Department of HPM hosts career fair for second year in a row
The USF College of Public Health Department of Health Policy and Management hosted its second annual career fair Feb. 9 in the COPH lobby featuring recruiters from health care facilities to community health centers.
Graduate students in the department networked with community representatives to learn about employment opportunities and internships.
Students Shena Grover and Sarah Langel networking at the HPM Career Fair. (Photo by Anna Mayor)
Thomas Agrusti, currently earning an MHA degree, attended the fair to become more aware of the organizations affiliated with USF, as well as network with companies for potential employment after he graduates.
He said he appreciated this fair for its focus on employers and organizations looking for students with his particular educational background and interests.
“The great thing about the HPM department is how intentioned the cohort is and how small but focused everything is. It’s reflected in the job fair,” he said. “If you are coming here, you are clearly qualified and interested, so it’s a nice focus that the department is setting up for us.”
Pattie Fox, safety manager at USF Health, attended the fair for the first time.
“I think getting opportunities in front of students is good for both the students and for us; people who need employees and students who are looking for jobs,” she said. “It’s like a dating service and we’re the matchmakers and we’re trying to match up!”
Thomas Agrusti speaks with Pattie Fox of USF Health. (Photo by Anna Mayor)
She was there to share field study opportunities with graduate students, from engaging in safety audits to attending ambulatory surgery center orientations.
Other organizations in attendance included: James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, Tampa General Hospital, Suncoast Community Health Centers, Johns Hopkins Medicine, HCA West Florida/Brandon Regional Hospital and Florida Hospital.
Parallon Business Group’s table, based in Largo, Fla., featured two COPH alumna, Kate Houck and Cara Horton, who both earned their MHA degrees last year.
COPH alumni Cara Horton and Kate Houck speak with students about opportunities at Parallon Tampa Shared Service Center. (Photo by Anna Mayor)
“This fair prepared me to network and become better prepared to talk to professionals,” Horton said.
Now, they both are sitting on the other side of the networking table.
“We know a lot of the students here today and it’s nice to see that people within this program are becoming successful and achieving their goals,” Houck said.
Story by Anna Mayor, USF College of Public Health