MHA student Emily Seidmon recently received the $1,000 David M. Kinzer Scholarship Award in recognition of her service to the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), an international professional society for healthcare executives.

This past year, Seidmon served as Suffolk Healthcare Programs’ student liaison for the ACHE and as a board member of the ACHE of Massachusetts. Seidmon played an integral role in increasing student participation by promoting the ACHE’s networking opportunities, educational resources, and career development services.

Seidmon, who is relatively new to healthcare, saw the ACHE as a great way to meet influential leaders in the field. “I truly believe that networking is an essential part of your career. The people that you get to know at events could be your future coworkers or friends,” Seidmon said. It was also a chance for her to learn more about the industry and discover possible career paths.

Growing up in a family of clinicians, Seidmon knew the field offered unique challenges and opportunities. “Healthcare was always part of our family conversations, and I learned from my parents’ stories that healthcare is extremely rewarding, no matter if you are a clinician, administrator, etcetera,” she said.

Being involved with the ACHE allowed Seidmon to see first-hand how healthcare administrators are helping improve quality of care, adapting to changes in the field, and developing innovative solutions to today’s challenges.

Seidmon has attended the ACHE’s annual Congress on Healthcare Leadership in Chicago, as well as conferences sponsored by the ACHE of Massachusetts. This has broadened her perspective on healthcare, as she has heard leaders talk about the challenges their organizations are facing and how they are addressing them.

Rick Gregg, operating director of Suffolk’s Healthcare Programs, complimented Seidmon on her work with the ACHE. “Emily helped prompt many of our students to join the ACHE and become involved in activities, such as the Early Careerist Network (ECN). Involvement is the key to enjoying the many benefits that can come with ACHE membership,” explained Gregg.

Seidmon, who expects to graduate later this year, recently completed a short-term project in the Anesthesiology Department at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. This month, she started a new position as an electronic medical coordinator in the IS department at Tufts Medical Center.