Chicago Manager's Career Focuses On Big Plans For Children's Hospital
Many people think of the medical field as being limited to one-on-one patient care. Although there are positions that are more one-on-one, Derrick Yang is a great example of how one can use their educational background and experiences in the medical field to help others on a much larger scale. As the planning manager in business development for Advocate Children's Hospital, Derrick has worked on a variety of projects, including service line strategic planning, clinical program development and physician recruitment.
What is your background in the health field?
"I have been with Advocate Health Care for over three years. Prior to AHC, I completed a brief administrative internship at Children's Memorial Hospital. I started at Advocate as an administrative fellow and have had the opportunity to work on initiatives at both Advocate Lutheran General Hospital and the AHC corporate office. I transitioned to a strategic analyst role with the Business Development team at ALGH. I have had tremendous opportunities to explore the operations of a large teaching hospital and also develop an understanding of how individual hospitals, a medical group and a physician-hospital organization interact on a system level."
What is your background in education?
"I have a bachelor of science in biology and a master of public health in health management and policy. I found my community service experiences in college, combined with individual and group reflections, truly helped to reinforce my desire to work in healthcare. From an academic perspective, my biology and healthcare administration knowledge have given me the ability to bridge clinical and administrative needs in thinking about new programs or resolving issues. As a planning manager, this is a core element of my role in supporting program development."
How has your education helped with your current position and overall success?
"College and graduate school not only exposed me to traditional book knowledge, but also allowed me to interact with a diverse group of people from around the world. I think this has given me a greater appreciation for the unique perspectives that different people can bring to any situation. This is especially important in a healthcare setting, where so many individuals are involved in the provision of care. Education has helped with my critical thinking ability and project management skills. For those considering healthcare administration, I would highly recommend volunteering in a healthcare setting or pursuing an internship. Having these experiences will help you apply your academic knowledge early on to make it more meaningful."
How are you utilizing your professional and educational background into your role with Advocate Children's Hospital?
"I am constantly working on several projects and being able to manage my time and other resources is essential in getting things done well. We are working on a lot of exciting programs at Advocate Children's Hospital. A few things currently under development include a pediatric orthopedic program with a focus on sports medicine, an autism treatment program and a pediatric celiac center. Find out more about these initiatives at www.advocatechildrenshospital.com."
Sara Lugardo is a professional writer out of Chicago, Illinois. She has a Bachelor's in Communication and is currently working on her Master's. Her work can be found on Examiner.com.
