers!
d. Transitioned to epic, multiple responsibilities-- super stressful time-- showed she can do her job and can lead her team to do the job too
3. What motivated you to pursue a career in healthcare administration? Prakruti can you ask this one too since it ties with your other two yes:)
a. Her mother pushed her to pursuing a master’s
b. Bachelor is community and nonprofit leadership? UW
c. Used to work as an administrator at a hair salon until she went back to school
i. Started her research on healthcare + administration since she was on prenursing track previously
ii. Preceptorship at UIC caught her eye and attended some capstone presentations (how she got recruited to applying)
4. How do you stay updated on emerging trends and advancements in healthcare administration?
a. Member of ACHE; gets journal of healthcare management, articles online
b. Member as a student and post grad-- getting articles and getting updates is helpful
c. Gets updates from work and linkedin, news articles from epic too
d. Doing your research on what market trends are based on your job is beneficial; staying ahead of the game is also helpful in that way
e. Takeadvantageofthestudentmembership
f. Conferencesforhealthcareacrossdifferentorganizations;stayinvolvedin chicagocommunity--professionaldevelopment,localalderman,whatis happeninginthecityandstayuptodatewhereyoulive
g. Stayintouchwithclassmates-network--utilizeyourresources
5. Whatadvicewouldyougivetothefirst-andsecond-yearMHAstudents?--prakruti
a. Firstyears:whatyouputiniswhatyou’llget-sawthestrugglewithherown cohortandthestruggleswithfindingajobafter,putinworktoyourpreceptorship -getasmuchasyoucanintermsofhowtocommunicate,bealeader,bean employeefromyourpreceptorship(treatitlikeajob)
i. Learnagainaboutcommunicationskillsviainpersonsincealotwaslost throughCOVID-19
b. Secondyears:utilizeyourresourcesandconnections-alumnetwork,previous 2ndyears,preceptors,fellows
6. Whatwouldyouhavedonedifferently,ifanything,whileintheprogramknowingwhat youknownow?
a. Don’tdoubtyourselfsomuch-impostersyndrome
i. Carriedthroughherfirstfewyearsinhercareer-perfectionist/selfdoubt intermsofthetypeofworkshewasputtingoutevenifshegaveitherall
ii. Wouldhavestoodupforherselfmorebackthen
iii. Understandingbiasesandmicroaggressions,butknowyourworthand capabilitiesasaleader
7. Howhasyourpreceptorship/jobdifferedfromyourexpectationsvshowitactuallywas?
a. Understandgoingintotheexperiencethatyourpreceptorshipmaybebusy,butit willgiveyouopportunitiestoworkwithotherleaders
b. Setexpectationswithyourpreceptorsinthebeginning-learntheir communicationstyles
c. Getexposuretodifferenttypesofprojects-getdelegatedontoprojectsandbe proactiveonwhatyouwanttolearnandexperience
d. Timemanagement:Makesurethatyou’reontimeandgivethepreceptorsenough timetoreviewwork
8. Howdidyouovercomeyourimpostersyndrome(i.e.age,experience,etc)?
a. Dressingthepart-professionalattire,howtointroduceyourself,howto interview,howtoconnectwithseniorleaders,attendingnetworkingevents (CHEF/ACHE),PRACTICE!!
b. Transitionalphasesaredifferentforeveryoneandasyoumoveoninyourcareer youwillbeabletobemoreconfidentinyourself
9. WhatareyourexperienceswithworkingforaFQHC?
a. FederallyfundedthroughHRSA;open60+years;bornfromcivilrights movement
b.ChicagohaslargegroupofFQHCs-bunchofstatsonwebsite
c.DisplacedmigrantsfromVenezuelainChicago~10patientsaweek
d.Schoolbasedhealthcenters
e.RootCause=accesstohealthcare;ahumanright
f.Tele-health!Butwantpatientstocomebackinperson!
i.AlotofclassmateswereNOTinterestedinFQHCs…sheconsultsinher roleatthisFQHC!Leadteamsofpeers!Howdoyouwanttodevelopyour career&role;whatdoesthetitlemean?Whatdoyouwanttopursue?
ii.Whatdoyouwanttobe?Maybeadirector?WhynotCEO/COO-where doyouwanttogo?It’sokayifyouchangecareerpathsfromschoolor prof.Developmentdowntheline
iii.Worksfromhome!LeadTeams!GrowthOpportunities!Alignedto Mission!PeersmaybemakingdoublehersalaryBUTshelikeswhatdoes