Birmingham VA Hosts UAB MSHA Class 61

Fostering its partnership with UAB, several graduates of the program complete their 12-month residency at the Birmingham VA Medical Center. The 33-month program is ranked one of the best health care management graduate programs in the country by U.S. News & World Report.

The site visit, consisting of 35 graduate students, involved an overview of BVAHCS, a virtual reality experience and rotations through the facilities’ Southeastern Blind Rehab Center, Sleep Lab, Sterile Processing and Pharmacy departments. 

The students received a welcome and health care system overview from Dr. Cynthia Cleveland, BVAHCS Acting Executive Director, followed by a patient’s health care perspective from Vietnam Veteran Ronald Jefferson.

Mr. Jefferson served five years in Vietnam as a U.S. Army Green Beret and refers to himself as the last man standing. He often experiences complications from his exposure to agent orange during the war and receives his health care at the Birmingham VA. Now at 81 years old, Jefferson's appreciation of medical professionals grows by the day.

“I appreciate our medical professionals, especially you, the up-and-coming leaders who will keep the next generation of Americans alive and healthy,” Jefferson said. “I fought for you, and now you fight for me.”

TaLacy Hines, Program Analyst, and Jessie Box, Public Affairs Specialist, served as the lead planners for the event. Both are recent graduates from the UAB MSHA program who’ve joined the Birmingham VA.