Finding A Mentor Is Crucial When Seeking A Position In Healthcare
Aniela Glinski is a community engagement coordinator for a new health clinic in Philadelphia called CityLife Neighborhood Clinics. CityLife Clinics offers both primary care and offers help with the health care system and a healthier lifestyle even when healthy.
Can you describe your duties as a health care admin?
"The goal of CityLife Neighborhood Clinics is to improve the health of Philadelphia, block by block. In my role as community engagement coordinator, I'm tasked with identifying and engaging in partnerships with community-based organizations, non-profits, government, the private sector, and the West Philadelphia community to develop a network of resources and initiatives that support the overall health goals of CityLife Neighborhood Clinic members, their families, and the community at large. Long-term, the relationships I help establish will evolve into collaborative, sustainable and mutually beneficial partnerships. It's also my responsibility to provide support for our CityLife Neighborhood Clinics staff, including primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, nurse case managers, behavioral health specialists, pharmacists and support staff."
How has education prepared you for your career in health care administration?
"The Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) program at Temple University here in Philadelphia has enabled me to look at individuals, families, and society through a biopsychosocial lens. Essentially, this means that people are a wonderfully complicated sum of their experiences and environments. In order to best understand oneself, our communities, and our world, I'm trained to view all aspects of an individual as critical pieces of the overall human experience. This, coupled with a focus on the strengths rather than deficits of a community, has prepared me for my position with CityLife Neighborhood Clinics."
What continuing education is required for your role?
"In an effort to remain current on my skills as a macro-social work practitioner, I will be taking the licensure exam (LSW) within the next year. With that comes attending workshops and training for continuing education credits (CEUs). For my particular role, I plan to focus on continuing to learn about health disparities, community development, the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on individuals throughout their lifespan, and health care policy. Beyond this, I'm interested in exploring different graduate school or certificate programs for organizational leadership and management so that I can best serve our organization and community."
What advice would you give someone just starting out?
"First, be open to the process of life's twists and turns; traditional career trajectories are fine, but if that doesn't work for you then that is totally ok. In my experience, service with AmeriCorpsand Peace Corps is an incredible way to give back to communities in the U.S.A. and abroad, as well as to gain skills and network with professionals who are committed to making big changes on a global scale. Finding an encouraging and caring mentor or professional support network is also crucial. Lastly, self-care cannot be underestimated. Whether it's going for a run after work or listening to fun music on the way to the office, taking time for yourself first will enable you to help others later."
Christina Thompson is a freelance writer living in Philadelphia. She reports on various topics such as: Social Media, Local Events, Entertainment, Food and Drink and more. Her work can be found at http://firstsendmedia.com/