Becky Cooper, GCMM’21, MBA’23, wanted to feel like her work made an impact.
As an experienced software implementation professional, Becky enjoyed her work but did not feel like she was making a difference in people’s lives. She wanted to apply her technological expertise to the healthcare field, but where to begin?
“I’d been in the software industry a while, and I didn’t want to start completely over again to find a job in healthcare,” says Becky. “While researching my options for a healthcare-focused MBA, I found the Graduate Certificate in Medical Management at the Kelley School of Business. The one-year concentrated program offers exposure to several areas of the healthcare industry before you decide what to pursue, and the curriculum wouldn’t be over my head. I dove in headfirst.”
Residing just outside of Cincinnati, Becky enrolled in the 100% online mini-MBA program in fall 2020. She found online learning allowed her greater flexibility to maintain a full-time job while exploring the business side of healthcare.
“The program format was perfect for me because it allowed time to work on assignments between work, while the longer days with evening classes were nice for having in-depth conversations with my classmates,” she says. “It was very interesting being one of the non-healthcare professionals in the program because our experiences are very different, but we learn so much from one another.”
Becky says Kelley faculty members teaching in the graduate certificate also bring diverse viewpoints and expertise to the discussion, as do classmates who are healthcare professionals. She says the variety of experiences, input and opportunities has been instrumental in helping her shape a path forward into the healthcare industry.
“I wish I’d had a program like this when I was entering my undergraduate studies. The Kelley Graduate Certificate in Medical Management lets you preview each area of healthcare you can pursue,” says Becky. “Just a few months in, I could better understand the business of healthcare and the reasons behind strategies and decisions. That was an important step in earning the role I have now.”
During the 12-month program, Becky achieved her goal to find a job that combined her SaaS software experience with healthcare. Today, she is the Sales and Customer Success Coordinator at healthcare tech startup Juxly, where she helps providers document electronic medical records for reimbursement. Becky says she uses lessons gained from the Kelley Graduate Certificate in Medical Management in her daily work.
“Juxly is a fairly new startup, and our small staff wears several hats. I was able to come in and keep up with people who’ve been in the industry for years, including our founder and CEO who is a urologist” says Becky. “Without this graduate certificate, I would never have been able to discuss the work in a way that contributes something useful. After completing the program, I can discuss, analyze and understand situations in healthcare while also providing valuable input to the group.”
After completing the program, I can discuss, analyze and understand situations in healthcare while also providing valuable input to the group.”
Becky says one of the standout takeaways from the Kelley Graduate Certificate in Medical Management Program is the marketing course taught by Professor Kim Saxton. After onboarding at Juxly, Becky realized the startup needed to amplify its marketing and advertising to bolster its name in the market. Becky stepped forward to take the lead, having developed marketing strategies during her coursework at the Kelley School.
“It was helpful to have learned about marketing approaches, what we might want out of a marketing plan and how to launch a new strategy,” says Becky. “I’ve been
spearheading this initiative using everything I learned from Kim. When I have a question, I can call her, and she’s willing to give me her time. Every professor at Kelley has been incredibly accessible. We invested in the program, and they are invested in our success.”
Students enroll in the Kelley Graduate Certificate in Medical Management to address the evolving challenges within the healthcare industry. Although she is new to the field, Becky shares the same mission.
“If you’re in healthcare, you know it’s a broken system. To change that, we must understand all sides of the issue because it’s not medicine that’s broken; the business is broken,” she says. “We must understand the unique challenges the healthcare industry faces from a business perspective, and then, use business solutions to solve them.”
If you’re in healthcare, you know it’s a broken system. To change that, we must understand all sides of the issue because it’s not medicine that’s broken; the business is broken.”
Becky decided to continue her business education by applying her credits from the Graduate Certificate in Medical Management to the Evening MBA Program at the Kelley School, which she started in November 2021. She looks forward to further developing her business understanding of the healthcare industry by completing the top-ranked, 24-month, part-time MBA. She says the training at Kelley is essential for anyone transitioning into healthcare.
“If you’re considering tackling the issues in healthcare, you need a business education to do it,” says Becky. “The Kelley School is the best option amongst all the choices I considered—not just because of the flexible time commitment and location, but because the instructors are supportive, and they specialize in the business of healthcare. This is the real benefit.”