CHHS News

Eleven students and one faculty of Department of Public Health’s NAB Accredited Health Care Administration (HCA) with Long Term Care Administration (LTCA) Certificate Program recently traveled to Florence, Indiana to attend the American College of Health Care Administrators’ (ACHCA) District 3 Meeting.

Since 2015, WKU students have joined LTC professionals from Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and West Virginia for this three-day affair to gain continuing education, network with peers and participate in a variety of meetings and social events, to include an awards banquet.  Notably, WKU students have consistently been the majority or the only ones participating in the meeting among all schools located in the district. Also, the number of participating students has been increasing each year. Special on the agenda this year, in addition to the regular conference offerings, attendees had an opportunity to attend a NCCDP Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Care Seminar by a Certified Alzheimer’s Disease Dementia Trainer. Three students attended this day long seminar and will be submitting applications to become a NCCDP Certified Dementia Practitioner (CDP).

One student, Mrs. Jennifer Franklin, is in the online cohort program.  “Going to the D3 conference helps to make me feel more included and involved as an online student.  I’ve received some amazing networking opportunities that wouldn’t have been available to me otherwise.  It has helped me to gain the confidence to meet new people, to include possible future colleagues!” Faculty member, Mrs. Melanie Eaton, attends the conference each year with students.  “I first attended this conference many moons ago as a new Licensed Nursing Home Administrator (LNHA). Our NAB Accredited program provides the students with the needed educational foundation; however, conferences like this provide them the opportunity to stand out from the crowd.”

A second student attendee, Mr. Joel Nason, will also graduate this May. Last year, ACHCA D3 was the first conference he had ever attended for his major and it was a starting point for his subsequent success in obtaining a competitive LTC internship in Virginia.  As a second year attendee, he reflect on his experiences, stating “Going to D3 is a perfect opportunity to meet and network with current LTC professionals.  It can open up career opportunities but you also gain valuable knowledge in the education sessions.”

Not only was WKU represented by faculty and current students, but also in attendance were several alumni of WKU’s HCA program, including two recent graduates of the NAB Accredited HCA program.  One of these former students, Mr. Fred Rowe, reflected on what he gained as a student attendee and continues to gain as WKU graduate and LTC professional. “It is great to be around such honest and helpful executives that have not only become my friends but also leaders in the industry and happy to help progress my professional growth.  Being new to any industry isn’t easy, but these valuable introductions to new and old leaders and friends have been helpful in my success as a new LTC Administrator on several occasions.”

For information about the Department of Public Health’s programs, including the NAB Accredited Health Care Administration with Long Term Care Certificate Program, visit www.wku.edu/publichealth.

Contact: Melanie Eaton, (270) 745-5854.

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WKU Public Health students, alumni and faculty in attendance at ACHCA’s District 3 Meeting in Florence, Indiana, included (left to right, beginning with front row):

Gabby Shumate, Louisville; Courtney Embry, Morgantown; Allie Venable, Somerset; Kristen Garmon, Glasgow; Jamie Wade, Scottsville; Tonia Haddow, Michigan; Sarah Dickerson, Hendersonville; Zachary Hooper, Louisville; Jennifer Franklin, Caneyville; Joel Nason, Elizabethtown; Israel Moore, Michigan; Fred Rowe, HCA Alumni; Trevor Davis, HCA Alumni; Melanie Eaton, HCA Faculty