Thessalonia Joseph was a year into her bachelor小蝌蚪APP檚 degree when she realized she needed a change.
The New Orleans native enrolled at the 小蝌蚪APP as a nursing major. A year into the program, she discovered it wasn小蝌蚪APP檛 her passion but was still dedicated to pursuing a career in healthcare.
Working with her advisor, Joseph determined Health Services Administration would be a better fit and transitioned to UL Lafayette小蝌蚪APP檚 fully online degree program.
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Although Joseph remained in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, the program format was an entirely new experience.
小蝌蚪APP淚 was apprehensive at first because I didn小蝌蚪APP檛 really know how to study online,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淲hen I got started, it was a little difficult managing the work because I wasn小蝌蚪APP檛 physically going to class, and it was easy to miss assignments. But eventually I had my own flow, and I actually preferred online courses. They allowed me to work while going to school.小蝌蚪APP
In addition to maintaining a part-time job throughout her college career, Joseph completed an internship with the human resources department at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center. That opportunity, she says, confirmed she was on the right path.
小蝌蚪APP淥nce I started my internship in human resources, I was very confident that I小蝌蚪APP檇 made the right choice,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淚've chosen a fulfilling degree and career path; I小蝌蚪APP檓 very happy with the choice I小蝌蚪APP檝e made.小蝌蚪APP
Health Services Administration小蝌蚪APP檚 interdisciplinary curriculum gives students a wide perspective of business and healthcare with courses in management, finance, and health information technology, as well as major courses on managing healthcare organizations.
Joseph says course content detailing civil compliance and demonstrating the difference between management and leadership resonated most for her.
小蝌蚪APP淚小蝌蚪APP檇 recommend the program to someone looking to go into leadership,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淭he curriculum goes into not just management, but also the different cultures within health care and how to manage those cultures.小蝌蚪APP
Joseph started her career in July 2019 as a financial intake specialist at Lafayette-based LHC Group, a national provider of in-home healthcare services. Within a year, she was promoted to revenue cycle team lead.
She has no plans of slowing down.
小蝌蚪APP淢y goals moving forward are to keep moving up and gain more leadership,小蝌蚪APP she says. "I小蝌蚪APP檇 like more responsibility. In the future I小蝌蚪APP檇 like to see myself in a director role.小蝌蚪APP