<p>hello everyone this is Cole from the American Journal of healthc care strategy and I am joined by another administrative fellow from WellStar Jesse Jesse please introduce yourself hi everyone I'm Jesse Tran and I am currently the hospital operations administrative fellow at [Music] WellStar and so I think uh the last administrative fellow we interviewed was a corporate administrative fellow right and that was puan so this is a different angle which we're really excited to learn about um but first let's go back to the beginning of your career at I think it was the University of Kentucky right yes correct and so what was your degree choice and why did you choose to pursue that degree there so I actually started off my undergraduate career being in exploratory health science which is essentially an ided major sort of but it's still in the College of Health Sciences so I knew I wanted to do Health Sciences I just wasn't sure what I wanted to do yet so I was in that major for about a year trying to figure out what Pathways interested me in healthc care and I honestly on accident I stumbled across a newer program in our College of Health Science called clinical leadership and management it was previously known as more of a health administration major but they kind of refined the program so that you could take different Avenues with your degree uh so completely on accident I stumbled across this program I applied to it and got in and at the time I also was hired to become a resident adviser so prior to my experience as a resident adviser I really didn't have a ton of experience in leadership or being in charge I was very introverted actually so I found this major learned more about leadership I really found my that leadership Within me I guess being an RA and helping incoming students balance their school life and their personal life so I really enjoyed it but I also really enjoyed health care and helping other people when I was in undergrad I was on the Student Health Plan like a lot of college students and I just had a great experience with the clinical staff that I encountered like when going to the doctors obviously when you're on the Student Health Plan you really don't have a designated PCP like primary care provider but I had had a relationship with the physician that I would purposely schedule with him every single time I had to go to the doctor and I kind of made him my unofficial PCP and I was kind of in my head I was like it would be so amazing if every person had this the same experience as me so from then I was kind of also interested in like physician recruitment for a time and that's why I enjoyed my major so much being in clinical leadership I got to delve into more the business side of healthcare learning about ethics and healthc Care policy and I truly just fell in love with it and my naive self prior to discovering Health Administration I thought that the doctors ran everything knowing what I know now there's no way that doctors would have the time to provide care and do all the paperwork and deal with all the policies and all the administrative stuff from the background so I knew that I wanted to lead not only lead others but also do work in the background and I do want to acknowledge that there are definitely physician leaders out there in the SE Suite who are you know doing the work um my own chief medical officer is still practicing doctor Sometimes He he'll hop in and help the possess day-to-day their short staff so much kudos to those Physicians and honestly just anyone with a clinical background who is in administration as well because their Insight is so important in this field as well I don't think I can handle doing both at I don't think I I don't think I could either but it's wonderful to have have their perspective absolutely it's essential too I mean either either having them involved or having really strong Partnerships yes I want to ask how did you wind up at the University of Kentucky are you from that area originally yes I am um I was born in lville Kentucky and then I my family moved we lived in Northern Kentucky for a long period of time and well I honestly just wanted instate tuition so I just ended up at University of Kentucky there really wasn't a Rhyme or Reason I'm really glad that I chose UK though because CLM was a very unique degree to our school and that Health Professions exploration program that is not something or Health Sciences exploration that's not something that a lot of Institutions have especially in I know in the Northeast it's competitive in the sense that you should already have a major picked out you need to write like a book on why you want to get into that major and then you get that you know really steep tuition in the Northeast so I think we need to take a a page out of the University of Kentucky's Playbook and start adapting that into some of the colleges up here because that sounds like an excellent program that I would have liked to have done back in my undergrad yeah it was really intimidating being like 18 years old and someone asking you what do you want to do for the rest of your life and I was like well I know I want to be in healthcare I just don't know what so it was just the perfect starting point for me in undergrad and then you decided to go into your mha program right after that and then you went to the top school for health administration UNC why did you choose UNCC did was it because it was one of the top uh programs yes partially yes so I was at a point in my life where I need to change and I had lived in Kentucky my whole life went to school there all my family was there I was actually even thinking about staying in Kentucky and going to grad school grad school was always in the plans for me but I reached a point where I kind of was like I think Co probably changed my mindset a lot but I needed change and I needed to get out of my comfort zone I love Kentucky I had did amazing and great things and learned from amazing people in Kentucky but I felt like I needed to be not uncomfortable to just have a different perspective a change of scenery if you will so I actually only applied to one mha program unlike my fellowship program but I only apply to one mha program I apply to C mostly because of the comprehensive uh classes and uh program The Faculty the Partnerships that UNCC has or specifically the mha program has with other like Health Systems um the location was ideal for me wasn't too hot wasn't too cold very similar to Kentucky I took that into account as well and uh so I applied and I told myself that if I got in it was a sign it was meant to be and if I didn't I would look out in Kentucky um as like a plan B if you will uh but I'm very happy that I got into UNC um I kind of have a moment of like self-doubt what if I don't get in I don't want to say that I applied as I just I was very cautious about applying because I was like I just never thought a million years that I would get in uh but I did and I really enjoyed meeting The Faculty during my interview session it kind of made me want it even more I actually before I got my accept I actually tried to I didn't want to jinx myself but I was so excited I actually went out and bought my first ever like UNC sweatshirt and I was like this is me believing in myself that I'm gonna get into the school so I've been asking people who good to UNC did you take in any of the sporting events while you were down there I did I was able to go to one basketball game game I went to with puin actually at the time yeah we were I unfortunately only got to go to one game the student Lottery was like competitive it was impossible to get a ticket but I'm so glad I got to experience that it's honestly just a different vibe a different feeling but it was great I think but right before I moved me and my because my parents are from Raleigh right before we moved I went to a UNC versus Duke with my dad and it was a wild experience uh and then I went to UNC Charlotte so I was down on the other side of the state but I'm very fond of of North Carolinians so I love talking to them whenever I come on and so after your experience at UNCC you you know decided to or during your experience actually due to the internship first with WellStar yeah how did that come about I know that WellStar is very well recommended from UNC is that kind of how you got connected yeah so that so this is what go I went back to what I was saying about like how UNCC has lots of Partnerships with Health Systems I know that UNCC and W have a really good relationship so it was just an intern posting that only went around to us UNCC students or and a couple other schools I believe they only recruit we only recruits from certain schools for now because their program is still super new but yeah it was just a random email it wasn't posted publicly or anything and I submitted my resume and I got an interview and that's when and I got an offer and I accepted and then so I did the WellStar internship excellent and then where was that internship was that also in Atlanta yeah so it was in so my internship track there was I think four different tracks if I remember correctly there's four of us interns my track was with the WellStar Medical Group so I was based out of the corporate office which is located in Marietta Georgia okay so that's where pujan is now right yes correct okay interesting you guys kind of did a little bit of yeah we kind of we kind of flip-flo becausein did the hospital operations track for her internship so she was at a hospital and then I was at the corporate office and now I'm at a hospital and she's at the corporate office that is great so that is an interesting so we really are getting the full spectrum here yes and so after you did that at the corporate office what made you decide to go to the the hospital one in for the fellowship and then also did you apply for other fellowships puan said that she did not apply for other fellowships from what I remember I applied to a lot of fellowships well so during my internship I they do I guess a matching process I'm sure based off of my answers in the internship interview they kind of was like oh she would be really good in this track so I'm really glad for my experience with wmg because I had never I don't have any I didn't have any experience in ambulatory care or outpatient care so that was great exposure and then when I interviewed for the fellowship I kind of went in with an open mind of course I was comfortable with wmg which that was one of our fellowship tracks but I told the interviewers that I would be open to any of the tracks I'm interested in any of them just I don't know more exposure different experience would have been nice I would have been fine with either way but ultimately I think I don't know I guess they knew more than me and they could tell that I would fit best in the hospital operations track and they were right because I enjoy it very much and in underguard I actually worked as a patient transporter at the UK hospital um and I really missed being in the hospital and interacting with a lot of clinicians and and patience so ultimately it was a great decision that they made that's awesome well good for you congratulations on such a successful Journey as well you know you only applied to one mha program and it set you off on this excellent path so it really did great so what are some cool projects or or people or things that you've done while working during your fellowship so one of the projects one of my very first big projects actually it's called realtime locating system or rtls a lot of hospitals have implemented this it's basically where all the equipment in our inhouse we they have little tracker tags on them kind of like air tags but they have to be specially encrypted because of course we want to protect information and things like that from hackers so essentially we already have the system in place working with biomed for equipment maintenance essentially so a lot of equipment every so often they have to undergo maintenance and the tracker helps with that because as soon as you put it on it tracks like how long it's been on there and things like that what was an issue with our hospital is a lot of nursing staff other clinicians were having trouble locating items like equipment throughout the hospital for example we only have so many IV pumps we only have so many of different just equipment in general wheelchairs honestly go just disappear the hospital so these equipment already had tags on them it's just the nursing staff I'm just using them as an example the nursing staff didn't have access to see it so what I implemented was I connected with our team or with our it team to essentially create an out for every single um nurse manager just to start off nurse manager assistant nurse manager and nursing directors to have their own account to have access to this platform where they could go on it click on a map click on the map and see exactly where each equipment was located so you could type in the search bar like IV pump and it'll show you the map of the hospital and it'll be like oh there's one IV pump on the third floor in room 107 or something like that and just to create more efficiency with was locating equipment honestly um I'm still working on it because we're still working with biomed to get all get additional equipment then our nursing staff has requested Tagged so that they can like locate it better it's I think it's incredible and I love working on stuff like this but that's just one example another favorite project that I'm working on right now is called Rock Steady kickboxing so it's essentially A specialized kickboxing class A no contact kickboxing class for patients with Parkinson's disease we're imp menting that to have this class at least once a week in house because we have a large patient population with Parkinson's disease so it would be nice if patients could see their doctor go to their appointments and then go to this class to decrease their symptoms of Parkinson's disease that is I I work with patients with Parkinson so that's something that back in neurology that I'm very interested in as well my grandmother had Parkinson's my dad has the signs of Parkinson's it's a rough disease I'm probably going to have Parkinson's and so so I'm very interested in that that's incredible so that must the implementation of that map right I assume that was quite an undertaking not just because of the access and the technology but you have to make sure these people knew how to use it right because this is a different system than what they've never used something like this before yes yeah so I actually our CNO I worked closely with her she has a a standalone meeting on a regular basis with her directors and managers of nursing so I kind of did like a training session with them show them how to use it and I even offered I was like my phone number is in my email signature if you have any questions I'm happy to show you I'm happy to do it but I think so far it's been pretty useful and honestly if they are still having um a hard time they can honestly just email me and I'll do it for them I'm happy to do that as well so you haven't gotten any you know 2 am 3: amm calls yet no thankfully no but I wouldn't be opposed to answering because I know how frustrating it is to have to go floor by4 room by room to look for one thing and delaying like patient care that's what I don't want and I know that while star treats their nurses very well but I think nursing is such a hard profession in general so I can understand the frustration of not being able to find something just makes everything worse so that's an incredible tool that you were able to implement in a different way as well and so what you know one of the PE things that a lot of the fellows ask is how much Freedom you have to do a project like that so is this thing that you just came up with what kind of approvals did you need to get what does it look like did you feel you know like you were kind of given you know almost free reign to to do this or was there a lot of approvals and process you had to go through so as a fellow I'm very grateful that I have a great support system and that support system is ourc Suite so my preceptor is the CEO of North Fulton but alongside him is you know his coo CN and CMO and they all kind of adopted me as well and whenever they see a problem or a project they automatically think of me and put me on it and I've always said that I'm an extra set of hands I'm here to learn and they know that as well so they kind of I guess volunteer me to do things but I'm happy again I'm happy to do it because I trust their expertise and if they think that a fellow should be on a project they'll put me on it other and I also have full access to you know what's going on in the hospital and I can kind of chime in where I think that I fit best I'll you know kind of raise my hand and volunteer myself to do it as well um but our previous CNO he before he left he um was the one who was telling me about this and how like other hospitals are doing it and he was like I want you to be on it I so that you can have experience working in nursing operation so honestly I'm just very grateful to have people who see my talents and think of me and want me to thrive absolutely that is an incredible asset to have and you're also an incredible asset to them for sure so that's wonderful I want to ask what are some recommend I mean you you know you already had some great recommendations but what are some recommendations that you have on how people can be as successful as you've been in their Fellowship it seems like you're really valued you know you have this close relationship with the c Suite which not a lot of people you know are able to to have so so what are some things that you've done to get to that point where they can really rely on you for these projects I honestly think just staying or H I guess I would say always be curious and show that you have interest in this let them know what your strengths are but also what your weaknesses are and a ask ask and you shall receive is honestly what I've experienced at wstar ask and you shall receive if I want if I see something and I'm interested and I ask to be on it nine times out of 10 the answer is yes if it's a no it's something crazy or confidential which is fine ask for help show people your talents I'm kind of known as PowerPoint and Excel girl around here because I'm really good at it and I'm so I'm so flattered when people ask me for my help with that stuff because I didn't think that I was that good at it but I love to also help and teach others another a couple other things is I've have a seat at the table and also know that you belong there that has been kind of a struggle for me but kind but it kind of feels it feels strange because I'm you know young I'm 20-some I'm fresh out of grad school and I'm sitting in the sea Suite I'm sitting in the boardroom with all these important people but I'm going to sit like I belong there because I do nice very good advice that's all very good advice I recently received similar advice from my chief development officer on Chief Business Development officer on how to when I'm in these meetings make sure I actually can have a voice by being like super knowledgeable about what whatever we're talking about is you need to know the agenda like front back and sideways so that when you go into the meeting you're like confident about being there so I I think that's excellent advice one final question for you are you planning on staying with WellStar after this Fellowship are you going to return to Kentucky what is the future looking like for you I do plan on staying at wstar so I'm almost towards the end of my fellowship I'll end in July I am on the job hunt internally for well so I would love to stay I love the area I do not currently have any plans of returning to Kentucky I love and miss my family but I know that my chance to grow is here in Atlanta specifically in wstar so hopefully fingers crossed that I'll land a position post Fellowship excellent well star has Great Fellowship retainment from what I've have heard so I think you'll be very successful there based on everything that I've heard during this interview so good luck with that I hope you you do well are there any areas that you're looking at specifically or that you're very interested in I have fallen in love with Hospital operations I don't see myself doing anything else so hopefully I stay in some sort of Hospital operations role maybe even nursing operations because I love working with nurses and making their job easier excellent I can tell I can tell you really it came through in the way that you were describing the projects how much you enjoyed it and I think that's special well thank you so much for joining us this has been an excellent conversation I'm you know very excited to to chat with someone from WellStar again if I do a fellowship I think I'm thoroughly convinced to apply for one at WellStar yeah so I really appreciate your time yeah of course thank you</p>