FHLA - University of Utah MHA students visit Phase 2 Consulting

On September 12, 2008, Future Healthcare Leaders of America (FHLA) visited Phase 2 Consulting. We had the honor to talk with Mr. Howard Salmon, MHA University of Minnesota and Mr. Todd Halpin, MBA University of Utah. After discussing their backgrounds and fascinating career paths, they provided us with Phase 2 Consulting's State of Healthcare 2008 presentation. The major issues facing healthcare were related in the document. We engaged in a lively discussion of where to focus time, energy, and data crunching to maximize efficiency and work toward profitability in the healthcare setting. They described in detail the demands and rewards of working as a consultant. Both men uphold the values of Phase 2 Consulting: Intellectual Honesty and Integrity, High Client Focus - Customer Service, Ethical and Moral Approach with Clients, Continued Learning, and Creativity.

Our sincere thanks to Mr. Salmon and Mr. Halpin for their time. I personally learned a great deal about consulting.

FHLA Leadership

Healthcare in Crisis - University of Utah School of Medicine Alumni Association

On September 6, 2008 the University of Utah School of Medicine pulled together a brilliant panel discussion titled Healthcare in Crisis: History, Challenges, and Opportunities. The event concluded the Medical Alumni Association's 2008 Continuing Medical Education Alumni weekend. The FHLA students were invited to attend the meeting.

The presenters:

Richard Sperry, M.D., Ph.D., Associate Vice President of Health Sciences; Director, Governor Scott M. Matheson Center for Health Care Studies, University of Utah.
Dr. Sperry served as the moderator.

Greg Poulsen, Senior Vice President, Intermountain Healthcare, Member of State of Utah Health Data Committee
Title of Presentation: Health Reform Issues: History, Comparison, and Where Are We Now?

Jay Jacobson, MD, Professor of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University of Utah; Chief of the Division of Medical Ethics and Humanities, LDS Hospital and University of Utah
Title of Presentation: Just Allocation of Health Care: Needs, Limits, and Obligations

Brent James, MD, MStat, Executive Director Institute of Healthcare Delivery Research and Vice President, Medical Research and Continuing Medical Education, Intermountain Healthcare; Adjunct Professor, Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Utah
Title of Presentation: Building Quality Care Systems: A New Outlook for Humanity

David Squire, Executive Director, Utah Medical Education Council.
Title of Presentation: Medical Workforce Issues in Utah

Linn Baker, Former CEO Public Employees Health Plan, State of Utah; Chair, Board of Trustees, Utah Health Policy Project
Title of Presentation: Market Driven Health Care

Joe Jarvis, MD, MSPH, President, Joseph Q. Jarvis Consulting, Inc.
Title of Presentation: Too Much Market, Not Enough Care

During the break the students enjoyed talking with Mr. Poulsen and Mr. James. Above: Greg Poulsen poses with some of the MHA students; from left to right; Bart LeFan, Jake Budd, Sarah Watts, Greg Poulsen, and Anthony Rodebush. Below: Brent James weighs in on the discussion panel.


Many thanks to Kristin Gorang of the Alumni Association and Dr. Sperry for bringing together so many industry leaders together for six hours of healthcare history, trends, and projections. It's an MHA student's dream come true.