HPA e-Newsletter
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
New Home of HPA and CHCPR
It's official! This summer, the Department of Health Policy and Administration (HPA) and the Center for Health Care and Policy Research (CHCPR) will relocate to the newly named “Donald H. Ford Building” (formerly the Business Administration Building). Scenically located near the Nittany Lion Inn, HPA will occupy newly refurbished suites on the 5th and 6th floors. CHCPR will be housed on the 5th floor. The Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Management and the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders will be our new neighbors. While many of us will miss hearing the bells of Old Main, our new location has much to offer, including a view of Mount Nittany! We all look forward to working together in this exciting new setting. Watch for additional details in future newsletters and plan to visit us this fall.
Alumni News
HPA Alumnus Darren Lehrich Receives Penn State Alumni Association’s Alumni Achievement Award
Darren Lehrich ’93 received the Alumni Achievement Award from the Penn State Alumni Association in March 2007. The award honors alumni under the age of 35 for outstanding professional accomplishment. Winners receive a commemorative medal from University President Graham Spanier and meet with students during their visit to their alma mater. Lehrich joined Deutsche Bank in May 2005 as a managing director on the company's Research Team in Global Markets. Lehrich covers the Health Care Facilities sector and provides broad coverage across a variety of health care subsectors, including acute care hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, outpatient dialysis facilities, behavioral hospitals, and post-acute care providers. Prior to joining Deutsche Bank, Lehrich was a managing director and senior analyst covering the Health Care Facilities sector at Piper Jaffray and Co. He also has held positions at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey and at ING Barrings LLC. Before joining Wall Street, Lehrich worked at Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, where he served in a practice management role in the Ambulatory Care Division, working with several of the hospital’s prominent medical oncology practices. In addition to his bachelor’s degree in Health Policy and Administration from Penn State, Lehrich holds an MBA in Finance from the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University. Darren's wife Ellen is also a 1993 HHD graduate. They have three sons, Sammy, Jonathan, and Jed, and reside in Summit, New Jersey. Lehrich has supported HPA in numerous ways, including serving as a class speaker, acting as a preceptor for Nkrumah Makinwa’s undergraduate internship in summer 2006, and financially supporting HPA's endeavors to interact with senior leadership teams in health care organizations.
Mentoring Weekend is Outstanding Success
Edward Miles and his student protégé Gina Bossola
The Health Policy and Administration Mentoring Weekend was held on Friday and Saturday, February 2-3, 2007, once again bringing together HPA students and alumni in a one-to-one experience. The weekend provided the opportunity for alumni to share their advice and experience to help HPA students become successful in the health care field. Many ongoing professional relationships spring from the mentoring program. On Friday, the Mentoring Weekend included mock interviews and lunch with MHA students, and a career panel where alumni and undergraduate students discussed interviewing tips, job and internship searches, career options, and what classes to take, among other topics. Alumni interviewers were: Kimberlee Daniels '92, Maureen Karstetter '87, Kay Salvino '69 IFS, Steven Sheingold ’73 BUS '75g '79g LIB, Joe Thear '84, Steven Wagman '82, and Jocelyn Vanderbrink '93. Career panelists on Friday afternoon were Steven Wagman '82, Kay Salvino '69 IFS, Ken Cook ’81, David McClung '79, W. Russell McDaid '90 COM, '95g HPA, and Joe Thear '84.
Mentors Steve Wagman and Lindsay Genesi lead small group session
On Saturday, mentors and protégés attended the Penn State basketball game against Purdue. The undergraduates’ weekend ended with a mentoring dinner featuring guest speaker and long-time alumni mentor Miryam Granthon ’93 COM. The HPA department would like to thank all the alumni participants for taking the time to share their knowledge and experience with HPA students. Alumni interested in participating in the undergraduate mentoring program can contact Diane Collins, Alumni Mentoring Coordinator, at dvc1@psu.edu or 814-865-3831, while those interested in participating in the MHA mentoring program can contact Mike Meacham at mmeacham@psu.edu or 814-865-5173.
Alumni Reception in New Orleans
Penn State alumni and friends in New Orleans attended a reception held in conjunction with ACHE’s 50th Congress. The March reception at the Sheraton New Orleans gave more than 50 alumni, students, and faculty an opportunity to network and mingle in the Big Easy. Events such as this are held periodically around the country; please contact Barbara Fleischer at bfleischer@psu.edu or 814-863-2900 if you would like to be notified about similar functions planned for your region.
Tell Us Your News
Are you interested in mentoring? Would you like to help with alumni activities? Or do you just have some news to share with fellow HPA alumni? If so, drop us a note. Please click here.
Student News
2006 Preceptor and Intern of the Year Awards
The Undergraduate Committee received numerous impressive nominations for the annual Preceptor and Intern of the Year awards. After a difficult process of narrowing the field, two individuals were selected from each category. The outstanding preceptors are Carl Francioli, senior director of finance, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Maryland, and Jim Brannon, vice president, Atlantic General Hospital in Maryland. The outstanding interns are Joe Esposito, who interned at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin, Maryland, and Mark Wojtowicz, who interned at Geisinger Medical Systems - Geisinger Wyoming Valley in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. These preceptors and interns were recognized along with other HPA students receiving awards at the annual Recognition Ceremony in April.
Annual MHA Oral Competition Held
The annual MHA Oral Competition was held in January, with the following students winning the competition: Sylvia Kamlet, first place; Kelly LeMasters, second place; and Jake Stumpf, third place. This competition is for all second-year MHA students and focuses on their summer residency experiences; in particular, what they learned from the residencies and also how it dovetailed with their classroom learning. Each winner received funding to attend a professional conference. The judging was conducted by panels of health care executives; this year’s final-round judges were: Tom Charles and Lee Myers ’75 BUS ’78g CSP, both of Geisinger Health System, Kay Salvino ’69 IFS of Heimer Eye Care, and Linda Duncan ’85 ’89g CAP of Penn State Hershey Medical Center. The department and MHA students are grateful to these busy people for taking the time to participate in this event.
Scholarship Winners Announced
Two undergraduate HPA students, Jessica Dietrich and Kasey Rhein, were selected to receive Foster G. McGaw scholarships for the 2007-08 academic year. These scholarships are funded by the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) to support the education of emerging leaders in the health care field. Another HPA student, Ashley Kibe, was selected to receive an Alumni Recognition for Student Excellence Award, which is sponsored by the College of Health and Human Development Alumni Society.
THON 2007 was Huge Success
HPA THON Child and Dancers From left to right (bottom row), Emily Kirsch, Aiyana, and Shane Flickinger, (top row) Leah Allen and Priyanka Biswas
Once again, the HPA/ACHE Club participated in the Penn State Dance Marathon. By going on canning trips and soliciting to family, friends, faculty, and alumni, the HPA students raised nearly $9,700, surpassing last year’s total by more than $1,000. Next year, the club is shooting for $10,000! Four dancers represented the HPA/ACHE Club during THON 2007. By raising the most money and being the most active in the THON committee, Leah Allen, Priyanka Biswas, Shane Flickinger, and Emily Kirsch earned the “opportunity” to stand on their feet and not sleep for 46 hours! To read more, click here.
ACHE Student Chapter Hosts Healthcare Executives Forum
ACHE student chapter officers and guest speaker, Lisa Davis
Members of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) student chapter at Penn State were excited to host a Healthcare Executives Forum of Central Pennsylvania event on April 5, 2007. The event featured Ms. Lisa Davis ’94g, director of the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health. Ms. Davis spoke about “Local Issues and National Trends in Rural Healthcare.” This event occurred after the club's visit to New Orleans for ACHE's Annual Conference and was a great wrap-up for the first Public Health Week that a group of HPA students hosted.
Master of Health Administration Association (MHAA) Elects Officers
Annual elections were held recently to select the new MHAA board members. The new officers are: President – Ashley Kaper; VP Communication – Lauren Lubus; VP Finance – Juanita Bowser; VP Professional Development – Laura Schuh; VP Alumni Relations – Nathan Elliott; and VP Faculty Relations – Bill Castor. The outgoing leadership maintained and added to the professional development program and provided instrumental leadership in starting the MHA mentoring program, among other things, and leaves the organization in a good starting place for the new board.
Four Doctoral Students Moving On!
Four HPA doctoral students have successfully defended their dissertations recently and will be taking their knowledge and training into the “real world.” These four are:
Brad Beauvais — MAJ Brad Beauvais will return to active military service with the United States Army Medical Department. Brad will be assigned to Fort Sam Houston, Texas, and will hold an associate professor position with the United States Army Baylor Program in Health and Business Administration. His future research interests include hospital and health system financing, health system quality, and improvement in patient outcomes within the military health system infrastructure.
Yu Bai — Dr. Bai is interested in child health, child health care access, and children with special needs such as mental health problems and asthma. Dr. Bai is currently seeking a research scientist position at a university or other academic institution.
Robina Josiah — Dr. Josiah is currently employed at the Baylor Health Care System in Dallas, Texas. Her research interests focus on evaluating the determinants of a successful organ donor process in a multi-hospital system.
Adetokunbo “Toks” Oluwole — Dr. Oluwole has accepted a position as assistant professor in the Martin School of Public Policy at the University of Kentucky beginning this summer. His research interests focus on the effect of state children's health insurance programs on health insurance transitions among low-income U.S. children.
A hearty “congratulations” to these four doctoral graduates upon achieving this momentous goal and best wishes as they embark on their professional careers!
MHA Curriculum Re-Tooled
In preparation for the Fall 2006 reaccreditation review of the MHA program by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME), the curriculum was reviewed and re-tooled. The review and revision of the curriculum was spearheaded by MHA Curriculum Director Diane Brannon and ensured the breadth of content required to appropriately prepare students in consonance with the MHA programs’ revised mission and educational objectives, as well as to allow for progression in skill development. The program is delivered in a full-time residence instruction mode, such that a cohort of students progresses through the curriculum together. For information about the MHA program, which has just received notification that it is accredited through spring 2010, contact Mike Meacham at meacham@psu.edu or 814-865-5173.
HPA Undergraduate Program Recertified
The Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) Board of Directors recently voted to continue Full Undergraduate Certification of HPA’s undergraduate program through 2011. The comprehensive review covered all aspects of HPA’s undergraduate program, including curriculum, budget, and University resources provided.
HPA Students Recognized
Two undergraduate HPA students, Jessica Dietrich and Kasey Rhein, were selected to receive Foster G. McGaw scholarships for the 2007-08 academic year. These scholarships are funded by the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) to support the education of emerging leaders in the health care field. Ashley Kibe was selected to receive an Alumni Recognition for Student Excellence Award, which is sponsored by the College of Health and Human Development Alumni Society. Additionally, Stephanie Donolli was selected as the Health Executive Forum of Central Pennsylvania Scholarship winner.
Faculty News
Dansky Approved for Sabbatical for 2007-08
Kathryn Dansky, associate professor of health policy and administration, will be on sabbatical at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, during the 2007-08 academic year . While there, she will be investigating factors associated with health professionals’ acceptance of eHealth technologies and developing a comprehensive model of user satisfaction. This builds on her research focus on home health care, quality management, and telehealth.
HPA’s Faculty Research Targets Health Disparities
HPA faculty and graduate students continue to make an impact through their active research programs. One recent research project looked at disparities in asthma care. Previous research has shown that in comparison with white and Hispanic children, African-Americans have a higher rate of asthma, are hospitalized more, and face more disability due to the condition. Because of this, "We suspected they might also exhibit relatively more severe asthma symptoms at the time of hospitalization," said Yu Bai, recent doctoral graduate. Bai, Marianne Hillemeier, assistant professor of health policy and administration and demography, and E.J. Lengerich, associate professor of epidemiology, analyzed the records of 7,726 white, African-American, and Hispanic children up to age 19 who were admitted to Pennsylvania hospitals in 2001 for asthma symptoms. The study appeared in the February 2007 issue of the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved. Click here for the full story.
Many other HPA faculty members have also been busy publishing; for a list of
current publications, please click here.
Events and Announcements
March 27-28, 2007 — For the sixth consecutive year, the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health held the Pennsylvania Migrant and Immigrant Health Conference, “Sowing Seeds for a Health Community.” The conference brought together the agricultural production and the health care communities to discuss the health care issues of the migrant and immigrant farmworker population and identify strategies to assist this population in achieving optimal health. This is the only conference in the state devoted exclusively to migrant and immigrant farmworker health.
April 3, 2007 — The Tenth Annual Stanley P. Mayers Endowed Lecture featured Dr. Albert Wu, MD, MPH, at this year’s event. Wu is a professor of health policy and management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. His topic, “Removing Insults from Injury: Discussing Adverse Events with Patients”drew a record crowd of 100 people. The lecture was co-sponsored by the Department of Health Policy and Administration, the College of Health and Human Development, and the Mount Nittany Medical Center. For more information about this annual event, contact Barbara Fleischer at bfleischer@psu.edu or 814-863-2900.
June 12-13, 2007 — The 15th Annual Pennsylvania Rural Health Conference, “Roots of Change,” has been announced by The Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health in partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Health and Penn State Cooperative Extension. This will be held June 12-13, 2007, at the Penn Stater Conference Center and Hotel, State College, PA. For additional information, click here.
June 25th 6pm-8pm — HPA Alumni/HPA Intern networking event. Go bowling with the Health Policy and Administration Affiliate Program Group! Meet other HPA alumni, current HPA students, and their preceptors. Event details:
- Facenda-Whitaker Lanes
- 2912 Swede Road, Norristown, PA
- $10/person (payable at the door)
- Please RSVP to the HHD Office of Alumni Relations at 814-863-2207 or hhdevents@psu.edu by June 20, 2007.
September 14, 2007 — Donald H. Ford Building Renaming Ceremony, 4:00 p.m. Donald H. Ford Building, corner of Allen and Fischer Roads. For more information, please contact the HHD Office of Alumni Relations at 814-865-3831 or hhdevents@psu.edu.
September 15, 2007 — College of Health and Human Development Alumni Tailgate, Porter Gardens, Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. The tailgate begins three hours prior to kickoff. Free of charge — bring your family and friends! Please RSVP for the tailgate at 814-865-3831 or hhdevents@psu.edu.