dec. 2011/jan. 2012
DESCRIPTION
MHA NewsletterTRANSCRIPT
Vol. 1 No. 3 Dec. 2011 - Jan. 2012
Gwyndolan LaVergne Swain, RN, BSN, MBA, MHA, Ph.D.(c) came to Pfeiffer in
September 2005 as an adjunct, teaching health care management classes in the School
of Adult Studies. She joined the faculty full time in August of this year as an Assistant
Professor.
Educated primarily in Louisiana, Swain graduated from Dillard University in New Orleans
with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. A 2004 graduate of Pfeiffer’s joint Master’s
degree in Business Administration and Health Administration, she has considerable
professional experience in the health care industry. She has held operational leadership
roles as an RN for more than 35 years in hospitals, home health, physician’s practices,
human resources, and long term care.
Swain’s academic experience includes teaching seated and on-line undergraduate and graduate
courses in healthcare management, marketing, strategic planning, health policy, and medical
communications. She also taught the EMT-A course for City Colleges of Chicago, while living in
Bamberg, Germany. Her most recent faculty experience prior to Pfeiffer was with the Cabarrus
College of Health Sciences teaching courses in Human Resources Management, Healthcare
Marketing and Public Relations.
Swain is currently completing her Doctor of Health Administration and Leadership dissertation project
at the Medical University of South Carolina. She is looking forward to graduating on May 18, 2012.
Her life goal is to lead by example and be a role model for everyone that she comes into contact with
and hopefully lead a life that is of service to mankind and pleasing in the sight of God.
She is married to Brandt Allen Swain. The Swains have three children and they reside in Charlotte.
Cover Story - Meet Gwyndolan Swain ......................................................................................... 1Dr. Susan Wilkie Shares Holiday Coping Strategies .................................................................. 2New Summer School Course ........................................................................................................ 3Success Abounds! ........................................................................................................................ 3WakeMed Rocks! .......................................................................................................................... 4Are you ready to graduate? ........................................................................................................ 4Spring Semester Checklist ........................................................................................................ 5Faculty News ............................................................................................................................. 5What you are telling Clipboard Notes .................................................................................... 5Liberia Trip information ........................................................................................................... 6School of Adult Studies – Health Administration Student Success .................................. 7From the Director’s Desk .............................................................................................................. 9
MEETGWYNDOLANSWAIN
Clipboard NOTESThe Department of Health Administration prepares servant leadersto shape the future of healthcare locally, nationally and globally.
TABLEOFCONTENTS
Page 2
DR. SUSANWILKIE SHARESHOLIDAYCOPING STRATEGIES
The holiday season is a merry and exciting time, but for thosewho have suffered the loss of a loved one, family conflict or theloss of a job during a lagging economy, the usually joyousseason can be a difficult and painful reminder. While experts saygrief is normal, coping strategies can help people manage theirfeelings and enjoy the holiday season.
Dr. Susan Wilkie, a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (MFT)who specializes in grief and loss and is director of the MFT programat Pfeiffer University, said holidays can be the most feared andconfusing time following loss.
“This is an entirely new lens from which one sees the world,” said Wilkie, “The sense of traditionmagnifies the loss of connection and roots.”
Experts say that often those who are dealing with loss sometimes feel forced to choose between theneed to grieve versus being able to celebrate the spirit of the holidays.
“This time of year is usually a memorable time to get together with family and friends,” Wilkie explained.“But for those who are mourning a loss or are feeling stressed as a result of family conflict orunemployment, the holidays can, instead, be a reminder of what they no longer have.”
Wilkie provides several suggestions that can help people cope:
1. Redefine your holiday expectations. Accept social support from friends and/or family members,but stay in control of narrow or broader windows of time as needed. Withdraw when you desire.
2. Begin new traditions and let others go.
3. Take some time out for yourself. Whether you pamper yourself or simply slow your dailypace, lend some time to your own personal needs and do something to soothe your troubledheart.
4. Give yourself permission to express your emotions. If you feel an urge to cry, let thetears flow. Tears can be healing. Scientists have found that certain brain chemicals inour tears are natural pain relievers. Share the memories and the experience of your loss.Remember, there are no time limits on grief.
5. Eat a nutritious diet, and get some physical exercise and plenty of sleep. Also, avoidexcessive alcohol consumption.
6. Find activities that make you laugh. Remember, it is okay to laugh during hard times.
7. Reinvest in others as a volunteer or commit to helping with special events to focuson others.
Wilkie encourages those who yearn for support to seek the counsel of a professionaltherapist. The Pfeiffer Institute is adjacent to the Charlotte Campus and offers counselingfor the community. Services provided include counseling for individuals, couples, andfamilies who need confidential counseling or support. Help for a vast range of emotional,behavioral, and personal challenges is available at a nominal fee of $25 per session or ona sliding scale for those in need. Pfeiffer students pay only $10.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call the Institute at(704) 945-7324 (704) 945-7324 or contact www.pimft.com.
Invite yourcolleagues andfriends to attendan informationsession duringan upcoming
SPRING OPEN
HOUSE
CHARLOTTE –
5:00PM
January 9February 28March 22April 16May 8RTP Campus – 5:45pmJanuary 10February 13March 20April 17May 7
If your Pfeiffer educational
experience has made a
difference in your life please
tell someone. Good news
should be shared.
Page 3
NEW SUMMER SCHOOLCOURSE
Do you need an elective? MHA 798 Special Topics –
Population Health will be offered summer 2012. It
can be used in lieu of a MBA or MLS course. This
seated course will be offered at the Charlotte
campus. Register early. Seating will be limited!
ARE YOU LEAVING $$$ON THE TABLE?
The Department of Health Administration has three scholarships
available to be awarded for the spring semester. Additionally,
ACHE is offering the Albert W. Dent and/or Foster G. McGaw
Graduate Student Scholarship. These scholarships can help you
to finance your healthcare management education. The ACHE
scholarships are valued at $5,000 and 20 will be awarded. You can’t
receive the money if you don’t apply. For more information please
contact Dr. Carol Vogt.
(704) 945-7324 (704) 945-7324 or contact www.pimft.com.
SUCCESSABOUNDS!
Pfeiffer students have done it again! Two scholarships
for the Triad region ACHE chapter were awarded to
MHA students Natalie Talley from the Forsyth cohort
class and Theresa Hopkins from High point. Dr. Carol
Vogt and Natalie Talley are pictured below at the
annual dinner event held in November at Grandover
Resort in Greensboro.
Congratulations!
Page 4
A reception was held forPfeiffer President Mike Miller atthe NC Museum of Art. Drs.Tracy Espy, Barnett Parker andVernease Miller were in attendance.The next day Provost Espy and Dr.Miller visited the Rex Cohort inRaleigh.
WAKEMED ROCKS!
Spring registration opened onMonday November 7th and theentire WakeMed Cohort #7registered by close of businesson the 8th! GA Tina Schwebackis on the job. Thank youWakeMed for leading thepack.
If you have not registeredfor spring semesterplease contact youradvisor immediately.Classes are filling up.Don’t miss the class youneed. Register today.
ARE YOU READYTO GRADUATE?
Applications for August graduation are due by February 1,2012. Please contact Rick Kivior, Assistant Registrar, for moreinformation. Application forms can be downloaded at:http://www.pfeiffer.edu/university/registrars-office.Mark your calendar for graduation day, August 11, 2012.
Page 5
SPRING SEMESTER CHECKLIST
• Check in with your Advisor
• Classes begin January 17, 2012
• Get textbooks from the PfeifferBookstore
• Sign in to online classes on the firstday of class
• Read your Pfeiffer emails
• Have a great semester!
FACULTYNEWS
Gwyndolan Swain received a scholarship from
Medical University of South Carolina to attend the
5th Annual National Conference on Health
Disparities. The four day event was held in
Charleston, SC and featured national speakers.
Students and faculty from across the country
participated.
WHATYOUARE TELLINGCLIPBOARD NOTES ….
“As I watch highlights of the Michael Jackson trial
with Dr. Conrad Murray on trial for his death I hear
terms such as duty of care, provider responsibility
and care for the patient. It makes me reflect on
these important issues learned in law and ethics
class and how necessary it is for people who
administer care to hold their patients in the highest
regards.” Randy Perry
“I just had to write to let you know what a great job
Dr. Agir Kurmanj is doing with our quantitative Health
Services Financial Management class. Even though
the material is complex, he communicates very well and
makes it clear for us to understand. His passion for
teaching and commitment to providing top quality
education is evident each week.” Richard Maas
“I suggest follow through when asking graduates to participate
in activities. Throughout the years I have volunteered and these
responses were never acknowledged or acted upon.” Monna
Hones, Class of 1996
Clipboard Notes responds: Thank you for the feedback. Our
department is trying to do a better job of staying in touch with
alumni. We hope that the outreach efforts being made now
demonstrate our desire to change that history. We will call upon
you soon.
Clipboard Notes is interested in your feedback. Write us at
Page 6
LIBERIATRIP INFORMATION
Is your passport ready? Registration is now open for MHA 776
- M35, the first international trip class to Liberia. Travel dates
are May 22 – June 1, 2012. Costs are currently estimated at
$2,393 for students and $3,126 for guests. The fee includes
round trip tickets, hotel, daily breakfast, two dinners, and
transportation to and from the Monrovia airport. We will stay at the Krystal Oceanview
Hotel http://www.krystaloceanview.net/aboutus.php, which just happens to be next door
to the American Embassy.
A trip orientation meeting will be held in early February at which time fees will be due.
Alumni are welcome to join us. Persons interested in going with the group should
contact Dr. Vernease Miller at [email protected].
Best wishes to Dr. James Leist and students who
will travel to London over the holiday break.
Travel safely, take lots of pictures, and don’t
forget to come back!
Page 7
SCHOOLOFADULT STUDIES –HEALTHADMINISTRATIONSTUDENT SUCCESS
Tim Ludwig graduated from Pfeiffer in 1999.
“My educational experience at Pfeiffer was very rewarding.
In 2000, I moved to New Bern to accept a position as
Radiology Manager at Carolina East (formerly Craven
Regional Medical Center). In 2006 I graduated from The
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Master of
Healthcare Administration degree and a little over 3 years
ago I was promoted to my current role as Vice President of
Ancillary Services. I was recently appointed by Governor Perdue to the
North Carolina State Health Coordinating Council and in my spare time,
I’m an adjunct professor at Mount Olive College in the HCM program.
I’m very proud of my accomplishments and I’m very proud that I can help deliver
quality health care to the people that we serve. I had to reach out to you and share
my comments after receiving your letter regarding Clipboard Notes. I will respond
to the email list to provide them with my contact information.”
Tim Ludwig, Vice President of Ancillary Services, Carolina East Health System
Clipboard Notes is proud of our alumni and we want to hearfrom you. Send your success stories to
Page 8
Please plan to join us as Pfeiffer faculty, staff, students, alumni,
local healthcare leaders, community-based partners and government
representatives come together to honor Dr. Joel E. Vickers for 17 years of
service to Pfeiffer University as Director of the MHA and MHA/MBA
programs.
Page 9
FROM THE DIRECTOR’S DESK
It is hard to believe that the semester is coming to a close. I’ve been the Department
Director for six months and oh boy have I learned a lot. I’ve enjoyed my travels across
the state to meet and see you in your daily work environments. My view of the University
is from a whole new vantage point and I have a new appreciation for my fellow
professors and all that they do to make our department the stellar program that it is.
As you know, “servant leadership” is a lifestyle not just a philosophy. It takes personal
commitment to practice the characteristics of listening, empathy, healing, awareness,
persuasion, conceptualization, foresight, stewardship, building community and
commitment to the growth of people in environments that are often stressed by
constant dynamic change. Yet, that is what we as health administrators do. We
serve in spite of adversity.
I hope that you will take this holiday season and be kind to yourself.
Caregivers need care. Rest, relax and restore yourself. 2012 is coming
and we will need renewed energy to meet the challenges it will bring.
All the best,
Page 10
The Department faculty and I join togetherto wish you peace, happiness, health andprosperity. Happy New Year.
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 Dr. James Leist
Pfeiffer University at Charlotte4701 Park RoadCharlotte, NC 28209
Phone(704) 521-9116
Fax(704)521-8617
EmailGraduate AssistantAnkshika Punj,[email protected]
Pfeiffer University at the Triangle2880 Slater Road, Suite 100Morrisville, NC 27560(919) 941-2920
DEPARTMENTAL FACULTY
Vernease H. MillerChair & DirectorProfessor
Valerie JohnstonAssistant DirectorAssistant Professor
Katrina GrahamAssistant Professor
James C. LeistProfessor
Jamal NahavandiAssociate Professor
Barnett R. ParkerProfessor
Gwyndolan SwainAssistant Professor
Joel E. VickersProfessor
Carol A. VogtAssociate Professor