Richell Garcia, a second-year candidate in the Bloustein School’s Master of Health Administration program, is the recipient of a Summit Medical Group Foundation-Next Generation Scholarship. The scholarship is for employees that wish to advance their career in health care; awardees are selected based on strong academic standing and goals of the individual.
Richell came to mainland United States from Puerto Rico in search of better job opportunities. She earned her Bachelor of Business Management with a minor in Finance from the University of the Sacred Heart in Puerto Rico.
Assistant Teaching Professor Susan Krum calls Richell a disciplined, organized, and dedicated student who demonstrates a true passion for the field of health care. “She is a goal-oriented student who shows strong determination in achieving her greatest potential and exhibits a very charming personality which allows her to communicate and respond to peers and supervisors with ease,” Professor Krum said. “When she and I discussed her passions in life it became clear that she is definitely pointed in the right direction with pursuing her dreams in health administration. Richell has a strong background in analytics, finance, and accounts receivable and has demonstrated strong leadership abilities as the lead for group projects.”
After working for several years in accounting working for DSV, a global transport and logistics company, Richelle decided to change industries. She moved over to Summit Health, where she began working as an Administrative Assistant. While working full-time at Summit Health, she has found her passion. Encouraged by her mentor to pursue a Master in Health Administration as a way to reach her goals, Richell would like to move into improving patient outcomes and strategic planning. Her ultimate goal is to gain enough experience and education to move into the C-Suite of a healthcare organization.
In her experience, the curriculum in the MHA program is current with the best practices used in hospital administration. The program teaches students how to apply what they’ve learned in the classroom to their work. Her courses in health administration education have led her to have many “ah-ha” moments as she recognized that she is pursuing the right field of study that matches her interests and career path.
She is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and Medical Group Management Association (MGMA). In her spare time, Richell makes good use of the Bloustein School’s networking events and activities. She commented that, “They are a great way to meet people in the program. They’re an opportunity to broaden our network, search for career advice, and meet future colleagues.