A group of twelve health administration majors joined Program Advisor Robert Kieserman on April 18 to meet with business professionals in Washington, D.C.

Students spent time at the American Hospital Association (AHA), the national organization that represents and serves all types of hospitals, health care networks, and their patients and communities. The AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends. The students met with Marie Watteau, Director of Media Relations, to learn about the association’s role in the healthcare industry. Matteau discussed the representation of AHA members within departments of media relations, quality assurance, patient safety and lobbying.

The group also visited the Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. government’s principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, to meet with Boris D. Lushniak, M.D., M.P.H., the Deputy Surgeon General, who assists the Surgeon General in articulating the best available scientific information to the public regarding ways to improve personal health and the health of the nation. Joined by Special Assistant LTJG Cody Thornton, Lushniak discussed the U.S. Public Health Service, its role in healthcare, and the initiatives of the Surgeon General. He explained how the Public Health Service operates as a uniformed service, spoke about his own career path and provided advice for upcoming graduates of the healthcare administration program.