A Day in the Life
by Garret Listo
University of Charleston junior soccer player Garret “Trigga” Listo shares a day in the life on UC’s campus. For more information on UC, visit www.ucwv.edu/admissions
Why I chose UC – Abiola Hunga
by Harry Machacha
Abiola Hunga from Nigeria discusses why she chose to attend the University of Charleston. For more information on UC, visit www.ucwv.edu/admissions.
Harry Machacha is a senior communications major at the UC.
Studying Abroad
By Mike Waseleski
We have been in Japan for about five days now and it has been great so far. The days are jam-packed with activities that I hardly have time to blog about it.
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We went on an amazing tour a few days ago where we visited the Kyoto Imperial Palace, the Nijo Castle (Nijo-jo were the Shogun would stay), Sanjusangen-do temple, we also visited many other places. Yesterday we visited the Kobe Police Headquarters were I got the opportunity to assist in a demonstration of Japanese Police jujitsu. After a day of learning and working up an appetite our professor treated us to a Kobe steak in Kobe (I have to say that was the best steak I have ever eaten). The people are great here, very helpful and very nice.
Today is a day off were we are relaxing and trying to catch up on some homework for the University of Charleston.
Learning in Japan
By Jonathan Dye
After arriving in Japan just less than one week ago, I can safely say that this experience has been the greatest learning opportunity of my life. Among culture shock, changes in cuisine, a language barrier, and a city that I have had more than a difficult time learning to navigate, I have found that practices and personalities of the Japanese people are that of a kind, polite, and generous people. The folks I have encountered as part of my internship have been most helpful in my journey, and have been more than open to my enlightenment of their culture. Though my experience is less than halfway over, I feel that I have already acquired a debt of gratitude to the fine people who have made this journey possible.
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Though I have only been integrated in this society for five full days, I have already had the opportunity to experience numerous aspects of life foreign to my western heritage. A sightseeing tour in Kyoto comprised an entire day of my travels, in which I was exposed to Buddhist and Shinto temple and shrines, treated to a wonderful Japanese luncheon, and was given the chance to take hundreds of photos. I have also spent a large portion of my time at the Kansai University of International Studies, learning of the differing factors between the crime prevention tactics of the United States and Japan. Yesterday I was also lucky enough to travel to Kobe to visit the Police Headquarters of the Hyogo Prefecture. It was there that I was able to see first-hand the efficient nature in which the Japanese are able to be proactive, effective and preventative in their pursuit of every aspect of Japanese life from traffic to crime. While in Kobe, I was also lucky enough to experience the world renowned beef that comes from the region, and I must say, that the reputation of Kobe beef is perfectly accurate.
I look forward to the remainder of my journey, as well as the experiences that I will have in the remainder of my time here. I will be sure to write much more as my trip progresses, but for now I must take the time allotted to me to rest up for my next adventure. Again, I wish to thank everyone who helped to make this journey possible, and I hope that this short update will suffice for now in showing my gratitude.
Learning the Healthcare Ropes in Russia
By Joshua Tuck
In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Business Administration and Leadership (MBAL) program at the University of Charleston School of Business, I completed an international summer internship in healthcare management in Moscow, Russia. For a total of 45 days, I worked at the central office of MyClinic, a wholly owned subsidiary of the global financial services company Allianz. This unique learning opportunity was made possible through the collaboration of Grace Vandecruze-Heyliger, Managing Director of Grace Global Capital LLC, with Wolfgang Wand, Deputy Chairman of Allianz Eurasia and CEO of MyClinic.
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My experiences led me to observe interesting topics such as business culture and work environment, Russian entrepreneurship, and cultural differences. All can be described through a combination of my unique experience of this historical place with the voices of those I was privileged to meet, but more importantly and practically can be given meaning in piecing these moments together. As a result, my personal and professional development through this internship has been an experience that I hope all aspiring leaders within healthcare systems and life-long learners of different cultures have the opportunity to take advantage of.
MyClinic is specialized for business development in Russia under Allianz Eurasia, which has grown to be the leader in providing Voluntary Medical Insurance (VMI) in Russia. Originally, the 3 clinics of MyClinic operated under Allianz in a closed-market network of clinics. However in 2009, to capitalize on the expanding market for quality care, Allianz decided to reorganize these clinics to create MyClinic as an open-market business offering services to customers from multiple insurance providers, as well as customers paying out of pocket. Now, MyClinic is a unique and exciting entrepreneurial project in a growing market with aspirations to create a network of 27 clinics in 3 regions of Russia, 9 in each region.
The transition occurring in the Russian healthcare system now is one with much uncertainty, but also with great potential and optimism. Only days after my celebrating American Independence while in Russia, I cannot help but think that a society with the option to create its own story for success in healthcare or in other industries regardless of the hurdles is an incredible success in itself. Competition is a driving force for the market, challenging MyClinic to create a brand recognized for quality while balancing cost control and differentiation. The capacity to solve problems with limited data in an unpredictable environment creates great potential for leaders to succeed.
From a global perspective, the cooperation for an American business student to intern at a Russian healthcare provider owned by a German Insurance company is a testament to global coordination in business. Narrowing down to the community, the commonality I found at MyClinic with businesses across West Virginia is the incredible drive for success in an uncertain but increasingly competitive market. The healthcare regulations and payment methods differ, but the satisfaction in growing a company from nothing to success regardless of the obstacles is the driving force I witnessed in MyClinic’s team to create solutions and reach their goals.
For more information on UC’s innovative MBAL program, visit: www.ucwv.edu/business/mbal
Why I Chose UC – Reshab Basnet
by Harry Machacha
Reshab Basnet from Nepal discusses why he chose to attend the University of Charleston. For more information on UC, visit www.ucwv.edu/admissions.
Harry Machacha is a senior communications major at the UC.
Why the UC Physician Assistant Program?
by David Payne
This is a very exciting time in PA Education and especially for the University of Charleston Physician Assistant program. We have been working diligently over the last several months to develop an outstanding program. I’m happy to report that we are now accepting applications. So what’s going to be so great about the UC PA Program?
UC physician assistant program director David Payne
Dedicated caring faculty
We have three core experienced Physician Assistant faculty members who are passionate about PA Education. Each of us has been involved in PA Education for years. Given the remarkable gift of a blank canvas with which to build a new program, we have asked ourselves from day one, “How can we do things differently? How can we do things better? What was missing in our experiences as PA students and the previous programs we’ve been a part of as educators?” Asking these fundamental questions has resulted in a creative curriculum designed with the student in mind. We are also fortunate enough to benefit from having two physicians on our team, both contributing some of their invaluable time in their capacities as Medical Director and Associate Medical Director. We will add three additional full-time faculty who will begin October this year in preparation for our inaugural class matriculating in January 2013.
Faculty led learner-centered teams
We understand that many of the most profound learning experiences come in the context of strong mentoring and collaboration in close knit groups. We have structured our program to have small class sizes and excellent faculty to student ratios so we can take advantage of this idea. Each student will be placed on a faculty-led team with around five other students. These teams will meet regularly to talk medicine and help each other become the best they can be.
Analytical thinking and problem-solving
Our curriculum will have a heavy emphasis on the meat of medicine, problem-solving! Medicine is not about memorizing facts and figures. Don’t get me wrong, there are certain things that must be memorized. But the art and practice of medicine is not about regurgitating the proper dose of an antibiotic or memorizing the three most common presenting symptoms of Cushing’s disease. Rather, it’s about having a sound understanding of fundamentals and being able to logically work through a complex set of data. It’s about appreciating the unique dynamics involved in human interaction and understanding the role they play in making clinical decisions. The focus of our curriculum will be upon learning and applying critical principles of disease and patient care. Throughout the pre-clinical phase of the program, during our Patient-Centered Care series of courses, students will be challenged by paid actors and sophisticated simulation mannequins to apply their knowledge and skill to simulated clinical situations.
Resourcefulness
Our curriculum will include a focus on training our future Physician Assistants to be exceptionally resourceful. Beginning in the first semester, students will learn to access excellent information quickly. There are several outstanding web-based tools that have been designed for clinicians to use at the point-of-care. Our students will become extremely comfortable with these tools so they can take advantage of maximizing patient care through clinical decisions that are backed by evidence.
Pass/fail credit system
The entire concept of the Physician Assistant profession is based on collaboratively working with a supervising physician. Furthermore, the entire medical industry is rapidly moving toward a model of patient-centered, team-based care. We want to reinforce this concept by communicating to our students that the patient is what truly matters, not the grade. In our program, students will be challenged to learn as much as they possibly can so they can treat patients to the best of their ability, not so they can obtain a certain grade. From day one, students will be asked to do everything they can to elevate each other to excellence, rather than striving to outperform each other. The patient is what truly matters.
Outstanding medical community
The Charleston area has an outstanding medical community. CAMC Memorial Hospital, one of the best medical centers in the Appalachian Region, sits less than a mile from campus. Even before I began my duties as Program Director, during the interview process, I could feel the enthusiasm for this program. We have been overwhelmed by how supportive everyone in the medical community has been. Medical and educational leaders from around the entire region have extended their hand in offering whatever support they can. We are confident this will result in outstanding training opportunities for our students.
Active and collaborative learning
We strongly value utilizing innovative educational techniques. We will consistently employ educational approaches that break away from the traditional lecture. There will be more learning through engaging students as active participants, and less from sitting as passive listeners. Consequently, students will retain more and feel comfortable in applying their knowledge and skills in real world settings.
Self-reflective practice portfolios
For their capstone project, students will create a self-reflective practice portfolio. Towards the end of their didactic phase, students will use several tools to perform a critical self-analysis of their knowledge, skills, and attitudes. They will identify their strengths and their weaknesses. They will then develop detailed plans of improvement where needed. Throughout their clinical year, they will continually assess their progress in overcoming their weaknesses through self-reflective practice and establish new goals and plans. This project will better prepare students to be well-rounded clinicians and will cultivate a consistent pattern of self-reflective practice that will prove to be a major strength for them throughout their careers.
If you are passionate about making a difference in the lives of others through becoming a highly competent medical practitioner, a world class education awaits you at the University of Charleston Physician Assistant Program!
Why I Transferred to UC
by Garret Listo
Hi my name is Garret Listo from Cincinnati, Ohio. I transferred to University of Charleston from Cincinnati State Technical College. Why did I choose to attend UC? I felt that it was the right fit for me and what I wanted to achieve in my learning career. It has the kind of environment I was looking for in a learning institution and they showed interest in helping me achieve my goals.
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The thing that stood out the most about UC was that they keep things personal when dealing with new students. I remember when I first came in contact with UC. I called the school and assistant admissions director Travis Chandler answered. He already knew my name and who I was. He had already reviewed my transcript and gave me an estimation of potential financial aid that I could receive. Any question that I had, he answered it as soon as he possibly could. He made my transfer process as easy as it could be.
I’m double majoring in Communications and Business Administration. Thanks to UC’s unique curriculum and committed academic advisors, I’ll still be able to graduate on time. This spring semester will only be my second semester here, but I already feel at home. Everything around the school is easily accessible and all the students around here are committed to getting involved in the campus community. The faculty makes it easy to adjust because of their level of involvement with students. There is also a ton of support for athletics at UC. Many of my professors often ask me about the team and how things are going on the field. I feel that they really care about me personally and not just another student in their class.
The University of Charleston provides a great learning experience for me. I enjoy success in the classroom and on the soccer field doing the things that I enjoy. I’m thankful for the opportunity of being part of UC and I see better things to come as the school continues to grow!
For more information about becoming a UC student, visit: www.ucwv.edu/admissions
To learn more about UC athletics, visit: www.goldeneagles.com
Presentation Time
by D’Juan McGee
Hello again friends and friend of my friends!! It is me again with another Japanese update.
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This week my classmates and I were focused on preparing for our Japanese presentation. I spent numerous hours getting help from my Japanese friends Sho, Yuki, Akane, Keita, Sara, Andy, and Mizaki. I am happy to say that my group presentation went very well and our Sensee was very impressed with our class as a whole.
In class on Tuesday we learned how to paint Japanese calligraphy on special paper, which was a lot of fun because it was new for me and very different. On Wednesday the international department had a farewell party for the exchange students that studied at the University for one year and the three Vietnamese students that participated in the two-week study aboard program. At the party I met a Chinese exchange student named Joe and he is majoring in English. I can now stay that I have a lot of Japanese Facebook friends now.
Since this is my last weekend here in Japan I will be spending time traveling to Kobe and hanging out with the Japanese students as much as I can before I go back to America. Well, I’m off to enjoy my last weekend here. Ja Mata.
My UC Experience
by Harry Machacha
I’m Harry Machacha an international student from Germiston, South Africa. I transferred to University of Charleston from Tyler Junior College in East Texas. Why UC? I felt that it was the right fit for me and what I wanted to achieve in my learning career. It has the kind of environment I was looking for in a learning institution and they showed interest in helping me achieve my goals.
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I saw UC as a growing university and there were countless opportunities for me to grow with the school. I wanted to be part of the growth. The university showed potential, not only at the academic level, but also in athletics.
At the school I picked communications/public relations for a major and play soccer. Once I moved to UC it didn’t take me long to get adjusted to the environment because everything around the school is easily accessible and all the students around are committed to getting involved in the campus community. I enjoyed success in the classroom making the on Dean’s List and in soccer I got recognized throughout the region winning conference championship three times in a row.
The University of Charleston provides a great learning experience for me and I learn a lot being part of the communities around the campus. I enjoy success in the classroom and on the soccer field doing the things I love. I’m thankful for the opportunity of being part of UC and I see better things to come as the school continues to grow!
