Theodore ‘Ted’ Fisher
Master of Health Administration, Class of 2024
Eatontown, NJ
Specializations: Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt
Activities at Rutgers: Social Chair, Graduate Society of Healthcare Leaders; Student Associate, American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE)
Personal interests: Rutgers and New York area sports teams, traveling, catching up with friends, skiing, watching movies
Ted earned his bachelor of arts in information technology and informatics from Rutgers, so knew everything the Rutgers MHA program had to offer.
“I learned about the graduate program in health administration from alumni and current faculty members,” he said. “Growing up in a family who all worked in healthcare, I knew the impact that dedicated healthcare professionals can have on individuals and communities.”
Witnessing the compassion, expertise, and commitment of family members in their healthcare roles not only instilled in Ted a deep respect for the field, but also sparked his own interest. “I knew the Rutgers MHA would help me reach my goal of making a meaningful contribution to the well-being of others,” he said.
When he decided to return to the Rutgers MHA, alumni and current students were always open to sharing their experiences. “If you are thinking about this program, there is an active Rutgers MHA network on LinkedIn. Everyone is willing to talk about their journey and how the MHA program helped them.”
Ted hopes to broaden his insights in healthcare policy, financial management, strategic planning, leadership, and ethics. He says every class he’s taken has been uniquely enriching and has contributed to his professional development.
He worked as an administrative intern at The Bristal Assisted Living after his first year in the program. In addition to shadowing department heads to understand the many functions of a successful assisted living facility, Ted worked with the agency’s executive director to review community goals while assisting with scheduling, event coordination, payroll, and updating policies/procedures and training protocols.
“If I were to highlight a particularly impactful experience, it would be Human Resource Policy and Practice in Healthcare with Professor Alwyn Dias,” he said. “Everything I learned in that course I use every day in my current role as the Talent Acquisition Coordinator for VNA Health Group.”
“I also gained valuable skills in process improvement and optimization in the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt class, which is an area I’m interested in working in in the future.”
Ted says he has been lucky to meet people from all over the world and wouldn’t trade his experiences at Rutgers for anything. “I love being involved in the New Brunswick community, and how the Bloustein School has the big school feel but also is a tightly knit community,” he explained.
He continued, “Take advantage of all the resources available in the Rutgers MHA program. The professors are all accomplished individuals who know what it takes to succeed in the healthcare industry. Engaging in extracurricular activities will not only enhance your social experience but also provides valuable networking opportunities and a chance to apply classroom knowledge in real-world scenarios.”