MHA Student Ambassadors
Welcome! We are the MHA Student Ambassadors. We are here to assist prospective students by answering questions and giving feedback on our student experience in the Masters of Healthcare Administration Program. Whether you have questions about student life, curriculum, work experiences or Pacific University itself, we are available to answer your questions. Just ask and you will get valuable answers from a student's perspective.
Alumni Ambassadors
Laura Motch — motc6132@pacificu.edu
My name is Laura Motch and I am currently pursuing a MHA degree from Pacific University. My undergraduate degree is in Social and Behavioral science. Currently, I hold a full time management position with a community mental health and addictions agency. In addition, I have experience in both the legal and political fields. I know healthcare is where I want to be and it is an exciting time to be there. Pursuing a graduate level degree has always been a goal and the time was right to make that dream a reality. The MHA program at Pacific University has allowed me to maintain my full time employment and family obligations. I have found the instructors to be invested in my success and are dedicated to producing superior healthcare leaders. The program has afforded me many opportunities I would not have otherwise had. Please feel free to contact me with any questions you might have.
Dewey Tucker — dewey.tucker@pacificu.edu
My name is Dewey Tucker. I am an ex-US Army combat medic and EMT. I spent most of my military service at Martin Army hospital in Ft. Benning GA and as medical support for Ranger and Airborne training schools. After the military I went into business and have owned a couple successful businesses. After a decade of successful business operational management I found myself missing the purpose and satisfaction that I used to derive from working in healthcare. That is what brought me to the MHA program at Pacific University.
I have found the MHA program at Pacific to be one of the best choices that I have ever made. The program has small class sizes, excellent instructors and facilitates networking with some of the top members of the local healthcare organizations. I currently work as Program Manager for the Patient Safety Center of Inquiry at the Portland VA medical center.
Feel free to e-mail me any question or concerns for a timely and honest answer.
Dewey Tucker
2nd Year Ambassadors
Lynnae Doumani — lynnae.scott@pacificu.edu
My name is Lynnae Doumani and I am enrolled in the Masters of Healthcare Administration program at Pacific University. I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in General Science with a minor in Business Administration and an option in Pharmacy from Oregon State University. Currently I am working as a Pharmacy Technician and am working with Legacy Randall Children’s Hospital on my capstone project. I have always known I wanted to be involved with the healthcare field, and as an undergraduate debated whether to be a provider or a researcher. After taking business classes and a healthcare policy course, I realized my true passion was in healthcare administration. Pacific’s program has made me well-rounded in all aspects of healthcare, ranging from finance to leadership skill building. The professors are experienced healthcare professionals that have been excellent sources of information as well as professional contacts. One of the most beneficial aspects of the program is hearing my classmates’ opinions on topics. We all have different backgrounds and having multiple opinions allows us all to have a better understanding of the issues facing healthcare today. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have, I’d be more than willing to share my experiences in healthcare and at Pacific University with you.
Shiloh Erven — erve6019@pacificu.edu
My name is Shiloh Erven and I started in healthcare as an ER Patient Admissions Clerk / Hospital Switchboard Operator in 2004. After college I moved to Bend and worked in operations for Bend Memorial Clinic. I am now back with my original organization in Corvallis at Samaritan Health Services in the role of an Administrative/Clinical Operations Manager. I, with the help of others provide operational support to multiple primary care clinics in Albany, Corvallis and Lebanon. I chose the MHA program at Pacific University for many reasons. First, it offers great flexibility with my increasingly busy schedule. Second, the intimate class size. It is very easy to get direct attention from faculty and I have enjoyed making new friends that work in my field. Third, the mix of classroom and online activity. I have a passion for technology and collaborating with people using that technology. Fourth, the focused curriculum. It has been extremely helpful working in the industry while taking these classes as I apply learned information from both the work and school settings. I have been very impressed how all four of these factors have exceeded the expectations I had upon applying for the program. I am happy that I made this choice and I look forward to sharing my experiences with anyone else that is interested in this program. Please contact me if you have any questions about my experience in healthcare as well.
Best of luck!
Shiloh
Jessica Keersemaker — jkeersemaker@pacificu.edu
My name is Jessica and I am currently pursuing an MHA after eight years working in the healthcare administration field. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, however, once I fell into healthcare administration I quickly learned of the value of managing a successful healthcare business while getting to focus on taking care of people. While I had worked in the field, I had often thought possessing the academic background to support the work that I do every day would be valuable. The Pacific University MHA program provided what I was seeking. The MHA program is primarily taught by professions in the healthcare field. The cohort format allows for frequent discussions and the exploration of the viewpoints of others. The subjects of study are relevant today and they allow me to do my own job better as I apply concepts from the program in my daily work life. I greatly value work/life balance and the design of the program allows me to continue to do the things that are important to me while pursuing my graduate degree. I would be happy to speak to you about Pacific University’s MHA program. Please do not hesitate to contact me!
Sincerely,
Jessica
Evan Krause — krau5136@pacificu.edu
It took a stint at a for-profit company in an industry I had no belief in to lead me down the path I am currently on. I took a leap of faith and quit my job in the middle of the recession to pursue a career in healthcare. I was able to land an entry level job at Providence. Meanwhile, I started researching programs and came across the MHA program Pacific had to offer. Since I was just getting settled into my new role and I had fallen in love with Oregon, I just couldn't see myself leaving town to attend school. I'm happy to say I definitely made the right choice and so far the program has been great. From classmates to instructors, everyone is so kind and helpful. Additionally, I'm able to incorporate what I learn in class into my every day job. Obtaining my MHA degree is escalating me closer and closer to achieving my personal and professional goals in life. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me.
Evan Krause
Courtney Stout Maksimowicz — Courtney.stout@pacificu.edu
With eight years of managing operations in my professional career, I felt it was time to bolster my experience with a reputable education. Pacific University’s MHA program has a unique balance that offers me the relevant resources to further my administration skills coupled with applicable emphasis in the healthcare field. I can confidently say that this program’s cohort composition, intimate class sizes, and respectable academic coursework are the perfect fit for me. The opportunity to meet and network with highly-regarded members in our local healthcare community is invaluable. Healthcare is ever-changing and offers a lot of diverse opportunities, and the MHA program has been designed to support and transform us into successful leaders who can seamlessly and effectively contribute to this field.
I would be thrilled to chat with you about the program and/or my experiences, so please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.
Sincerely,
Courtney
Kyle Nelson — nels4046@pacificu.edu
I began my career with Pacific in 2007 and have enjoyed each year more than the last. When I graduated from Pacific in the spring of 2011 with my Bachelors degree in Business Administration I had to make a choice about my future. With over 5 years of experience in a supervisory role in the restaurant industry I decided that I needed a change both personally and professionally. I wanted to get into healthcare, but I didn't know how that was possible without being on the clinical side of things. I decided after finding this program at Pacific that the choice was easy. Blending my desire to help people and my passion for business the program has been the perfect choice for me. The program helped me get a job with Providence and jumpstart my career in healthcare. The class schedule is perfect for the working professional, the cohort size creates a great learning environment and the instructors are very helpful each step of the way. I look forward to the rest of my time here at Pacific and would be happy to share my knowledge about Pacific University with you.
1st Year Ambassadors
Nicole Aaltonen— nicole.aaltonen@pacificu.edu
My name is Nicole and I am enrolled in the Masters of Healthcare Administration program at Pacific University. I received a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health Education and Health Sciences from Portland State University. Currently I am working at Legacy Health as a Clinic Supervisor with locations in Portland, Hillsboro and Vancouver. I have been working in the healthcare industry since 2005 and find helping others to be very rewarding. During my time in healthcare, I have worked various jobs in clinical and administrative settings. After serious consideration, I realized that to reach my life long goals of improving the community, I would need to further my education in healthcare. This realization brought me to applying for masters programs throughout the Northwest; once I found Pacific University I knew I had found the school that would provide me with the resources to accomplish my goals. The MHA program at Pacific University is designed to fit those with a busy lifestyle that want to continue to work while pursuing a degree. The faculty’s real- life and classroom experience enhances the learning environment and I am able to take what I learn in the classroom to work with me on a daily basis. I thoroughly enjoy the small class size as we are able to utilize our different backgrounds to create a well-rounded learning experience. Pursuing this degree through Pacific University has been one of the best decisions I have made. I am extremely excited to see where this journey will take me and I hope to share that excitement with others. Please feel free to contact me with any questions regarding the program or working in the healthcare setting.
Sincerely,
Nicole Aaltonen
