Contributor: John Barkett, WG’09
To learn more about John, click here.
July is a time of change for the WHCMAA. We say good-bye to current Board members and welcome new ones.
To departing Board members Mitch Goldman WG’75, Doug Arnold WG’84, Bryan Bushick WG’98, Jeff Smith WG’99, Marina Tarasova WG’10, and Jenny Rizk WG’14, a hearty “Thank you!” for your collective service to the Association and the entire Wharton Community.
To incoming Board members Chris Simpkins WG ‘02, Roman Rubio ‘03, Brian Holzer WG ‘05, Diana Peng WG ‘13, Ryan Vass WG ‘14, and Dan Mulreany WG ‘17, a warm welcome as we kick off 2018-2019.
My first stop will be at Huntsman Hall in early August, where I’ll be addressing the class of ’20 during healthcare pre-term. My main message: “The Wharton community is worldwide, and we want to help you succeed.” Bad jokes, worse singing, and a few thoughts on the state of U.S. health policymaking will be also be discussed.
Back from a one year hiatus, the WHCMAA Alumni Conference will be held this year on Friday, November 2nd at Huntsman Hall on Wharton’s campus. Conference Co-Chairs Ed Chan, WG’11 and Reed van Gorden, WG’12 have confirmed Commonwealth Fund President, David Blumenthal, to keynote the conference.
If you attend the conference, consider coming in Thursday evening, November 1st to attend the dinner the night before. We’ll fete the winners of the Alumni Service and Lifetime Achievement awards, and hear from the student winners of the Kinney and Kissick Scholarships. (These are the highlight of the two days, in my opinion).
We’re also planning events in Boston, San Francisco, New York, and DC for the first half of the year, and we’d love to host events where you live as well. Contact us if you’d like to plan an event in your area.
My hope for this year is that the WHCMAA helps you engage with the Wharton healthcare community. Want to connect with fellow alumni? Attend a WHCMAA sponsored event. In the midst of a career change? Let us help you connect with career development resources. Looking to start a conversation? Join the Wharton Healthcare Knowledge Network or connect through one of our social media sites.
And if you want to take a more active role in the WHCMAA and its operations, we are always looking for volunteers to work on our programming, communications, membership, awards, career development and finance committees.
I hope to see you this year!
John Barkett, WG’09
WHCMAA President
[email protected]