What have you been up to since graduating from the MHA program at Mizzou?

I’ve continued as the Chief Operations Officer at Carroll County Memorial Hospital, a role I assumed about halfway through the Executive MHA Program. I’m really enjoying this position, the work, and the direction CCMH is headed. We’ve been a Top 100 Critical Access Hospital two years running and are far from satisfied. We’ve recently being working on Vision and Strategic Planning. It’s been refreshing to hear how committed and energized our people are, in all levels of the organization. Personally, I’m working toward becoming a Fellow through ACHE. I’ve also continued to serve our community in a variety of volunteer roles, which is something I find a lot of purpose in.

When it comes to your career so far, what are you most proud of?

I’ve spent all of my career Carrollton, a small rural town in central Missouri. The small-town connections and support have allowed me to be deeply involved in the community. I’ve valued the opportunity to provide care to friends and family as a pharmacist and now a broader scale as an executive at Carroll County Memorial Hospital.

I’ve been incredibly blessed to be involved in a number of projects that have community wide impact. It’s been fantastic to see positive changes in our rural community. I’ve been privileged to be involved in a lot of them and am thankful for the opportunity to work with other highly capable and committed people. I’ve also really valued seeing people that I’ve worked with grow to be successful and impactful in their own right. Helping others achieve their goals is something that has meant a lot to me.

How did your experiences in the MHA program prepare you for your career?

My experiences in the program gave me a broad knowledge base that allows me work with a wide range of people and organizations because I was exposed to such a variety during the curriculum. The MHA curriculum is good and well-taught. The value really comes from the real-world experience of the staff, professors, guest speakers and students. The MHA program at Mizzou coupled classroom instruction with large doses of real-world application and space for discussion. I believe that added value would be largely lost in an online only curriculum. I’ve been able to apply what we learned during the curriculum in my job, throughout our organization, and in community organizations.

What advice do you have for MHA students who want to follow a similar career path?

Be both a mentee and mentor, ideally simultaneously. I can’t stress the importance of both enough. Identify people who embody the qualities and career path you desire and ask them to mentor you. The relationships are very deep and rewarding. You’ll find yourself growing into the leader you want to be in a way that is tough to see until you have years to look back on. Being a mentor is even more rewarding. Seeing people you’ve worked with grow, become good leaders, and positively impact other lives is humbling. The growth that comes from these relationships and resulting positive impact in organizations and communities is the good stuff. I’ve had the good fortune of several great mentors over the years. I would never be who I am without their willingness to support me and help me grow. I’m hopeful some would say the same about me.

What is a favorite memory from your time in the program or a class that you really enjoyed?

I really enjoyed the conversations, laughs, and collaboration that occurred during the onsite weekends. Those moments develop a connection that has continued after graduation. 

Why should potential students get their MHA from Mizzou?

Why would you consider going anywhere else? Seriously though, Mizzou is a great university. The MHA program is run and taught by quality people, who care about graduating students who are prepared to take on leadership roles across the healthcare industry. I believe the instruction and support I received through the MHA program has helped me to be successful now and into the future. It’s a great program that sets students up for success and continues to support alumni when we need it. Easy decision and easy recommendation.