When the Affordable Care Act passed in 2010, healthcare administrators were faced with a changing landscape. Alex Clark, executive MHA student, recalls this pivotal period in health care and his career.
At the time, Clark worked as a consultant for GE Healthcare, a medical technology company that provides services around the world.
“I recognized the immense opportunities for healthcare administrators to redefine the role of health care providers,” notes Clark. “I’ve been hooked ever since.”
Clark grew up wanting to make a difference in the world. His parents showed him what meaningful work looked like through serving others.
As a sophomore in high school, he helped launch the Health Care Help Line as a part of Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton’s successful 2000 U.S. Senate campaign. The service helped advocate for Minnesotans with high health care-related debt or those who had been denied coverage due to pre-existing conditions.
Executive MHA Program
Clark eventually began to seek a more sturdy educational foundation to balance what he’d learned on the front lines of provider organizations. He learned that an advanced degree in healthcare administration provides just that.
“The University of Minnesota’s faculty was a big draw for me, as I saw clear accessibility to immense knowledge and expertise,” says Clark. “Additionally, Minnesota is home to me so this was a great program that happened to have unparalleled convenience.”
Clark values his experience in the program so far. He draws one example from an ethics course where he experienced immediate transferability of how to bring a more ethics-based approach to his work on healthcare reform.
“The course provided a new, invaluable lens for me to see my work through,” says Clark.
Clark is interested in the intersection of strategy, health policy and cross-sector collaboration. He believes the opportunity to work together to better serve communities is massive and a place to channel his vocational energy and focus.
Recently, he partnered with SPH faculty member Jan Malcolm and other leaders to create a more connected care continuum. He feels very fortunate for the opportunities he has been given and how his career is progressing.
About Clark
Clark is a program manager of Public Sector Innovation at Allina Health. He holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an M.A. in Human Resources & Organizational Development from the University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management.
-Post by Mona Rath
