The business behind the scalpel

There is a business side to everything, even hospitals. When you think of going to work everyday at a hospital, most imagine stethoscopes and white lab coats, but not for those in Auburn’s Health Services Administration program, or HADM. They are studying to be on the other side of hospitals, the business side. They are the ones who run the hospital through policies and decision making.

Emily Stewart is a senior in Health Services Administration. She has always been interested in helping others, but suffered from hematophobia, or phobia of blood. She thought her dreams of working for a hospital was over until she heard of Auburn’s HADM’s program.

“My initial plan was nursing, so I started taking a bunch of science classes my freshmen year, but soon realized that I can not stand the sight of blood. So I had to look into other options, and that is when someone told me about health care administration,” said Stewart.

HADM is in the college of liberal arts in the political science department, but incorporates some business and

science classes. Also apart of the curriculum is an internship. The internship allows students to network and gain real-world experience in the hospital administration field. Stewart hopes to complete her internship in Nashville at the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. Stewart would assist in regulating policies that pertain to the children and their families.

Auburn’s Health Services Administration program is the only Association of University Programs in Health

Administration accredited undergraduate program in Alabama. For more information about HADM visit this link.