More Student Profiles . . .
While working as a pharmacist at Swedish Medical Center I was involved in many clinical programs. The involvement I had with clinical teams, changes I saw happening within Swedish as well as changes within the health care setting, led me to want to become a hospital leader. I asked some of the leaders I worked with and they all told me that in order for me to transition out of the pharmacy department, I would need my MHA. One of the surgeons I worked with had recently graduated from the UW Executive MHA Program.
How would you describe your educational background?
I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) in 1992, but I did not stop attending school. During my undergraduate program, the class I enjoyed the most was neuropsychology. This class led me to desire a career in health care, but it took me a while to get there. A Bachelor of Arts requires very little science and math, so when I decided to become a pharmacist, I had to take years of math and science classes. In 2001, I graduated with a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Washington. In 2006, I started the UW Certificate Program in Medical Management, and transferred out of the program when I was accepted into the Executive MHA Program.
What is your professional background?
After graduating from PLU, I accepted one of the few professional jobs one can get in Washington State with a BA in Psychology. I was a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and worked for a company contracted by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. In my capacity as a Vocational Counselor, I met many physicians, surgeons, physical therapists, and other health care professionals. It was my husband who suggested that I pursue pharmacy.
I started working at Swedish Medical Center – First Hill before my second year of pharmacy school, and I worked there until January, 2008. I worked primarily in the Intensive Care Unit. I am most proud of my efforts helping Swedish become smoke-free and providing smoking cessation benefits to employees and volunteers, as well as smoking cessation education and protocols for patients. I was the pharmacy representative on teams working on congestive heart failure (CHF), acute myocardial infarctions (AMI), and stroke protocols. I also designed and coordinated the internship program where we trained University of Washington School of Pharmacy students. The Swedish Pharmacy Internship Program is a four-year program designed to help pharmacy students grow from fulfilling pharmacy technical duties to becoming entry-level pharmacists.
In January, 2008, I left Swedish to pursue opportunities in the pharmacy department at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett. I am now helping to establish an Emergency Department Pharmacist position.
Are there any outstanding or unique experiences that you would like to share with regard to the UW Executive MHA Program?
I think that the best thing about the UW Executive MHA Program is that it offers students the opportunity for self-development. While we have text books on subjects like finance, accounting, strategic planning, and epidemiology, we are also given extensive elective reading lists that include books about a multitude of heath care leadership subjects, as well as subjects that compliment our studies.
What do you feel are the strengths of the UW Executive MHA Program?
First, the nature of the curriculum is such that each class builds upon the next. Classes provide students with a working knowledge of health care leadership from information technology to finance to team building. When I entered the Program I wanted all the information and knowledge immediately. As I have gone through the Program, I understand that there is a plan.
Second, the Mentor Program has introduced me to health care leaders who have helped me understand what I need to do to move beyond the pharmacy and step into a hospital leadership role.
Lastly, the faculty are truly committed to our success as leaders.
What are your career goals, and how do you feel the UW Executive MHA Program is assisting you in reaching those goals?
It is my hope that when I graduate from the UW Executive MHA Program I will make my first transition out of the pharmacy into a supervisory role. Within five years, I hope to become a director. My long term goal is to be a Chief Operating Officer. I am most interested in the how and why of things and want to make sure that wherever I work, we provide the best possible care and have the most satisfied employees. It will be that first step out of the pharmacy that will be the toughest, but I believe the UW Executive MHA Program is giving me the education and confidence to complement my work performance.
Is there anything else you would like to share about your experiences here?
I think that the most amazing part of this program is the lack of competition. We were told it would be this way when we started, but with very accomplished classmates it was at first intimidating. With all of our group work, everyone really works together to make sure everyone is successful. It is my goal to work with everyone in my class, as I feel I have much to learn and each person helps me, and maybe I can help them as well.
Student Profile
Traci Mitchell: Executive MHA, 2009
What brought you to the UW Executive MHA Program?While working as a pharmacist at Swedish Medical Center I was involved in many clinical programs. The involvement I had with clinical teams, changes I saw happening within Swedish as well as changes within the health care setting, led me to want to become a hospital leader. I asked some of the leaders I worked with and they all told me that in order for me to transition out of the pharmacy department, I would need my MHA. One of the surgeons I worked with had recently graduated from the UW Executive MHA Program.
How would you describe your educational background?
I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) in 1992, but I did not stop attending school. During my undergraduate program, the class I enjoyed the most was neuropsychology. This class led me to desire a career in health care, but it took me a while to get there. A Bachelor of Arts requires very little science and math, so when I decided to become a pharmacist, I had to take years of math and science classes. In 2001, I graduated with a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Washington. In 2006, I started the UW Certificate Program in Medical Management, and transferred out of the program when I was accepted into the Executive MHA Program.
What is your professional background?
After graduating from PLU, I accepted one of the few professional jobs one can get in Washington State with a BA in Psychology. I was a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and worked for a company contracted by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. In my capacity as a Vocational Counselor, I met many physicians, surgeons, physical therapists, and other health care professionals. It was my husband who suggested that I pursue pharmacy.
I started working at Swedish Medical Center – First Hill before my second year of pharmacy school, and I worked there until January, 2008. I worked primarily in the Intensive Care Unit. I am most proud of my efforts helping Swedish become smoke-free and providing smoking cessation benefits to employees and volunteers, as well as smoking cessation education and protocols for patients. I was the pharmacy representative on teams working on congestive heart failure (CHF), acute myocardial infarctions (AMI), and stroke protocols. I also designed and coordinated the internship program where we trained University of Washington School of Pharmacy students. The Swedish Pharmacy Internship Program is a four-year program designed to help pharmacy students grow from fulfilling pharmacy technical duties to becoming entry-level pharmacists.
In January, 2008, I left Swedish to pursue opportunities in the pharmacy department at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett. I am now helping to establish an Emergency Department Pharmacist position.
Are there any outstanding or unique experiences that you would like to share with regard to the UW Executive MHA Program?
I think that the best thing about the UW Executive MHA Program is that it offers students the opportunity for self-development. While we have text books on subjects like finance, accounting, strategic planning, and epidemiology, we are also given extensive elective reading lists that include books about a multitude of heath care leadership subjects, as well as subjects that compliment our studies.
What do you feel are the strengths of the UW Executive MHA Program?
First, the nature of the curriculum is such that each class builds upon the next. Classes provide students with a working knowledge of health care leadership from information technology to finance to team building. When I entered the Program I wanted all the information and knowledge immediately. As I have gone through the Program, I understand that there is a plan.
Second, the Mentor Program has introduced me to health care leaders who have helped me understand what I need to do to move beyond the pharmacy and step into a hospital leadership role.
Lastly, the faculty are truly committed to our success as leaders.
What are your career goals, and how do you feel the UW Executive MHA Program is assisting you in reaching those goals?
It is my hope that when I graduate from the UW Executive MHA Program I will make my first transition out of the pharmacy into a supervisory role. Within five years, I hope to become a director. My long term goal is to be a Chief Operating Officer. I am most interested in the how and why of things and want to make sure that wherever I work, we provide the best possible care and have the most satisfied employees. It will be that first step out of the pharmacy that will be the toughest, but I believe the UW Executive MHA Program is giving me the education and confidence to complement my work performance.
Is there anything else you would like to share about your experiences here?
I think that the most amazing part of this program is the lack of competition. We were told it would be this way when we started, but with very accomplished classmates it was at first intimidating. With all of our group work, everyone really works together to make sure everyone is successful. It is my goal to work with everyone in my class, as I feel I have much to learn and each person helps me, and maybe I can help them as well.