Challenges of Being an Administrative Fellow at City of Hope
Saba's biggest challenges as a project manager at City of Hope involve feeling "removed from the direct patient care aspect" and navigating career progression after this role. To combat the first, Saba actively seeks opportunities for in-person patient interaction; addressing the second requires careful planning and consideration of future career goals beyond the limitations of a "specific department".
Project Management, Healthcare Administration, Career Growth, Work-Life Balance, Leadership
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Saba Ansari
Administrative Fellow
City of Hope
Cal State Fullerton, graduated in 2019
University of Michigan, Masters in Public Health
Political Science, American Studies
Healthcare, Medical & Wellness, Nonprofit, Foundations & Grantmaking
Operations and Project Management
Worked 20+ Hours in School
Video Highlights
1. Feeling disconnected from direct patient care, and the methods used to stay engaged (e.g., spending time with patients, understanding their daily lives).
2. The challenge of career progression after a project management role, and the need for proactive planning and exploration of growth opportunities.
3. Limited flexibility and potential for departmental pigeonholing after gaining experience as a project manager in a specific area.
Transcript
What is your biggest challenge as a project manager?
The biggest challenges I've seen working in hospital administration or operations are twofold. Sometimes you feel removed from direct patient care when you're just managing things, looking at numbers and operations. It can feel like what you're doing isn't meaningful.
I've found that spending time with patients in person and walking through their day helps me feel more engaged. Seeing their day-to-day lives reminds me of the impact of the work.
The other challenge relates to the next step in a project manager role. There isn't always a clear, perfect next position. Figuring out how to grow often means being pigeonholed into a specific department, which limits flexibility.
This requires more thought to determine what you truly want for your next step. Those are the two main challenges I consider.
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