What are your current job responsibilities?

“As a Member of Family Health Centers Medical Leadership team I oversee a team of pediatricians. I work closely with directors from other medical specialties and a group of clinical sites’ directors to assure that exceptional services are provided to all families served at FHCSD. Through my work with the Pediatric Developmental Services team over the past few years, we were able to institutionalize periodic developmental screenings using standardized tools to intervene when needed and we implemented maternal depression screenings during the pediatric well child check visits. This is a reflection of the solid bridges of communication and service integration that exists between the different departments at Family Health Centers to support families, and provide all needed services within their primary care medical home.”

Why did you decide to get this MAS degree?

 “I have always been an avid learner. After joining the medical leadership at FHCSD, I wanted to advance my knowledge and learn the tools for proper project planning, population management, leading and managing teams, and enhancing process improvement practices to reinforce my skills and become a more effective leader.”

What did you like best about the program?

“The applicability of the subjects to what I do daily was wonderful. It provided me with the knowledge and exposure, along with hands-on practice and experience at work. The classes given through the master’s curriculum lined up nicely with my work duties. The subjects taught were interesting and practical, and were pertinent to the changes happening in healthcare, such as the rolling out of the Accountable Care Act, and the implementation of electronic health records. This is a great time to enroll in the master’s program! The experienced faculty, the diversity of the students attending the classes, from clinic and hospital department directors, to international students from different part of the world, to students in the health policy and law program, and physicians all shared their personal and professional experiences, which made learning a richer experience.”

What skills are you applying in your job that you learned in the program?

“The program helped me improve my current skills in project planning, writing and presentation, as well as managing and working closely with teams. I can say that everything I learned during this journey had great value for me and positively impacted who I am and what I do.”

Now that you have completed your degree has it had a positive impact on your career, and if yes, in what way?

“I do feel empowered with the great knowledge, exposure and tools given to me throughout the MAS classes. On a personal basis, I feel that I was able to be a good role model for my kids and colleagues. One of our work Standards of Conduct is to learn and continue to grow. Nothing is too difficult to be achieved with hard work, devotion and good time management.” 

What would you like to tell someone who is considering the program?

“It was a wonderful journey. The program lined up well with everything that I did. I do encourage people with an interest in this field to consider applying. It is a very empowering and rich experience with quality courses, and diversity in the people that you meet and share knowledge and experiences with. One of the main strengths of this program is the experienced, devoted faculty in addition to a great administrative support staff.”