MSU Graduate Uses Healthcare Management Education to Prepare for Career Transition
Last Updated May 16, 2022
While earning her online Master of Science in Healthcare Management-Compliance from Michigan State University, Mallory Perlin drew motivation from an unlikely source: the COVID 19 pandemic.
“The pandemic in a way was a motivator,” said Perlin, who currently works as an Underwriting Consultant at Aetna, a CVS Health Company. “Some of the classes were centered around the pandemic and we discussed ways to restructure processes and procedures to make things more efficient.” Her sentiment is one echoed by others in the Healthcare Management (HCM) graduate program.
When things became difficult, Perlin also said she was fortunate to have a great support system – family, friends, and Bisk – to help keep her on track.
“I knew I could rely on my parents and close friends to help keep me motivated,” she said. “Bisk has also been great to work with. [My Student Success representative Jennifer Sgromo] called at least twice a week during each class to make sure everything was going as planned, and if I had any questions, she answered them or directed me to the appropriate department at MSU.”
A Career in Risk Management and Insurance
A native of the Philadelphia suburbs, Perlin continues to live and work in the greater Philadelphia area. She graduated in 2016 from Temple University’s Fox School of Business with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Risk Management and Insurance with a focus on Healthcare Risk, and a minor in Legal Studies.
After graduation, she began her career at Aetna as an underwriter for their small group self-funded product. Aetna has promoted Perlin twice in her five years at the company. Her goal is to attain a position as Chief Risk Officer for a health system, pharmaceutical company, or health insurance company.
After graduating with her MSHCM degree from MSU, Perlin said she plans to use her education to transition into the healthcare or pharmaceutical industry, focusing on risk management and making operations more effective and efficient. This type of career change is not unusual for HCM graduates who leave the program prepared for mid- and high-level positions.
MSHCM Program Takeaways
Perlin said she chose MSU’s HCM program for a variety of reasons.
“The Eli Broad College of Business is a top-ranked program for both the school itself and for online business master’s programs, according to the notable U.S. News and World Report,” she said. “I loved the flexibility of the program where I could continue to work full time and go to school. In addition, living in Pennsylvania, the online format made it possible for me to attend MSU.”
The university’s healthcare management program is designed to help students develop the skills needed to guide the healthcare industry into the future. Students choose between a healthcare management-leadership or healthcare management-compliance program concentration. Students who choose the compliance track complete four courses that focus on healthcare regulations, healthcare policy, and implementing compliance systems and programs, along with core courses such as Analytics in Healthcare, Critical Thinking and Innovation in Healthcare, and Law and Ethics in Healthcare.
Healthcare compliance includes working to ensure organizations and facilities comply with government agencies, acts, guidelines, and laws. A key responsibility of the discipline is risk assessment and developing plans to address those risks.
Perlin said one of the most valuable parts of the healthcare management program is the capstone project that ties everything from the program together. “You take everything that you have learned from day one and apply it in the real world,” she said. Perlin chose a capstone project that she could apply to her job at Aetna, putting together a pilot program that helped her department improve efficiency and compliance.
Preparation for Achieving Her Career Goals
Perlin also said the online HCM graduate program gave her the opportunity to meet like-minded professionals who all worked in some capacity within the healthcare industry. This allowed her to collaborate throughout the courses and develop friendships and professional connections outside of the classroom. She’s also stayed in touch with a few professors via LinkedIn.
Greg Gulick was one of the HCM professors who made a positive impact. Gulick is an Adjunct Professor in the MSU College of Law and has served as an Assistant Professor with the Division of Public Health in the MSU College of Medicine. His courses focus on topics such as health law, e-health in public health, telehealth, and more.
“His classes were always engaging, and he was able to apply his experiences as a healthcare attorney. Law and Ethics in Healthcare was one of the courses that stood out,” Perlin said. “All of the faculty have a lot of real-world experience and each class promotes real-world application.”
When asked about how graduating with a MS in Healthcare Management-Compliance from MSU will make a difference in her career development, Perlin shared that many mid-level and management jobs require or highly recommend a master’s degree.
“[My] master’s degree will be a key to unlock the door,” she said, “and my work experience and valuable knowledge from the program at MSU will help me achieve my goals.”
