Healthcare Leaders of Tomorrow: Megan Rapuano

Megan Rapuano is a recent graduate of the 美国乔治·华盛顿大学 residential MHA program. She is currently serving as the Administrative Fellow for Main Line Health , a health system located in the suburbs of Philadelphia. In this 1-year fellowship she has the privilege of joining the system’s administrative team and gaining practical, hands-on experience in healthcare administration. Following the conclusion of her fellowship in July, she hopes to continue her career in hospital operations or healthcare strategy. Outside of work and academics, she enjoys exploring new restaurants in Philadelphia and spending time outside with her dog.

Why did you transition from Industrial / organizational engineering to healthcare administration?

I studied industrial and operations engineering at the University of Michigan for my undergraduate degree. I used to joke that industrial and operations engineering (IOE) was a fancy way of saying I majored in "making things better." IOE has a core focus on continuous improvement and can be applied to a wide range of disciplines and professional roles. I knew that I was interested in healthcare early on in college but did not know all my options when I graduated. After working as an engineer for a medical device/supply manufacturing company right out of college, I realized that what I liked about healthcare was the goal of making things better for the patients and I could not see that impact clearly enough from the manufacturing perspective. I could have transitioned at that point directly into a continuous improvement engineering role for a hospital health system, but acknowledged that to make the biggest impact, I needed a more foundational understanding of healthcare delivery settings. So, I decided to pursue my master’s in health administration not with the intention to leave IOE, but to build a career founded in both industrial engineering and healthcare administration.

What your reason was for choosing George Washington University?

GW's MHA program has a great reputation, faculty with expansive industry experience, a strong alumni network, and I knew that it would provide me with the experience I was looking for in a graduate program. It was the only graduate program that I applied to because I knew it had what I was looking for and was in a city I wanted to live in. Looking back, I loved my experience at GW and would make the same decision if I had to do it again!

What is one thing that your program did really well?

My program did an excellent job of applying the knowledge we learned in the classroom to real situations. In classes we often worked on case scenario projects which taught me how to approach situations and problem solve. We also had opportunities to participate in case competitions outside of the classroom which were the most valuable experiences of my graduate program. Case competitions not only pushed me to solve problems with both analytical and creative mindsets, but it showed me what strong teamwork looks like and how to pitch and present ideas effectively to leaders.

What roles are you currently pursuing?

My fellowship will end mid-summer so I am beginning my search for roles in hospital operations and healthcare strategy to transition into at that time, but I am also keeping myself open to a range of roles and opportunities that could present themselves!

What roles are you interested in long term?

Long term, I want to run a hospital. Every hospital uses a slightly different title, but I want to be responsible for the day-in and day-out of delivering high quality care at the right time, the right place, and at the right cost. I know there are a lot of ways to get to this goal, so I am keeping my mind open to the roles and opportunities that will best prepare me for my long-term ambitions!

What was your primary motivation when pursuing a career in this area?

When looking at internships and fellowships while I was still in graduate school, a primary focus for me was the organization I was joining and the leaders I would be working with. I wanted to join an organization where I could learn what the industry best-practices were and where I could observe what successful leaders look like. It was important to me to be in places where my learning and development could be a priority and I was lucky to have found that during my both internship with Intermountain Health and my fellowship with Main Line Health.

What work-life balance or employment benefits will you prioritize when looking for future roles?

I graduated undergrad in 2020 so a full-time in-person role has been new to me! I have loved being in person, especially being on site at hospitals, but I also value the flexibility to work remotely when the day calls for that. I also know that I want to pursue roles where collaboration and teamwork is highly valued and where leadership is visible and engaged. I have been extremely fortunate to have experienced strong and supportive managers and teams in my current and previous roles, so I want to continue working with people who will value me and push me to succeed in the future.

What emerging trend in healthcare do you believe will have the most significant impact on healthcare in the next decade?

The emerging trend that I see having the most significant impact in the next decade is the shifting of care from the hospital to the home. This shift is driven by consumer preferences, emerging technologies, cost containment strategies, and so much more. There are many healthcare companies who have acknowledged this shift and are making tangible changes to their long-term strategies, but there are also healthcare companies who are dragging their feet. This shift is happening faster than operational healthcare leaders realize, and the organizations who have not begun to invest in ambulatory and home-based-care strategies will feel a heavy impact in the next 3-5 years.

Do you have any recommendations for students just starting their graduate programs?

My biggest recommendation for students starting MHA programs is to get involved in the "optional" and experience-based opportunities that your program has available. Any application of the content you learn in the classroom will better prepare you for your first roles after graduate school, so taking advantage of these opportunities will only help you to grow. I took part in several case competitions during my graduate program, and they were not only some of the most fun parts of graduate school but were huge points of professional growth for me which I will carry forward into my career.

Do you have any recommendations for students just finishing their graduate programs?

For students just finishing their graduate programs, it is essential to remember that the learning does not stop when you enter your first full-time role post-grad. You should remember that you are always learning and many of the people you will be working with will have many years more experience than you - it is OK that these individuals know more than you do and make sure to view every day, mistakes and all, as an opportunity for growth and learning!

GW's MHA Program

The George Washington University MHA program is ranked as one of the best in the nation, specifically, the 7th best according to US News and World Report. The program consists of 50 credits, with each credit costing $1,835. The?estimated tuition for this program is $91,750 - per GW's website. While this may seem expensive, there are a few things to consider.

Firstly, 50 credits are substantial compared to most other MHA programs, some of which offer as little as 32 credits. Secondly, we have to look at employment and salary outcomes, of which GW has some of the best I've seen with a whopping 39% of students attaining $100k+, 32% of students at $70-90k, and 15% ranging between $60-69k. Even if you end up in the bottom % of this range, you should be able to pay back the $95k in tuition fairly quickly, and it's unlikely you will stay in that range for long, especially since these are recent graduates surveyed and many, like Megan, do opt for a fellowship which usually pays under the normal range in exchange for mentorship and educational experiences.