What is the LeADERS Program??
The LeADERS Program at Old Dominion University focuses on key domain areas including Leadership, ePortfolio, Academic Internship, Diversity, Entrepreneurship, Research/Writing, and/ or Service Learning.
Each of these domains offer undergraduate students personal and professional development and skills, such as critical thinking and interpersonal communication, that can be applied in professional settings.
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My experience in the LeADERS Program has helped me grow professionally and academically. I have completed experiences in the areas of Leadership, Academic Internship, Diversity, and Research, as well as the creation of this ePortfolio showcasing my academic experiences in the LeADERS Program.
LeADERS Experience
Reflection:
Why I joined the LeADERS program
I joined the LeADERS Program in my senior year at Old Dominion University to highlight my undergraduate coursework and accomplishments. This program allowed me to showcase what I have learned throughout my college experience and apply it to enhance my professional skillset.
Application to professional landscape
The LeADERS program at ODU has shown me that being an effective leader is more than understanding management concepts and obtaining the role. Leadership involves adapting to environment, continuous learning and critical thinking. In the LeADERS program courses Leadership, I learned about the different HR management skills and the recruitment, selection, compensation, and career development areas of HRM. For Diversity, Healthcare Ethics course focused on inclusion and understanding of different backgrounds to provide the best care of patients by providing a framework for resolving ethical dilemmas that one may face in a healthcare setting. For Research, Health Research and Methodologies walked us through a research project, including creating a survey from scratch and using *** to analyze our data. The Healthcare Administration Internship this Summer I will gain experience applying data and business analytics.
Challenges & Successes:
Challenges overcome
While participating in LeADERS courses, I faced some challenges with balancing the demands of my job, coursework, and other responsibilities. I refined my prioritizing and planning skills to maintain work-life-school balance and ensure all course assignments were completed before their deadlines. I learned that planning tasks and time-blocking helped me with time management. I also learned to give myself breaks to be more efficient with the time spent dedicated to school.
Successes
Through my coursework in the LeADERS program at ODU, I have explored the domains of Leadership, Academic Internship. Diversity, and Research. I have maintained a 4.0 GPA while balancing my career, motherhood, and college demands. I have had the honor of being a member of the Tao Kappa Sigma honors society for transfer students with over a 3.5 GPA. Recently, I joined Omicron Delta Kappa honor society, offered to the top 35% of the graduating class.
I have enjoyed learning the practical applications, communication skills, knowledge, and exposure in these LeADERS courses. The coursework in this program has helped me understand the diverse healthcare landscape, the role of effective managers, the behind the scenes of conducting a research study, and provided me with valuable hands-on experience in a healthcare administration internship.
Personal and Professional Goals:
After graduation, I plan to use my Health Services Administration degree and LeADERS experience, as well as my pharmacy background, towards a career in healthcare project management. I am also interested in an analyst position working for an electronic health record vendor. I have applied to the MBA program at ODU and will continue the journey of lifelong learning.