Q: What do you do in your current job/what are your responsibilities?
A: I work for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) on the DFCI Epic Organizational Readiness Team. Epic is the world's largest integrated medical record system and the implementation requires the coordination of numerous dedicated workgroups made up of subject matter experts to ensure implementation is aligned with Meaningful Use of the EMR system. As part of the Organizational Readiness team, my job is to help the workgroups identify and mitigate potential impacts on workflows resulting from implementation of the Epic System.
I developed a method for tracking each identified impact and updated leadership on the progress for each respective mitigation plan. Working with the Organizational Readiness team, I develop internal training materials for staff to adapt to new processes to maintain optimal patient care, the privacy and security of patient information, and accurate and timely billing.
Q: What skills did you build in the D'Amore-McKim MBA that you are applying at your current job?
A: The skills I developed at D'Amore-McKim while pursuing my MBA were crucial to my ability to find success at work. The MBA program is rigorous and pushes you to become proficient in a number of different disciplines all at once. I gained the experience and confidence to know that I am fully capable of handling the pressure to perform at a high level at a variety of tasks simultaneously. Furthermore, the analytic skills I honed in the classroom are essential to my ability to take an immense amount of data, comprehend how to analyze it, and communicate insights into the story it tells in a meaningful way.
Q: What would you say to a colleague considering enrolling in the Healthcare concentration?
A: I am a firm believer that the healthcare industry is one of the most rewarding and exciting fields in our society. The work we do not only affects the bottom line of a company but also the health and well-being of all of our lives. The nature of business is to increase the value and economic standing for the company you work for, but with healthcare it's different. In healthcare increasing the profit margin can decrease the quality of life for your customers. Healthcare gives us the opportunity to strive for a new standard in business, one that isn't focused on creating efficiencies for dollars but rather innovates and streamlines to help improve the duration and quality of life. Healthcare needs strong business minds and the D'Amore-McKim Healthcare concentration will put students in a great position to make a real difference in the world.
Q: Why did you choose the D'Amore-McKim MBA?
A: I chose the D'Amore-McKim MBA because of its strong Corporate Residency program and the opportunity to spend this time of my life in Boston, which many consider the Medical Mecca of the world. I have been in healthcare my entire life and the chance to be surrounded by some of my childhood heroes—the minds that are shaping the future of healthcare—was a dream opportunity.
Q: What was the best thing about your corporate residency?
A: I grew up putting dollar bills in the Jimmy Fund collection at the start of every movie. As a kid the Jimmy Fund and the doctors and nurses at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute were the heroes that were fighting the battle to cure that scary disease called cancer. Being able to spend my Corporate Residency at DFCI was a chance to work side by side with the people I had looked up to my entire life. The experience was both empowering and humbling. Empowering because I was able to see that my heroes were in fact human; humbling because I saw first hand just how difficult the battle was that they are fighting. My Corporate Residency was an experience I will carry close to my heart for my entire life.
Q: What was the biggest take-away from earning your MBA at Northeastern? What can you do today that you couldn't do before you started your MBA?
A: My biggest takeaway from earning my MBA at Northeastern was the gift of perspective. The MBA at Northeastern gave me all the tools I needed to be successful. Whether your goal is to find a great job after you graduate or go on to start your own business, this program will be able to help you find your way. The MBA at Northeastern gave me the understanding that success will always take hard work and discipline, and the knowledge that in the end my success is entirely up to me.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?
A: In 5–10 years I will still be working in healthcare. I am using my education and entrepreneurial spirit to develop companies that will empower people to take control of their health. Healthcare needs innovation, creativity and direction. I intend to help fill that need.
Q: How is the D'Amore-McKim Corporate Residency different from a traditional internship?
A: I'm not just an intern; they understand that I'm there to learn and to also make valuable contributions. The Corporate Residency gave me the opportunity to collaborate with some of the brightest minds in healthcare. The people that were my heroes as I grew up became my colleagues and friends, a development that was equally affirming and humbling. This Corporate Residency allowed me to progress in the industry I am most passionate about, as well as work on and develop skills in an environment that was conducive and supportive of learning. I could not have asked for a better experience.
Q: How did you impact the business?
A: I helped roll out the Electronic Health Records (EHR) system and recorded the impacts it had on the staff. In addition, I worked with the employees one-on-one to help educate them on the day-to-day requirements of EHRs. This included shadowing staff members to develop a clear understanding of their needs, which lead to the development of extensive training materials to make the rollout as efficient as possible.
Q: How has the Corporate Residency solidified your career path or set you up for success in the long run?
A: I will be able to apply the management and business skills to my family's business and make a positive impact. I extended my Corporate Residency with Dana Farber to 12 months and took on a lot of responsibility, which instilled a sense of empowerment and confidence. So now, I don't feel like I'm gambling on myself anymore. I was pushed to do my best, and now know I can bring positive change to any organization.