CPH Upward

At the barbershop, it’s OK not to be OK

mthomp7 — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 17:14:29 +0000

At the barbershop, it’s OK not to be OK mthomp7 Fri, 03/22/2024 - 13:14

Destigmatizing mental health support and normalizing therapy in the Black community, one barbershop at a time

��AV alumnus Gary T. Taylor, MSW '15, is destigmatizing mental health support and normalizing therapy in the Black community one barbershop at a time. “Barbershops are this safe space for Black men,” says Taylor who has been working with local barbershops in the Rappahannock region of Virginia since 2022 to foster healthy discussions about mental health by educating barbers on “mental health first aid” for their patrons.

“This is where men may go to talk through things, have big debates, talk about sports. Barbershops are an important part of culture for us as Black men—just like salons are for Black women,” says Taylor. Given the trusted role that barbers often play in Black men’s lives—it seemed like a natural place to Taylor for reaching men about mental health.

Taylor has found that barbershop talks play an important role in normalizing talking about issues and going to therapy. The talks can help point participants in the right direction to get therapy resources or find substance abuse resources.

Working in partnership with the Rappahannock Area Community Service Board, Taylor realized he could bring his crisis therapy experience into the community through “barbershop talks”—informal group discussions with the barber, the shop patrons, and a trained social worker.

“Most of the time when you talk to barbers, they'll tell you they're almost de facto therapists and social workers,” says Taylor, “They're listening to their clients’ problems and maybe don’t know about resources available to help. So we wanted to equip the barbers to know what the necessary resources are just in case somebody comes in and it's a crisis or they're really struggling and they don't know where to go.”

It helps reduce stigma by normalizing that it's OK to not be OK. Therapy doesn’t mean I'm crazy or something's wrong with me,” he says.

Taylor relays to participants that seeking mental health support is just like taking your car in for an oil change to make sure it keeps running properly.

“With the rise of substance abuse and overdoses, the barbers or the folks that are coming to these barbershop talks now are getting Narcan training too. And I think that's the strengths-based approach to meet the community where they're at,” said Taylor.

To date, Taylor has completed more than five barbershop talks in the Rappahannock region and is working with female colleagues to begin salon talks this spring.

“It’s important that people who share lived experiences are leading these sessions, so the participants can relate and see themselves in the facilitator,” says Taylor. "I can speak to that direct cultural experiences of Black men and then also bring in my skill set, my knowledge, my experience, my education to help provide that education and awareness

An assistant professor at Virginia State University, Taylor is also passionate about “passing the baton” to the next generation by getting more Black people—particularly Black men—into the social work profession to meet the growing demand.

“The suicide rate for young Black men has been increasing over the past 5 to 10 years, starting from ages 9 and 10 up to the mid-20s. We’re seeing similar challenges for Black girls too. So, there is a growing need for diversity in the social work profession. That cultural awareness piece for the Black community and having more Black social workers, Black practitioners, Black Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSW), it's very, very, very important as we progress in the field.”

Learn more about Taylor's work

Gary Taylor spoke to the College of Public Health about his mission is to “pass the baton” to the next generation of social workers.

Discover what it is like to have a career is social work >

Topics

Mental Health

master of social work

Outstanding Public Health Nurse Award: Kadija Conteh-Barrat, BSN '09, DNP '15

Mary Cunningham — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 14:45:37 +0000

Outstanding Public Health Nurse Award: Kadija Conteh-Barrat, BSN '09, DNP '15 Mary Cunningham Tue, 10/25/2022 - 10:45

Kadija Conteh-Barrat, BSN '09, DNP '15

The School of Nursing is proud to honor Kadija Conteh-Barrat, BSN '09, DNP '15 with the Outstanding Public Health Nurse Award.

The Outstanding Public Health Nurse Award recognizes a nurse who makes outstanding contributions to the field of public health, including social justice, health equity, and the delivery of public health care and services. Conteh-Barrat was honored at the School's Honoring Mason Nurses event in April 2022. Learn more here.

Conteh-Barrat is the founder and CEO of Manak Community Health Organization (MaCHO), founded in 2020 to advance health equity and drive better health outcomes in the most underserved communities in Sierra Leone. Conteh-Barrat’s work to help those in crisis and to increase access to quality health care in Sierra Leone was inspired by her life-changing experiences during Sierra Leone's civil war and as a refugee in Guinea.

“Kadija's medical missions and community clinic are helping to address health care needs in Sierra Leone, advance health equity, decrease mortality, and improve health outcomes in these hard-to-reach communities,” said one of her nominators.

In March 2022, Conteh-Barrat completed her second medical mission in Sierra Leone and established a health clinic in the Yurika community, serving 84 villages. She has partnered with U.S. non-profits and the local health district to ensure sustainability, increase capacity, expand care in isolated communities, and provide lifesaving medications, ongoing chronic disease management, and maternal childcare.

She is working toward a postgraduate certificate in Psychiatric and Mental Health at Mason and is an adjunct faculty member in the College. In 2021, she was recognized as an Emerging Leader in Healthcare by United Health Group.

Topics

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

CPH Upward

Sharon Lamberton Named American Academy of Nursing Fellow

Mary Cunningham — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 14:13:29 +0000

Sharon Lamberton Named American Academy of Nursing Fellow Mary Cunningham Tue, 09/06/2022 - 10:13

Mason alumna and CHHS advisory board member to be recognized with one of the highest nursing honors.

Sharon Lamberton

The College of Health and Human Services is pleased to share that alumna and Dean’s Advisory Board member Sharon Lamberton (MS, Health Policy '01) has been recognized for her extraordinary achievements by the American Academy of Nursing (AAN), earning the title Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN). Lamberton joins Paula Graling (BSN '82, MSN '96) as the second FAAN currently on the College’s Advisory Board. Lamberton (MS, Health Policy '01) was awarded the Distinguished Alumna of the Year from the College in 2020.

Each year nurses are selected as AAN Fellows on the basis of their contributions to the medical field and nursing as a discipline. FAANs are leaders, not only within the nursing profession, but they also play a part in higher education, conduct research, champion for health care policy, and more. This year’s 2022 cohort of nursing Fellows is the largest class to date.

Previously, Lamberton served as a neurology nurse at the National Institutes for Health. She has worked to improve health policy with the General Accounting Office (GAO), the National Committee to Preserve Social Security, and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).

Currently, Lamberton serves as deputy vice president of state policy at PhRMA, a trade association of 33 biopharmaceutical companies based in Washington, DC. She is primary liaison for PhRMA to the National Governors’ Association, National Foundation of Women Legislators, Women In Government, and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

“I attribute my success to mentors like Drs. P.J. Maddox, Len Nichols, and Mary Wakefield who took time to help mold me and helped me develop my professional goals early in my career," said Lamberton. “Mason is one of the best kept secrets. We need to get the word out about Mason’s talented faculty and their research that’s making transformative changes. Alumni, potential students, and community leaders should know the quality individuals that the University is attracting and retaining. For me, the driving motivation to attend Mason was their offer to tailor my graduate degree according to my interests and needs. In addition, some of the top health policy experts in nursing were leading Centers, programs, and teaching classes at Mason.”

The Induction Ceremony will be held on in Washington, D.C., Saturday, October 29, at the Academy’s annual Health Policy Conference.

Congratulations again to Sharon Lamberton and all awardees of the American Academy of Nursing Fellowships.

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CHHS Alumni Board Hosts School Supply Drive

Mary Cunningham — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 13:06:20 +0000

CHHS Alumni Board Hosts School Supply Drive Mary Cunningham Mon, 08/08/2022 - 09:06

CHHS alumni work to break down lack of access to educational resources as a barrier to health

In preparation for the upcoming school year, the CHHS Alumni Board is collecting school supplies to donate to low-income children in the Northern Virginia area. The supply drive will be gifting paper, pencils, and other supplies to the College's MAP Clinics for children who otherwise may not have the ability to purchase supplies, many of whom are new to the United States.

“The College's MAP Clinics play an important role in Northern Virginia's community health, and we as alumni can also support the Clinics and local low-income children who are going to school,” said CHHS Alumni Board President Kathi Huddleston. “As alumni of CHHS, we understand that health can be boosted by a bookbag full of new school supplies to brighten that first day of school.”

The Mason and Partners (MAP) Clinics aim to elevate the health of underserved populations by providing health care access to uninsured patients. With service projects like this drive, CHHS alumni are actively working to do their part in improving population health alongside the MAP Clinic, with a specific focus on elevating education in relation to overall health. This project supports the efforts of our nurse-run clinics, which are headed by Professor Rebecca Sutter, DNP, APRN, BC-FNP and the School of Nursing Interim Director Cheryl Oetjen, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC.

Donated supplies can be dropped off in boxes located in the School of Nursing located on the third floor of Peterson Hall. The Board will be collecting supplies through the end of September. Additionally, if you would like to make a charitable donation to the CHHS Alumni Chapter for service projects like this, please visit this webpage.

Information about the CHHS Alumni Board and how to support more service efforts can be found on the CHHS Alumni Chapter Board page.

Topics

CHHS

MAP Clinic

Mason and Partners (MAP)

CHHS Alumni

CPH Upward

Alumni Mentorship Program Boosts Students’ Career Readiness

John Brandon Cantrell — Fri, 05 Aug 2022 13:00:23 +0000

Alumni Mentorship Program Boosts Students’ Career Readiness John Brandon C… Fri, 08/05/2022 - 09:00

The pilot program increased graduating students’ confidence in navigating their careers after graduation.

Students graduating with a Master of Public Health (MPH) or a Master of Science in Global Health degree are met with many career prospects; however, navigating today’s job market can be daunting. The Mason Public Health Mentor Program pilot aims to support graduating Global and Community Health (GCH) graduate students by pairing them with GCH alumni mentors, who provide professional guidance and career advice in the public health field.

The pilot mentorship program had successful outcomes for both students and alumni. Students reported increased confidence in their academic and professional endeavors, while alumni valued the chance to give back to their Mason community by sharing insight into the public health field with future graduates.

Kelly Beckwith

“The program is designed to connect Mason students with someone who also graduated from Mason–who has been in their shoes and can provide guidance on an individual level,” said Kelly Beckwith, assistant director of academic programs for GCH and organizer of the mentorship pilot. “I’ve been at Mason for nearly six years and have seen so many of our graduates become accomplished alumni. I wanted to provide them with an opportunity to connect with current students, which strengthens the Mason Nation and the field of public health.”

In collaboration with other GCH faculty, Beckwith paired students with alumni working in the students’ desired field and supplied the pairs with a workbook to help lead the discussion on professional development and understanding the current job market.

The pilot program during the 2021-22 school year allowed students and alumni mentors to explore topics on career readiness, such as practicing mock interviews, incorporating work-life balance in careers, confronting imposter syndrome, and identifying workplace bias.

Reena Rhim

Reena Rhim, a 2022 MPH graduate, found the mentor program helpful with her job search.

“I am so thankful for this [mentorship] program,” Rhim said. “I was able to build a deeper connection with my mentor and [explain] what I was going through. The mentorship allowed me to ask questions and gain honest feedback —specifically on what to expect during my practicum, outside of graduation, and when working in the public health field. I had several concerns about job searching after graduation, and my mentor addressed my concerns with open and honest advice, which genuinely helped me succeed in finding a job.”

After graduating, Rhim accepted a position as a health policy project analyst at Discern Health, where she conducts research on health care topics as well as analyzes and interprets health care legislation and regulations related to federal value-based payment programs.

Elizabeth Bramhall

Elizabeth Bramhall, a 2014 MPH alumna and Rhim’s mentor in the program, enjoyed sharing professional guidance and building a professional relationship with Rhim.

“Having the opportunity to give back and make even a small difference in someone's career is extremely rewarding,” said Bramhall, who works as a biological safety officer for the U.S. Army. “My goals for entering the mentorship program were to engage with the current MPH program and to be a sounding board for my mentee. I believe I met these goals and would like to continue to participate in the mentorship program in the future.”

Bramhall encourages Mason students to seek support from alumni members when entering the professional workforce.

“Many alums love to find ways to give back,” Bramhall said. “They may not be able to get you a job directly, but they may be able to set you up with more contacts and open your eyes to new career paths that you didn't know existed before.”

For Beckwith, the pilot program gave her the opportunity to help more students advance their professional development and career prospects.

“I hope that future students see this as an exciting opportunity for them to get a leg up on the job market as they leave Mason and go out into the public health workforce,” Beckwith said. “By strengthening their career development skills, as well as strengthening the connection between students and alumni, I hope we can make an even bigger impact on the public’s health throughout the area.”

For questions about the Fall 2022-Spring 2023 Mason Public Health Mentor Program, please reach out to Kelly Beckwith at kbeckwi2@gmu.edu.

Topics

Master of Public Health

Global Health

Alumni Spotlight

CPH Upward

Mother and daughter graduates say Mason education is a family affair

Colleen Rich — Mon, 16 May 2022 18:51:29 +0000

Mother and daughter graduates say Mason education is a family affair Colleen Rich Mon, 05/16/2022 - 14:51

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December 10, 2024
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December 10, 2024
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December 4, 2024
Graduating senior’s compass pointed her to an English degree with a side trip to Ireland
December 2, 2024

Mason clinical nursing instructor Kathleen Chang (center) is sharing her graduation day with daughter Jinlee (right). Daughter Katrina (left) graduated from Mason in 2017 and is graduating from Virginia Tech this month with a doctoral degree. Photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services

Kathleen Chang and her daughter Jinlee Colucci-Chang say that graduating from ��AV at the same time is exciting and a little overwhelming. Jinlee’s sister, Katrina Colucci-Chang, is also finishing up her doctorate in biomedical engineering from Virginia Tech this spring.

Interviewed with her daughters by her side and her husband listening from the next room, Chang said they are a self-described “Mason family.”

Katrina graduated Mason in 2017 with a degree in bioengineering before pursuing her doctorate.

Chang, a clinical nursing instructor in the College of Health and Human Services, is graduating with a doctor of nursing practice.

Jinlee graduates with a degree in art and visual technology with a concentration in drawing and a minor in psychology. She’s headed in the fall to George Washington University for a master’s degree in art therapy.

“It’s a lot happening at once,” said Chang, 66. “I’m so proud of my girls. They are my biggest accomplishment, and what does every parent want but for their children to get their educations? Now the world is open to them.”

Kathleen Chang and her daughter Jinlee are both earning degrees at Mason's Spring Commencement. Photo by Evan Cantwell / Creative Services

But Chang’s daughters say they are equally proud of their mother for pursuing her doctorate after raising them and teaching, first part-time and then full time.

“I think what we’ve learned from her is that you can do anything if you set your mind that you want to do it,” said Jinlee, 23. “It’s the hardest right before the finish line, especially at her age, no offense, but she did it. We were telling her that she could do it, encouraging her. It’s been amazing to see her pursue and then accomplish her dream.”

Decades ago, Chang graduated with a degree in nursing from Long Island University and a master’s degree from Columbia University Teacher’s College. She worked a variety of jobs both in New York and then in Puerto Rico, where she moved with husband, Jose Colucci-Rios. They raised their daughters. They didn’t think of moving back to the mainland until Katrina started looking at colleges.

“Katrina was the catalyst,” Chang said. “You know how a mother is. I wasn’t going to have her across an ocean.”

While the rest of the family moved to Fairfax, Katrina went to college in North Carolina, then transferred to Mason to be closer to family and because she thought it would be a better fit for her. All three women talked about their love for Mason.

“For me, it’s the diversity that makes it special,” Jinlee said. “I learn the stories of so many different people with so many different perspectives.”

Chang said the support Mason offers is unique, while Katrina said the location, near Washington, D.C., and culture is what makes it special.

At first, they hadn’t expected all their graduations to be at once, but now they’re trying to enjoy the chaotic drama and joy.

“It’s surreal having all of us graduating at the same time,” said Katrina, 27. “I am still trying to grasp it.”

Topics

College of Health and Human Services

doctoral students

College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA)

CPH Upward

Michelle Vassallo Honored as CHHS Alumna of the Year

John Brandon Cantrell — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 20:43:25 +0000

Michelle Vassallo Honored as CHHS Alumna of the Year John Brandon C… Tue, 04/19/2022 - 16:43

Topics

Health Administration

Inova

Department of Health Administration and Policy

Alumni Spotlight

CPH Upward

Master of Health Administration alumna led effort to get 100,000 people vaccinated in just 53 days.

When faced with fighting an unfamiliar and contagious virus, Mason alumna Michelle Vassallo rose to the occasion. Vassallo led a team of infectious disease prevention specialists, physicians, pharmacists, and researchers at Inova Health System to develop and execute a plan to distribute 100,000 vaccines in just 53 days. To do this, Vassallo and her team of nearly 30 public health professionals reimagined how their hospital system could fight the pandemic while keeping everyone's safety top of mind. The team reevaluated many components of the hospital system, such as establishing trusted communication channels for patients seeking information on vaccines and redesigning their treatment centers to accommodate a large number of socially-distanced patients. The team also faced ethical considerations when determining which groups would receive the vaccination first based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

In recognition of her achievements and contributions, Vassallo has been named the 2022 College of Health and Human Services Alumna of the Year.

Vassallo began her career as a registered nurse at Inova. Having graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, she advanced in her career by accepting nursing leadership positions at Inova. As a graduate of Mason’s Master of Health Administration (MHA) program, Vassallo not only learned about health systems, she also learned about leadership and problem-solving. This knowledge served her well in her current role as vice president, clinical platform service line at Inova.

"It's very humbling," Vassallo said on being named the CHHS Alumna of the Year. "The work I am being acknowledged for is something that has saved my life, my family, and all the people I interact with. I can't imagine there will be something else that impactful to my community and the people I care about as that endeavor was."

The process of reworking how the hospital system would operate in the wake of the pandemic required Vassallo to hone her leadership abilities and work with a group of interdisciplinary professionals on critical projects in just a short amount of time.

"Everybody took on a different role and chipped in,” Vassallo said. “We had to fall back on the fundamentals of what are the right ways to engage, influence, and empower team members to make the decisions that are right in the moment. You, as a leader, had to pivot kind of moment by moment based on what the needs were of the situation."

Despite the challenges faced, Vassallo and her team embraced the adversity through strong leadership, organization, and trust in one another.

"We took the opportunity to function well as a system in a way that we never had before," Vassallo said. "We were able to quickly make decisions that were very important to patient care and for team member safety. It was hard work, long hours, and difficult times, but it was also incredibly inspiring and motivating. It's affected our work in a positive way as we have moved through the pandemic."

Vassallo said that the training she received in the MHA program had particularly helped her lead others through the pandemic. Having a clinical background as a nurse and experience in hospital system operations, she saw an MHA degree as a way to develop further her understanding of business management and leadership. These skills resulted in saving many lives through the successful vaccination outreach.

"Almost every class was applicable to this crisis," Vassallo said. "I really think the best benefit was that [the MHA program] gave a broad foundation of knowledge for theory, for business, for leadership skills themselves. The leadership principles and those foundation elements were important to lean back on. When you have a moment to breathe, you can think about them and do them a little more purposefully, and then in the times of crisis, you're just glad you have that muscle memory."

When asked what advice Vassallo would give to graduating CHHS seniors, she encouraged new graduates to pursue assignments that can advance their exposure in their organization, even if the tasks are not a part of their job description.

"The best advice is if someone asks you to do something, it's because they think you're going to be successful and you can do it," Vassallo said. "So, take that opportunity and have confidence in yourself and take that stretch assignment or project because you never know where it will lead you. I think that has been the number one key to my success."

Vassallo was honored as the CHHS Alumna at the Year in April during the Honoring Mason Nurses event. The School of Nursing invites all faculty, staff, students, and alumni to join the celebration. She will also be given the CHHS Distinguished Alumni Award at Mason's Celebration of Distinction on October 21. Learn more here.

Karen Dale Announced as College’s Degree Celebration Speaker 2022

Mary Cunningham — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 14:59:28 +0000

Karen Dale Announced as College’s Degree Celebration Speaker 2022 Mary Cunningham Tue, 04/19/2022 - 10:59

Nationally-recognized health care leader and School of Nursing alumna Karen Dale, RN, MSN, will be the keynote speaker at the College of Health and Human Services’ 2022 Degree Celebration on May 22 at Eagle Bank Arena. Dale, who received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Mason, will address the next generation of leaders based on her two decades in the health care industry.

The College is pleased to resume the tradition of hosting in person Degree Celebrations at Eagle Bank Arena this May and to welcome Dale as our honored speaker. Dale was originally scheduled to address graduates at the May 2020 Degree Celebration which was canceled due to COVID-19.

Dale is the market president and chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer for AmeriHealth Caritas’ Medicaid managed care organization (MCO) in Washington, D.C. She is responsible for leading key initiatives to strategically position the MCO as a market leader offering innovative solutions for the critical challenges faced by its members.

Learn more about CHHS’ Degree Celebration and Brunch here.

Dale was appointed to AmeriHealth Caritas’ newly created position of chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer (CDEIO). As CDEIO, Dale leads the planning and implementation of diversity and inclusion strategies across the organization to link workforce, workplace, health equity, and supplier diversity with measurable business and cultural outcomes.

Having held multiple positions of leadership for two decades, Dale has worked with a broad group of stakeholders to address policies and other key factors impacting the delivery of health care services. In addressing the range of needs experienced by the nation’s vulnerable populations, Dale has cultivated a focus that has helped AmeriHealth Caritas concurrently innovate, while meeting the highest levels of quality and service. These efforts include the use of digital tools to aid in the management of chronic diseases, peer-to-peer outreach using community health workers and peer specialists, and the use of a human-centered design member engagement approach. Dale’s vision is notably reflected in key programs addressing Black maternal health, racism, housing, transportation, violence interruption, and food insecurity. In addition, her philosophy that health care must evolve into a health ecosystem that promotes, wellness, without barriers, starting where people are, has led to several collaborative relationships with providers, community partners, philanthropists, and businesses to implement sustainable, scalable solutions with high impact.

Dale holds a Master of Science degree in psychiatric mental health nursing from The Catholic University, Washington, D.C., and a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from Mason. She was a member of the Leadership Greater Washington Class of 2003. She serves as a board member for Volunteers of America, the Institute for Medicaid Innovation, and the Access to Justice Commission.

Topics

Alumna Nurse Melissa Harvey Selected as Keynote Speaker at Honoring Mason Nurses Event

John Brandon Cantrell — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 14:22:30 +0000

Alumna Nurse Melissa Harvey Selected as Keynote Speaker at Honoring Mason Nurses Event John Brandon C… Tue, 03/22/2022 - 10:22

Tickets now available for Honoring Mason Nurses to be held on April 28 at Fairfax Country Club.

Melissa Harvey, MSPH, BSN, RN

Mason alumna Melissa Harvey, MSPH, BSN, RN, assistant vice president for Enterprise Emergency Operations for HCA Healthcare, will be the keynote speaker at Honor Mason Nurses: Past, Present, and Future event on April 28. The event will recognize the achievements and impact of Mason School of Nursing graduates, like Harvey, for all they do to support the health and well-being of Northern Virginia residents and beyond.

“Melissa is a Proud Patriot and we are looking forward to welcoming her back to Mason recognize her accomplishments and the contributions of all Mason nurses,” said interim Director of the School of Nursing Cheryl Oetjen. “Melissa embodies the values of a Mason nurse. She has an extensive background in nurse management and emergency preparedness, which uniquely positions her to share insights on the resiliency of nurses, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, and what the future might hold for the profession as a whole.”

The College is excited to welcome back Harvey and all graduates, students, and friends of the School of Nursing at this event. Tickets are now available here for the Honor Mason Nurses.

Harvey is also an advisor to the COVID Commission Planning Group, which is preparing the way forward for a nonpartisan National COVID Commission that could be initiated by the White House. In her current role at HCA Healthcare, Harvey is responsible for advancing healthcare system preparedness across the organization and developing next-generation response capabilities to ensure a more resilient healthcare enterprise. HCA Healthcare is the nation’s largest health system which is comprised of 185 hospitals and 2,000+ sites of care in 20 states and the United Kingdom.

Previously, Harvey served in various roles at University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and Nebraska Medicine, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Central Intelligence Agency, and Northwell Health in New York. She has clinical experience as an RN and an EMT. She attended Harvard University (MSPH), Boston College (BA), and ��AV (BSN).

AARP is a platinum sponsor of Honoring Mason Nurses, Inova Health Services is a gold sponsor, and Kaiser Permanente is a sliver sponsor. Learn more about the event at chhs.gmu.edu/honoring.

Melissa Harvey Bio

Melissa Harvey is the Assistant Vice President for Enterprise Emergency Operations for HCA Healthcare, the nation’s largest health system, comprised of 185 hospitals and 2,000+ sites of care in 20 states and the United Kingdom. She is responsible for advancing healthcare system preparedness across the organization and developing next-generation response capabilities to ensure a more resilient healthcare enterprise.

Harvey also serves as an advisor to the COVID Commission Planning Group, which is preparing the way forward for a nonpartisan National COVID Commission that could be initiated by the White House, chartered by Congress, or privately funded, to preserve the lessons learned during the crisis and recommend solutions to safeguard the nation from future threats.

Previously, Harvey served as the Director of Strategic Projects at the Global Center for Health Security at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and Nebraska Medicine, where she developed public-private partnerships to advance the nation’s health security. She has more than a decade of federal healthcare experience, most recently at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where she served as the Director of Health Systems. In this role, Harvey oversaw the Department's emergency care, electronic health records, and health security portfolios. During the COVID-19 response, she was detailed to the FEMA-HHS Healthcare Resilience Task Force, where she led the Hospital Team.

Until 2019, Harvey served as the Director of National Healthcare Preparedness Programs in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where she developed and advanced the implementation of policies, capabilities, and performance metrics that aimed to improve the nation’s overall healthcare emergency readiness. She led ASPR’s domestic healthcare system response to Ebola, including developing a regional and tiered infectious disease strategy for the nation’s healthcare facilities. She also concurrently served as the ASPR Chief of Staff, facilitating the Office’s policy and legislative priorities and its $1.5 billion budget.

Previously, Harvey served at the Central Intelligence Agency, and was the Manager of Emergency Management for Northwell Health in New York. At Northwell, she was responsible for all-hazards planning and response for New York State’s largest healthcare system. Melissa has clinical experience as an RN and an EMT. She attended Harvard University (MSPH), Boston College (BA), and ��AV (BSN).

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Capstone Practicum Helps MHA Alumni Provide Better Results for Patients

John Brandon Cantrell — Mon, 21 Mar 2022 14:46:34 +0000

Capstone Practicum Helps MHA Alumni Provide Better Results for Patients John Brandon C… Mon, 03/21/2022 - 10:46

MHA alumni credit their capstone internship and research experiences with preparing them for their careers in health administration.

Winter MHA 2021 capstone practicum students.

For students who want to solve real-world health care problems like helping a hospital system create a disaster management plan or developing a security plan for a location health department, Mason’s Master of Health Administration (MHA) in Health Systems Management program is the place to practice and gain those skills with guidance from professionals.

Whether in person or online, the MHA program culminates in a real-world capstone practicum project where students solve a health care problem for an organization or company they are interested in, all with the guidance of a preceptor who is a professional in the field. Projects have included improving a COVID-19 testing and vaccination initiative, creating an improved patient intake plan, creating a strategy to reduce falls at a senior living facility, identifying the impact a hurricane had on suicides in Puerto Rico, and developing an online dashboard for a medical center, among others.

Recent alumni from the program agree that the capstone, which comes at the end of two years of coursework, and the program provided them with well-rounded health care skills that have helped them succeed in their careers.

“My capstone project taught me to be confident in my skills. I knew my perceived worth at my place of employment already so chose to do my project at a different location. Meeting new people, networking, and collaborating to produce a project that was centered on their needs helped me realize that I can step out of my comfort zone and still be successful,” said Kathy Hubbard, MHA ’21, whose project assessed injury prevention at a retirement community.

The field-based capstone practicum provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned in class and through faculty collaboration to key health care executives while conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information to inform an executive decision regarding a complex problem.

"The most important lesson I learned from my capstone is to ask ‘why’ and strive for better results for our patients and providers."

Jake Rodriguez, MHA '21

“The most important lesson I learned from my capstone is to ask ‘why’ and strive for better results for our patients and providers. I was able to completely change the way my team outreaches to patients and leveraged the data analysis in the project to improve the accuracy of our patient panel attribution, greatly improving our cost of care metrics,” said Jake Rodriguez, MHA ’21. For his capstone, Rodriguez’s looked at a health care system’s highest cost “unengaged” patients to improve preventative health outcomes and the total cost of care.

Jake Rodriguez, MHA '21, discusses his practicum project.

Capstone projects can help students prepare for their future jobs, and sometimes lead to a job after graduation. The projects always provide students with growth, development, and help them learn something new about health care or their desired specialty.

“The capstone opened my eyes to the world of data analytics and its critical role in the health care setting. [I developed] a relentless determination and will to seek out and create opportunities for professional development and personal enhancement,” said Rehan Saeed, who now works at his dream job as a staff consultant at Federal Advisory Partners.

Experienced Preceptors, Supportive Networks

From hospitals, health care clinics, and private practices to government agencies and departments of health, preceptors mentor students in all types of health care facilities and organizations in the private and public sectors. Each student identifies a mentor to help guide them to create a worthwhile project for the host organization and the student and support the student in their research.

“My preceptor was an experienced Registered Nurse (RN). She helped prepare me by giving me opportunities to ask questions but then challenged me to answer them through reflection. This was important to me because I truly believe there is more value in presenting a solution than a question in many circumstances,” said Hubbard, currently the RN Clinical Supervisor for the Internal Medicine Department at Eastern Virginia Medical School. “In health care, we know what the problems are, we have asked all the questions before and done the research again and again. Like the MHA program, my preceptor instilled in me a sense of urgency to create and implement the solutions to the problems we identified.”

Preceptors have included administrators at Inova Fairfax Hospital, Office of Strategic Policy, Mason and Partners Clinic, Sunrise Senior Living, National Institutes of Health, Medical University of South Carolina, Kaiser Permanente, Maryland Department of Health, and Healthcare Sustainability and Relief Effort, and many more.

Career-Ready and Always Learning

Kathy Hubbard, MHA '21 presents her practicum research findings.

“The work I did throughout the MHA program triggered my interest in a career change toward consulting. I had always worked in administrative roles – HR, business management, operations. The capstone work pushed me harder toward the career change and I ultimately decided to ask for a position as a consultant [at my current company],” said Sara Hodgson, who is a double Mason alumna with an MHA and a Bachelor of Science in Health Systems Management. Hodgson is a partner at The Moran Company, a health care research and consulting firm. “It is a complete career switch, but one I am glad I made and perhaps would not have made (or been qualified for) without working through the MHA program and my capstone project.”

The MHA program and its capstone practicum prepare students to thrive in the field of health care as administrators in a variety of roles. Students leave the program ready to take on the challenges of health equity and the health care system.

“The best thing that I learned from my capstone is that there is still work to be done. Health care is an industry that is constantly evolving,” said Jose Vazquez, who currently works with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He aims to be a health care administrator within the federal health care system. “Also, I learned that adaptability has to be crucial for health care professionals because in times of crisis we have to respond and provide concrete solutions to deliver the best care possible.”

And Mason students are prepared and excited to do the work.

Learn more about Mason’s on-campus MHA program. Learn more about Mason’s online MHA program.