Health Administration Clipboard Notes - Pfeiffer - Pfeiffer University

Health Administration
Clipboard Notes
Clipboard Highlights
GA Anky Punj
Academic Rigor
Monkey Survey Results
Department Banquet
Student Success
What You Are Saying
International Trips
ACHE Announcements
HA Department at Work
October/November
2011
Volume 1, Issue 2
Meet Dr. Valerie Johnston
Dr. Valerie Johnston,
Assistant Professor and
Assistant Director,
Healthcare Programs,
joined Pfeiffer
University in July 2010.
She holds an
Associate’s Degree in
Biology from Macon
State College, Macon,
GA, Bachelor’s
Degree in Industrial
and Systems
Engineering from the
Georgia Institute of
Technology, Atlanta,
GA; MBA from Duke
University’s Fuqua
School of Business,
Durham, NC; and
Ph.D. in Health
Services Research
from UNC Charlotte,
where she served as a
graduate research
assistant and
graduated Phi Kappa
Phi.
Dr. Johnston has
considerable
professional
experience in
consulting and
administration
within health
system, hospital,
and physician
practice settings.
Her range of
practice
experience
includes financial
analysis, decision
support, quality
management,
performance
improvement,
clinical service line
administration, and
operational
leadership.
Dr. Johnston's
academic
experience
includes teaching
seated and on-line
undergraduate
courses for both
traditional and
adult students in
healthcare
management, and
graduate courses
for students in a
CAHME-accredited
Master of Health
Administration
program. Her most
recent faculty
experience was
with the University
of North Florida in
Jacksonville, FL. Her
research interests include:
1) the organization,
management and
performance of hospitalbased
emergency services,
2) the impact of health
system structure, policy and
financing on access to
care, and 3) health
disparities arising from the
health care delivery system.
Dr. Johnston is married to
Reverend Doctor Mike
Johnston. They have four
children: Erin, Ben, Cooper
and Blake. The Johnstons
currently reside in Gastonia,
NC.
When asked about Dr.
Johnston’s appointment,
Dr. Miller said, “We are
pleased to have Dr.
Johnston to join our faculty
and I look forward to
working with her.”

2
Invite your colleagues
and friends to attend
an information session
during an upcoming
Page | 2
Open House
Charlotte Campus
5:00pm
Monday
November 7, 2011
Thursday
December 1, 2011
Monday
January 9, 2012
---------------------------------
RTP Campus – 5:45 pm
Tuesday
November 1, 2011
Wednesday
November 30, 2011
Monday
December 12, 2011
The best marketing tools we
have are our student success
stories. Tell someone how your
Pfeiffer educational experience
has made a difference in your
life.
May I help you?
My name is Ankshika Punj.
Everyone calls me Anky. This is
my first semester as an MSL
student. I attend classes on the
Charlotte campus.
I am the new Graduate Assistant
in the HA Department’s central
office. I assist Dr. Miller with daily
operations and provide internal
support to faculty as needed.
My office hours are Monday –
Thursday 10:00 am – 3:00pm.
I joined about two months back,
and since then I am enjoying
myself and learning a lot every
day.
If I can help you in any
way, please contact me
at:
apunj346@my.pfeiffer.edu.
I hope you have a good
year. Please stop by my
office and say hello when
you come to the Charlotte
campus. I would very
much like to meet you.
Anky

3 | P age
Academic Rigor
Have you noticed any
changes in your Pfeiffer
classes? The professors
are assigning
coursework with weekly
due dates; term paper
content is getting more
specific, and the page
requirements longer;
students are being
required to submit
papers to TurnItIn.com;
online classes are
suddenly more
demanding and
interactive…. what’s
going on?
It’s called “academic
rigor.” The University
Deans and Directors
have set greater
academic rigor as one
of their goals for the
year.
Academic rigor
involves the setting of
high expectations for
both faculty and
students. It requires:
Standardized
course
expectations
across the
curriculum.
Mastery of
student
learning
objectives.
Benchmarks
that integrate
knowledge and
skills.
Improved
communication
skills.
The use of varied
instructional
approaches.
Academic
support to
ensure that
students receive
the assistance
needed to be
successful.
Academic rigor is simply
a systemized approach
to ensuring that you, the
student, gets your
‘money’s worth.’
Dr. Miller reminds us that
“This is a year of transition
and inspection.” Faculty
and students must “step
up to the plate and put
our best foot forward in
every class at every
location. We live in a
competitive global
environment. Pfeiffer
graduates must be well
prepared for the
challenging career
opportunities that are
sure to come their way.”
If you need academic
support, please contact
Dr. Deborah Lung in
the Office of Graduate
Student Development
and Academic
Success. Her contact
information is:
Deborah.lung@fsmail.p
feiffer.edu
704-945-7308
Dr. Deborah Lung
“I’m a great
believer in luck
and I find the
harder I work, the
more I have of
it.”
Thomas Jefferson
3

Page | 4
4 The results are in……
ATTENTION MAY
GRADUATES
The deadline to apply
for May 2012 graduation
is Monday, November
14 th . The application
form is located at
www.pfeiffer.edu. From
the top, click on a
campus location, and
then Academics,
Resources, and, finally,
Registrar’s Office. The
Application for
Graduation is under
‘Online Forms.’
Completed forms should
be emailed to rick.kivior
@fsmail.pfeiffer.edu or
faxed to 704-945-7330.
All students (except the
MHA cohorts) are
required to submit a $95
graduation fee to the
Business Office.
Please apply by the
deadline in order to
avoid the $75 late fee.
Thanks for your
participation in the
Monkey Survey
designed to gauge
student interest in
departmentsponsored
international trips.
The results are in,
and the findings
were very
interesting:
287 respondents
= 64% return
from the current
student count.
1st year students
are very
interested in the
international
trips.
Cohort
respondents
were very active
in the survey.
76% indicated
that they would
like to take an
international trip.
50% see the trip
as being an
important
aspect of their
MHA education.
67% did not
choose to come
to our program
based solely on
the opportunity
to take a trip.
Trips priced
below $3,000,
and as close to
$2,500 as
The Pfeiffer Library is available
24/7
http://library.pfeiffer.edu
Check it out!
possible, were
most popular.
If you would like to
see the actual
results, you may do
so at the following
link:
..\Monkey
Surveys\MHA -
Student Survey
0911.pptx
Thank you for the
fantastic
response rate,
and your
excellent
participation!

TOP 10
REASONS
TO MAKE
FRIENDS
WITH A
PROFESSOR
BEFORE
YOU
GRADUATE
5 | P age
10. They will
remember your name
when you see them
at Wal-Mart.
9. They will “highly
recommend” you,
and not ignore your
request for a
reference letter.
8. Networking – They
are the “net” that will
“work” for you for life.
7. They actually do
Congratulations are in order…..
Pfeiffer MHA/MBA grad Pandora
Holloway is the new chief compliance
officer for WakeMed. The Department
of Compliance & Audit Services ensures
compliance with the requirements in
contractual agreements with the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CMS) and the Department of
Health and Human Services (DHHS)
Office of the Inspector General. It also
works with HIPAA and related matters of
confidentiality. The department
employs 13 workers. Holloway has been
a WakeMed employee since 1982 and
has served as the interim compliance
officer since last year.
have influence in the
community, and they
will use it to help you.
6. You might get
better grades.
5. They’ll invite you to
collaborate on
professional
presentations when
you graduate.
4. You can consult
with them for free
about work-related
issues.
Congratulations Pandora.
3. Birds of a feather
flock together.
Stick with the
eagles!
2. Everyone needs
a coach/mentor.
1. Everyone needs
a life-long
professional friend.
So, who is in your
PNG (Professor
Network Group)?
If you have good news to report, let
us know at:
healthadmin@fsmail.pfeiffer.edu.
5

6
ANOTHER SUCCESS STORY
Page | 6
Save the
Date!
1 st Annual
We’re getting closer
to a date certain.
Go ahead and
pencil in April 14,
2012.
Who knew that April
and May are prime
prom and spring
wedding dates?
Not to worry. Your
HA Banquet
Committee is on the
case twisting arms
to make sure that
this historic event
takes place.
Do you have your
table mates yet?
Department Banquet
Will all of the cohort
cycles from your site
be represented?
What about
Charlotte and RTP?
Are you coming?
Let’s not forget HA
School of Adult
Studies students?
Will your healthcare
class be in the
house? And all
those 1200+
alums…are you
calling them to help
spread the word?
You don’t want to
miss this event. It’s
going to be a night
to remember….
Grand Venue
Awards & Prizes
Honored Guests
Great Food and
Dancing
We are going to
celebrate the
success of our
healthcare
programs while
beginning a new
tradition. Stay
tuned to Clipboard
Notes and be
prepared to RSVP.
Ruth Ayala-Carmona, RN, BSN, MHA joined Bayada Nurses as the new Pediatric Clinical
Manager. The company will change its name in January to reflect a broader range of
services. It will become Bayada Health Care. Ayala is grateful to Dr. Barnett Parker for
being ‘an incredible teacher, mentor, and friend.’ She reports that during her job search
she learned that interviewing for administrative jobs today can involve 4-5 levels of
interviews plus many tests that measure character and personality. “They work harder
and longer to find the right fit. In my case, it involved 5 different interviews and several
exams, both clinical aptitude and character/personality. You must be prepared and
have patience.” That is great information for everyone. Best wishes Ruth for your
continued success!
New Student Impressed with RTP Enrollment - “It’s been a pretty seamless advising
and enrollment process at RTP. They made it quick and easy, and I had good
communications during the whole process. There was great interaction between Bennie
Felts, Jonathan Beam and Michael Utsman. Everything was straightforward. Great
process!” Mike Luttrell, Cary, NC

Clipboard Notes is a hit! What you are saying…
7 | P age
Q & A – Why wasn’t Dr. James
Leist pictured in the group faculty
photo?
a) He was playing with his
grandchildren
b) He was late
c) He was mad because Dr.
Miller wouldn’t let him sit in
the middle
d) None of the above
Answer – (d) He was in Austria
with the international trip class
when the photo was taken.
Good news – Dr. Leist is happy and
well and seen above participating
in a recent Charlotte campus
event.
Thanks for asking Clipboard Notes.
“This was a treat to
read! I shared it
with everyone in my
cohort.” Janet
Wilson
“I’m in my second
semester at Pfeiffer
in the HA program
and love the school
and the program of
study I have
chosen.
Congratulations. I
look forward to
being part of one of
your future
graduation
classes.” Dustin
Helms
“The newsletter is
wonderful!!!! Thank
you for sharing it
with me!” Deb
“I enjoyed the
newsletter.”
Kathryn
“I really like the
newsletter.” Vicky
Howard
“The trip to Africa
looks exciting! I
can’t wait to hear
about it upon your
return.” Kelli Sadler-
Bell
“I really enjoyed the
newsletter! It was
very informative for
students who are
not attending
classes on campus
(in Charlotte). It
makes you
feel better/more
connected to the
Pfeiffer University
family. Kind regards
& thanks for
sharing!” Tawanda
Lawson
“Thanks for
Clipboard Notes.”
Dora Collins
Thank you for the great
feedback!
7

8
Page | 8
New Spring
Durham
Cohort
Students participate in Triad Healthcare Forum
Dr. Carol Vogt, ACHE
faculty liaison, together
with several MHA
students, participated in
the Triad Healthcare
Executive Forum held in
Greensboro on
September 29th . The
topic was “Bending the
Execution Curve:
Implementing Successful
Organizational Change in
Hospitals and Healthcare
Organizations.”
A new cohort group
is forming at
Durham Regional
Medical Center for
spring 2012. If you
know any
Durham/Duke
employees who
would like to join,
please contact:
Aasha Mehta, Nursing
Home Administrator for
Cone Health, was a
panelist. Dr. Vogt and
Laura Bertinetti, student
organization (PHESO)
coordinator for the
region, gave welcoming
Amanda R. Thomas
Clinical Nurse
Educator
Durham Regional
Hospital, Education
Department
Office 919-470-4294
amanda.r.thomas@d
uke.edu
remarks.
School of Adult Studies HA
Certificates
MHA Alumni Margaret
McAlister, Lisa Kellner,
Jennifer Shaw and
Suzanne Cromlish
presented posters.
Job well done!

American College of Healthcare Executives - Announcements
Richard J. Stull Student Essay Competition is underway and
you are invited to apply. ACHE invites eligible students to submit essays with a focus on
healthcare management topics. The competition is open to students currently enrolled
in either a graduate or undergraduate health administration program that is a
participant in the ACHE Higher Education Network. Entrants must be an ACHE Student
Associate. Only one entry per program will be accepted. Complete rules and details
can be found at: http://www.ache.org/Faculty_Students/student_essay.cfm
If you would like to participate, please contact Dr. Carol Vogt, ACHE Advisor at
carol.vogt@fsmail.pfeiffer.edu.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 | P age
The Greater Charlotte Healthcare Executive Group
and Pfeiffer University’s Department of Health
Administration cordially invite you to a special
event……
Leading a Successful Multigenerational
Organization
When: November 2, 2011
Where: Pfeiffer University, Charlotte campus Park Road
Time: 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.; networking and refreshments
served prior to the discussion
Cost: ACHE Member- $20, Non-ACHE member- $30, Non-
Pfeiffer Student ACHE member- $10
ACHE Credits: 1.5 Category I
This event is co-sponsored by the Pfeiffer Healthcare
Executive Student Organization (PHESO) & Greater Charlotte
Healthcare Executives Group (GCHEG)
If you are a Pfeiffer MHA student, please register by emailing Suzanne Cromlish, PHESO
President @ joy@classycelebrations.com. All other attendees can register now for this
event at http://gcheg.ache.org.
9

10
Liberia - Summer 2012
The reaction to the
addition of new
international trips
has been
overwhelming.
Students and
faculty are excited
about plans for
France and Liberia.
The Liberia trip will
take place at the
end of May. Travel
rates were too
expensive for
January so we had
Students Enjoy Successful Austria Trip
A group of 25 Pfeiffer
University graduate
students from
Charlotte and Raleigh
traveled to Austria in
August to learn about
international
healthcare
systems. The group
spent seven days
traveling to Salzburg,
Innsbruck and, finally,
to Garmish in order to
better understand the
healthcare needs of
the Austrian
people. Not only
Page | 10
to postpone until
May 22-June 1,
2012.
We also discovered
that we have
Liberian MHA
students who have
made excellent
travel suggestions.
Trip planning is
shaping up nicely.
This will be a
summer class
registration,
although deposits
was the trip an
educational
opportunity, but we
also toured historical
cities, hiked the Swiss
Alps, and then visited
the Neuschwantsein
Castle.
Uli Froehlich was the
trip leader. Dr. James
Leist accompanied
the group. It was a
great learning
experience, and I
would recommend
the trip to future
will be due during
spring semester.
So, if your name
isn’t already on the
list, please contact
Dr. Miller
immediately and
get your deposit
ready. The final
itinerary will be
announced before
Christmas.
Enrollment will be
limited, so respond
now!
students.
Kathi Robinson
(Presbyterian Cohort)
reporting.

11 | P age
Did you know?
Health Administration
is the largest
department at Pfeiffer
University.
We have more than
450 students taking
classes in 12 different
locations across the
State, and online.
Our graduates hold
executive and key
management
positions in the major
health systems across
the Carolinas.
From the Director’s Desk
It’s true. I have been
traveling the State
introducing myself to
students and visiting
classes to see the
great work our
faculty and students
are doing.
So far, I have been
to RTP twice, Durham
Regional twice,
Rowan, Forsyth,
Presbyterian, and
Rocky Mount.
Crisscrossing the
State is challenging
but fun. Putting
names with faces
and experiencing
students in their work
environments is a
true pleasure.
I’m learning what is
important to you.
Thanks so much for
sharing positive
feedback and points
for our growth and
development. Your
suggestions have
indeed been very
helpful.
During the rest of
October/November, I
will make every effort
to visit Rex, Wake Med,
High Point, Moses
Cone, and a Charlotte
class. This is my goal.
Please don’t be
disappointed if my visits
run over into spring
Have you seen Dr.
Miller? I heard she
is popping into
classes all over the
State!
If you spot her let us
know. Anky is
looking for her.
semester. Be assured I
will get to your site as
soon as possible.
11
In the meantime, keep
up the excellent work.
Freddie, the Pfeiffer
Falcon, and I are proud
of you.

12
Charlotte Your Department at work for you
Page | 12
Pfeiffer University at
4701 Park Road
Charlotte, NC 28209
Phone
(704) 521-9116
Fax
(704)521-8617
Email
Graduate Assistant
Ankshika Punj,
healthadmin@fsmail.pfei
ffer.edu
Pfeiffer University at the
Triangle
2880 Slater Road, Suite
100
Morrisville, NC 27560
919-941-2920
DEPARTMENTAL FACULTY
Vernease H. Miller
Chair & Director
Professor
Valerie Johnston
Assistant Director
Assistant Professor
Katrina Graham
Assistant Professor
James C. Leist
Professor
Jamal Nahavandi
Associate Professor
Barnett R. Parker
Professor
Gwyndolan Swain
Assistant Professor
Joel E. Vickers
Professor
Carol A. Vogt
Associate Professor
Adjunct Faculty
Fall 2011
Elizabeth Barkley
Larry Bishop
John Daniels
Steve Driggers
Agir Kurmanji
Tim McElderry
Huabin Luo
Dick McCoy
We appreciate their service
to the Department.
LEGAL NOTICE
Thank you for your kind
invitations to be your
“Friend” but Dr. Miller does
not Facebook, Twitter or
LinkedIn. Emails and phone
calls are welcome and
encouraged.
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
The Department of Health
Administration prepares
servant leaders to shape the
future of healthcare locally,
nationally and globally.
Clipboard Notes is our
attempt to keep you
informed. We want to
increase the level of
student and alumni
engagement with our
department. Clipboard
Notes is a first step in
that direction.
Please let us know if
there are specific topics
you would like to see
covered.
Your feedback is
welcome and
appreciated.
HA Department Faculty - Center: Vernease Miller; Back Row: Valerie Johnston, Joel
Vickers, Barnett Parker, and Jamal Nahavandi.
Left to Right: Katrina Graham, Carol Vogt and Gwyndolan Swain – Not pictured: James
Leist