Amid the lunchtime chaos of Hughes-Trigg, a group of students gathered together Wednesday in Atrium AB for a presentation on careers in health care.
The event, titled “Careers in Healthcare Brown Bag,” was sponsored by the Hegi Family Career Development Center and attracted students with interests in business, health care or both. Two of the speakers, Mary Morning Mauldin and Kellye DeBerry, M.A., were SMU graduates.
DeBerry earned her master’s degree in 2004; Mauldin graduated last May with a bachelor’s in Finance and French.
Mary Mauldin works at VMG Health, a company that advises health care organizations, ranging from hospitals to private practices, about business and finance. The company has offices in Dallas and Nashville, but Mauldin noted, “Our clients are national, everywhere from Florida to Washington to Kansas.”
In addition to running tests and collecting data, DeBerry works with surgeons and neurologists to help develop programs at the Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. One aspect about her work that she enjoys is the welcoming and inviting atmosphere of the hospital and the great people that work there. According to DeBerry, “The best thing about the hospital is the care is absolutely free.”
Although they both work in different aspects of health care, both suggested that the best way to find a job after graduation is through networking, internships and volunteer work.
“I felt that my internship was very important,” Mauldin said. “It helped get my foot in the door.”
DeBerry noted that “volunteering really gets you in the element. I wish I had the opportunity to do more when I was in school.”
Whether it’s volunteering or internships, each allows for networking opportunities because, as Mauldin stated, “You never know when somebody is going to be a good resource.”
At the end of the presentation, students were able to meet Mauldin and DeBerry and have their questions answered. Students who are interested in the field but were unable to attend the Brown Bag are encouraged to visit the Hegi Family Career Development Center for more information.
