| Sponsored Students Reflect on ACHE 2018 Congress |
My time at the 2018 ACHE Congress was unlike any other experience.
I have never attended a conference of such scale before, and I was amazed to
see so many people from across the country who share one passion. In addition to the student focused sessions,
I was able to attend several lectures about modern healthcare, potential
changes, and the uncertain future. I found these sessions to be very valuable
in demonstrating the flexibility needed as a healthcare leader. Additionally, I
gained helpful information about fellowships, ACHE resources, and the
challenges of healthcare. I hope this knowledge will assist my growth as a
student and as a future healthcare leader. – Pooneh Nazaran
I enjoyed all of the sessions I attended, but three sessions stand
out in particular. First, was a presentation about Physician Integration and
Alignment given by the CEO of UW Health. This session was of particular
interest to me since I will begin an Administrative Fellowship at UW Health
this summer. I found the presentation to very insightful into strategies to
successfully align physicians and increase physician engagement. Another outstanding
session was titled “Leadership Development for Developing Leaders.” This
session was given by an Administrative Fellow preceptor at Barnes Jewish
Hospital. Finally, the last session I attended at Congress was titled,
“Changing the DNA of Healthcare in the Age of AI.” I found the focus on
innovation, consumerism, and telemedicine in this presentation to be very
inspiring and futuristic. – Sarah McKittrick
As a student attendee, much of our curriculum focused on
preparation for entering the workforce and learning from executives about their
career paths. I appreciated the balance between sessions focused on advice for
students and sessions focused on current healthcare issues. We had the
opportunity to learn from successful executives at various stages in their
careers, and I was impressed by the level of honesty and candidness displayed
by these individuals. They truly cared about educating future leaders and were
open to sharing both their successes and mistakes. – Ariel Shifter
Many of the student track seminars focused on career advice and
how to develop as leaders. Some of the best advice came from leaders who told
their own stories of success or failure. One of my favorite speakers discussed,
“Four Rules to Never Lose Sight of in Your Career.” The first one was, know
your why; make yourself memorable; get comfortable with being uncomfortable;
and the 80/20 rule, which includes saying yes 80% of the time. – Gabrielle
Morales
Throughout my first experience at Congress, I enjoyed continuous opportunities
for networking and further education. The first session I attended was for new
congress attendees, and offered a speed networking activity, which was one of
the most valuable experiences I took away from Congress. I met students, top
executives, and military members, which helped introduce me to the diversity
within the American College of Healthcare Executives. – Grace Sirois
One of the best
lessons I learned was during a session titled “Tools for the Next Generation of
Leaders: Lessons from the First 10 Years” presented by Laurie K. Baedke and
Natalie D. Lamberton Their quote “networking is a lifestyle, not an action; a
relationship, not an event" resonated with me. Networking is connecting
with people about many shared ideas and beliefs. I networked with people and
gained a connection with someone who can benefit the start of my career. – Alicia
Bingham
The few days in Chicago really helped open my eyes to
possibilities around the country in the healthcare field and how important it
is to put yourself out there. There is no doubt in my mind that I will be
returning to Congress next year and look forward to furthering my education
with the sessions and conversations there. I can’t thank you enough for the
scholarship and support from KAHCE. Without
it, I never would have had this experience or opportunity to grow, learn, and
strive for higher success as a student and future healthcare professional! – Katerina
Woods
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