Hear from UMass Employees

Kristin Fitzpatrick, UMass

Kristin_Fitzpatrick_UMASS(200x250)_rdax_133x178While participating in the WPI Healthcare Information Technology Management Graduate Certificate, I have developed deep relationships with my co-workers, some of whom I may not have had any contact with during the normal work day. Having these connections provides broader perspectives and great contacts.

The content of the courses has prompted me to think differently about the work I do. I now look into problems and issues from a different point of view. I consider how business decisions that are made not only affect my department, but also the company as a whole.

Participating in this program has helped me to think of my job as an integral part of a larger organization. It also has encouraged me to look at the work through a lens that is always looking for improvement. This experience has opened my eyes to a variety of opportunities, from pursuing an MBA, to being open to new challenges. The professors involved made me realize that there are many opportunities that I am qualified to do, which has really helped boost my confidence.

Being in a corporate cohort program at UMass was helpful because you could discuss issues that are impacting all of you. It was enlightening to hear other perspectives about the various situations each of us have to deal with. Having a common knowledge base is extremely helpful as we strive to improve our work flow and practices.

Initially I was hesitant to commit the time for this program, feeling I was too busy to fit it in. However I felt that it was such a distinctive opportunity that I didn’t want to pass it up. I came to realize that there were large chunks of personal time that were being wasted. It was a very worthwhile change of my time utilization.

While all the courses were great, I benefitted the most from the Lean Process Design course and Systems Thinking.  I learned new ways of looking at situations, and how to strive for a positive outcome. The possibilities that were brought into view by taking this certificate program have given me inspiration to reach higher and dig deeper.

If you are considering becoming a WPI student, and pursing the WPI Healthcare Information Technology Management Graduate Certificate, be ready to learn, to work, and to have fun. The sense of satisfaction that comes with finishing the program, and the growth opportunities it provides, is well worth the effort.


Andrew J. Smith, UMass

AndrewSmith_UMass_rdax_133x99Andrew J. Smith, Integration Engineer at UMass Memorial Hospital, earned his undergraduate engineering degree from WPI. When the opportunity was offered to earn a WPI graduate certificate in Healthcare Information Technology Management, with classes delivered at UMass, Andrew immediately signed up.

“The skills I’ve learned through this program have been incredibly valuable for me. The techniques taught on managing and overcoming conflict are tools I will carry forward throughout the rest of my professional career.I work in a central part of IT at the enterprise, connecting various systems. Within this context, systemic thinking is critical. This certificate program enables a more forward-thinking stance than what is normally encountered in the organization. Systemic thinking will be critical across the enterprise in understanding how the myriad of changes in our applications affect each other.

This program creates well-rounded individuals with a good view of lean, systemic, thorough perspective of technology, specifically dealing with healthcare. With the curriculum customized to address specific areas within the UMass organization, it helped the students put healthcare enterprise dynamics in perspective, as well as insight into how healthcare compares and contrasts with other business types.

Being in a company, cohort-based program allowed me the opportunity to meet many UMass colleagues who worked in other areas of our facility. This adds humanity to our everyday work, as well as gives you connections that you may not have had during a normal work environment.

Signing up for a two-year program with intense studying requirements meant a lot of dedication and focus. I had no misgivings about making this commitment. I believe that what you get out of your classes is what you put into it. The academic presentations of some of the classes belie their depth. Acceptable effort will yield acceptable marks, but extraordinary effort will yield life-changing results.

Steve Taylor’s Interpersonal and Leadership Skills course stood out to me as the most difficult class. As an engineer, I don’t process emotion very much in the workplace. There were some difficulties within our cohort with regard to understanding the point of such deep introspection. However I found it very rewarding to dive deeply into who and what I am and what makes me the way I am.  It made me appreciate and respect other’s perspectives and take them into context in a better way.

The Group and Interpersonal Dynamics in Complex Organizations course taught by Sharon Wulf was a bit of an eye-opener as well. The people in this program were, as a whole, highly motivated people who performed well academically. Having a professor that was completely upfront about expectations and where we failed to meet them was difficult, but contextually understandable. This transparency helped shape my perspective and reminded me that the goal of these classes was the end results, not our grades on a bell curve.