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| Anthony Rodriguez in Lindsborg, Kansas. |
I am working on a public health project that CCSR has with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) with my preceptor, Sonja Armbruster, public health initiatives coordinator. Through this work, I’ve been introduced to both local and state-wide systems related to local health departments ranging from community health improvement coalition work to Medicaid billing.
In October I
attended a meeting in Lindsborg, Kansas about the role hospitals play in
impacting the health of the population with Sonja and Amy Delamaide, director
of community and organizational development. Approximately 50 hospital
executives from critical access hospitals came together to discuss challenges
and opportunities related to public health and primary care integration in Kansas.
This was the most informative and encouraging meeting I attended during my internship
because there were so many hospital executives talking about health related
issues in their communities and everyone was working together to try to find solutions.
One of the
people I met who had some great integration ideas was Jeremy Armstrong, CEO at
St. Luke Hospital and Living Center in Marion, Kansas. Jeremy not only caught
my attention with his vast knowledge and ideas at this meeting, but he did a
few weeks later when he was a guest speaker in my Health Care Organization class.
After my class
I introduced myself to Jeremy and told him how I remembered him from the meeting
in Lindsborg. We had a brief discussion about some of the ideas he had introduced.
Also he explained to me in more detail from his guest presentation to the
class, the importance of joining a health organization or coalition after
graduation or, if possible, even while I am still in school.
One
organization Jeremy recommended I join was the American College of Healthcare
Executives (ACHE) especially if I wanted to be in an administrative job once I graduated.
A couple of reasons for joining a health organization, Jeremy mentioned, were
the continuing education and networking possibilities for those in health
organizations.
Meeting and
having this discussion with Jeremy was just one of many great experiences I had
during my practicum. It was great to have been able to meet so many new and
influential people that were involved in the public health field.
This has
been an amazing experience for me and I hope to continue to meet more
influential people and find more familiar faces who are involved in the health
field after I graduate.
