MGMA Member Spotlight: Kendra Yahns on Internships and Leadership Development in Healthcare Management
Download MP3In this episode of the MGMA Member Spotlight, host Daniel Williams interviews Kendra Yahns, Executive Director of Perkins Spine and Sports Medicine. Yahns shares her journey in healthcare leadership, discusses the benefits of internship programs in private practices and emphasizes the importance of leadership training in healthcare management.
Healthcare Leadership Journey:
- Starting on the frontlines provides valuable insight into leadership needs and patient flow.
- Transitioning between different healthcare sectors can offer unique perspectives on management.
Internship Program Innovation:
- Internships can bridge the gap between academic education and practical skills in healthcare management.
- Well-structured internship programs can help practices stay lean while providing valuable experience to students.
Recruitment Challenges:
- There's a disconnect between academic degrees and the skills required for entry-level healthcare management positions.
- Hiring managers often struggle to find candidates with the right mix of education and practical experience.
Leadership Development:
- Creating a "leadership playbook" can help aspiring leaders navigate the complexities of healthcare management.
- Focusing on topics like communication, work-life balance, and HR best practices is crucial for effective healthcare leadership.
Practical Solutions:
- Utilizing platforms like Handshake can help practices connect with potential interns from local universities.
- Developing targeted leadership training programs can address the specific needs of healthcare management roles.
MGMA Resources:
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Daniel Williams: dwilliams@mgma.com
Ryan Reaves: rreaves@mgma.com
Colleen Luckett: cluckett@mgma.com
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This episode is brought to you by NotifyMD — the patient access solution built for healthcare professionals. You work hard to care for your patients, and NotifyMD helps you do just that. Their communication experts handle calls, schedule appointments, provide nurse triage, and more — all available 24/7. NotifyMD integrates seamlessly with platforms like athenahealth and Epic and meets the industry’s highest security standards, so you can trust that patient information stays private and protected. Learn more at notifymd.com.
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