Faiza Qureshi, a freshman in the Health Services Management program at the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health, attributes her passion for policy and healthcare reform to her early debate days at Ben Davis High School. While on the team, she went to nationals twice for speech and debate, and has long wanted a health career.
“I grew up wanting to work in healthcare,” Faiza said. “Initially, I wanted to be a doctor, but as I explored that path more I realized that I didn't always want to be the one directly providing care.”
Faiza connected with an academic advisor at the Fairbanks School of Public Health and explained her goals of using her leadership and problem-solving skills to make an impact, but on the big picture of healthcare. She learned about the health services management (HSM) major and according to her, “the rest is history.”
Now a freshman in the HSM program, Faiza is looking forward to “adulting” and the chance to finally take classes that really interest her.
“I really love the class ‘Health Care Delivery in the U.S.,’” she said. “I am learning about the healthcare system and enjoy explaining to others how things like insurance work.”
Faiza’s long-term goal is to work her way into the C-suite of a hospital, a popular term for the suite for chief officers (i.e. chief executive officer, chief financial officer, etc.). For now, however, she is excited about beginning the journey.
“I'm just in my first semester and learning so much,” she said. “Most people don't understand how the healthcare system works. This major will open my eyes and broaden my perspective.”
In her free time, Faiza continues to coach current students on the debate team at Ben Davis High School, and says her most memorable debate topic was defending the idea that Twilight made vampires look weak.