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On September 16, Rising Healthcare Leaders at Mason (RHLM), a Mason Registered Student Organization (RSO), hosted its first in-person networking event since March 2020. The graduate student leadership team in the Department of Health Administration and Policy (HAP) worked to make the event a successful networking opportunity for attendees. P.J. Maddox, chair of HAP, and many HAP faculty members were present as well as alumni and students. Mark Lainoff, an Inova administrative fellow, also attended and spoke with students who were interested in pursuing an Administrative Fellowship. The event was supported by a team of volunteers from the undergraduate Health Administration program.

The president of the RHLM leadership team, Akshaya Chinnathevar Ramesh, delivered comments to thank those who attended. “Rising Healthcare Leaders at Mason is a registered student organization representing the HAP department,” said Ramesh. “Our mission is to open the platform for students to enhance their career advancement through networking and other activities, and this event is a stepping-stone toward that goal. We want to set a path for the future leadership team as well as the emerging healthcare leaders who have joined [us] in our journey.” 

Brenda Helen Sheingold, director of the Master of Health Administration program, said that the event was successful thanks, in large part, to the student leadership team’s efforts to create a safe and professional environment for students and faculty to connect during the pandemic.

"The Master of Health Administration is a network-intensive degree, and students haven’t had the opportunity for face-to-face interaction with healthcare executives, the faculty, or each other for over 18 months,” said Sheingold. 

All COVID safety protocols were followed at this event.