First Cohort of UK HealthCare Online Students Graduating

By Ryan Clark

CHS Communications Director

When Savanah Bain — a medical professional with 12 years of experience — was looking for a way to advance her career, she needed a special program, one that could help her carve out a leadership role to further create positive change.

And she needed to be able to do it while living her life as a wife, a mother, and working full-time at UK.

She found the perfect fit, as she became part of the first cohort of UK Healthcare online Clinical Leadership and Management students, who are graduating this spring.

“I wanted to advance my career and become more prominent at UK,” says Bain, Patient Services Oculoplastics Coordinator and Surgery scheduler for Dr. Peter Timoney at UK Advanced Eye Care. “So, I wanted to get a degree that would help me advance my career and expand my knowledge in the healthcare industry.”

In 2019, representatives from UK HealthCare were exploring educational opportunities available at UK for their employees. Clinical Leadership and Management emerged as a beneficial option—especially when the program added a part-time, online course sequence.

“The attention that the professors give you is beyond measure,” says Bain, 36. “The staff go above and beyond to make sure you have everything you need for success. Also, the practicums that you participate in help prepare you for potential jobs that you may have in the future.”

The joy seems to go both ways.

“It’s been a real delight to see these students grow in their understanding of the intersection between business and healthcare,” says Sharlee Burch, BSDH, MPH, EdD, FADHA and Lecturer in the Department of Health & Clinical Sciences Program in Clinical Leadership and Management. “I look forward to seeing how they apply their knowledge for the systems that improve the health of individual people and communities.”

Blanca Orozco is a 36-year-old Pharmacy Education Coordinator in UK Pharmacy Services. Also a non-traditional student, she had very specific needs for a program.

“I needed an intense and challenging program that would prepare me for my career goals in healthcare management and leadership,” she says. “The CLM program’s curriculum was exactly what I was searching for with the perfect versatility.”

Covering a wide range of topics, the program teaches an approach to healthcare management and leadership from various diverse perspectives. 

“This program is available in-person as well, and the instructors are the same,” Orozco says. “I highly recommend it to gain competitive skills and knowledge for healthcare management and leadership roles. Also, make meaningful connections with fellow students to support each other through the program — and take advantage of the networking events and initiatives coordinated by the program; our network can never be too big.”

“The CLM program is going to allow me to advance my career at UK,” Bain says. “I want to be able to manage a clinical and create positive change within the organization. I hope to be able to make an even better patient experience through excellent staffing and use my leadership skills to enhance whatever department I end up in.”

Interested in the Clinical Leadership and Management program?

Visit: https://www.uky.edu/chs/clinical-leadership-and-management