In embarking down a career path, many find that their career trajectory resembles a winding, even jagged road rather than a straight line pointing upward. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Robert Bonk, his career and life path led him to California where the art major earned his master\u2019s in graphic design and dreamed of designing concert posters and album covers. Economic realities forced a career pivot and led him back home to Chicago to go to mortuary school and get his funeral director\u2019s license before he eventually embarked on his third career (and third degree) in healthcare management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This diverse background and his ability to pivot serves Robert well in his current role with Advocate Medical Group, where \u201cright now I wear many different hats,\u201d he says. \u201cAs a patient services representative, I check in patients, set follow up appointments, make sure their referrals are in the system.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In March 2020, Robert pivoted in his responsibilities, as his administrative supervisor moved to another position and COVID-19 impacted organizational hiring. While Robert had applied for his former supervisor\u2019s position before the hiring freeze, he\u2019s currently sharing the duties of administrative supervisor with the lead patient services representative, \u201chelping each other with what our administrative supervisor did before he left,\u201d Robert says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Advancing into the role officially remains Robert\u2019s next goal in his career plan, as he explains, \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m going to Michigan State<\/a> to get that degree so I can become an administrative supervisor…and go to a practice manager after that. And get my own facility to run.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In pursuing his Master of Science in Healthcare Management \u2013 Leadership<\/a> online with Michigan State University, Robert is looking to gain the leadership skills and business management perspective, combined with his professional experience, to help take him to his ultimate goal: \u201cI\u2019d like to get into the hospital aspect, possibly pediatrics, and see what the hospital side is,\u201d he explains. \u201cI\u2019ve worked at six different facility sights\u2026I\u2019ve been seeing how multiple facilities operate for five years now, so I\u2019d like to see what I can do in the hospital setting.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Robert is already applying concepts and practices from his courses<\/a> in his workplace, and they\u2019re helping him to shine in his current responsibilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhen COVID hit, the practice manager came to me to do a re-design of the parking flow and seating in the lobby,\u201d Roberts says. He implemented \u201ccones and arrows to pull into the parking lot, a nurse and MA standing outside to take temperatures, asking you the questions, if you have any of the symptoms. Then, you go inside [with] chairs spaced six feet. You\u2019ve got the hand sanitizer as soon as you come in the door. Out of one of my classes I was able to implement that right away when COVID happened.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n COVID-19 has impacted so much of the operations of healthcare, and Robert sees how in this disruption he is able to learn and create new operations, both on the job and through his coursework.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll have a better understanding of how healthcare operates,\u201d he says of his motivation for pursuing his degree with MSU. \u201cYou\u2019re getting the broad overview, the core overview\u2026I\u2019m getting a lot of information out of [the courses] to put into my work every day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n While the online program was a bit of an adjustment, Robert\u2019s fellow students quickly became a source of support and professional connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou don\u2019t have your traditional in-class setting with 18-20 other students,\u201d he explains. \u201cBut how Michigan State set it up, you\u2019re four students to a group, so you learn to be good friends with those students in your group. Everyone is quick to text their problems and questions and they get back to yours.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of Robert\u2019s core group of four, he has made \u201cgood connections\u201d with fellow professionals in Maryland and Florida, \u201cand we\u2019re at that point that if I\u2019m ever looking to get out of Chicago, [they] said to send my resume to help me find a place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWith having a small group, all of us are here to help each other in moving forward in what we\u2019re trying to accomplish after graduating from Michigan State,\u201d says Robert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Throughout his career, Robert has demonstrated a willingness to adapt, pivot and even relocate to accomplish his career goals, and this flexibility can be a differentiator for advancing within a dynamic industry where change is a constant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWith healthcare, you\u2019ve got to be aware of what\u2019s changing and adapt to that, and that\u2019s what Michigan State is showing you right now in these classes,\u201d Robert says. \u201cFrom the previous classes to now, I\u2019m getting more knowledge as to where healthcare\u2019s been and where healthcare is coming to with [telehealth]. At Michigan State, they\u2019re showing you how it\u2019s been done in healthcare, but now how to make a progression, because things aren\u2019t going to stay the same with healthcare. I feel that with the classes I\u2019ve been taking, that they\u2019re going to help me see, as an immediate supervisor, you\u2019re going to have to wear many different hats and have an open-mindedness to change.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n MSU\u2019s M.S. in Healthcare Management prepares the industry’s future leaders to meet this change through collaborative leadership, evidence-based decision making and strategic and tactical thinking, an educational approach that is making Robert\u2019s current superiors take note of the \u201cnew way of doing things\u201d that he is bringing to the organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy [department] boss completed her master\u2019s several years ago, but now I\u2019m bringing in new ideas that she hasn\u2019t thought of, so I like the way Michigan State is laying everything out for the students here,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, Robert\u2019s immediate supervisor has been \u201cimpressed with how Michigan state teaches their students healthcare\u2026and I think he probably wishes he had gone there!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n To those professionals considering what program and school would be best for their graduate education, he says, \u201cI really think that Michigan State is a school you want to go to\u2026I think people think that you need the MBA<\/a> to get ahead, but I don\u2019t feel that\u2019s true because an MBA is really more accounting\u2026Michigan State gives you the whole overview of healthcare.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gain the skills to lead the business of healthcare with MSU\u2019s online M.S. in Healthcare Management<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\nA Better Understanding of How Healthcare Operates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The School You Want To Go To<\/h2>\n\n\n\n