February 20, 2024
By Tessa Chilton
As a first responder, Anastasia Miller dedicated her time to making a difference in people’s lives and in her community. The former firefighter has continued that practice, now as a clinical assistant professor and director of the Healthcare Leadership (HCL) degree program at the University of Louisville College of Education and Human Development (CEHD).
Miller became a firefighter in her rural town as a teenager and was one of few women in the male-dominated industry. After a knee injury, she pursued higher education and eventually earned a doctorate in Public Affairs with a focus in Health Services Research and Management from the University of Central Florida.
As she transitioned to academia, Miller focused her research on improving the lives of EMS workers, including EMTs, firefighters, police, and dispatchers.
In August 2023, she joined UofL to lead the online BS in organizational leadership and learning with a track in healthcare leadership, a fully online degree tailored for working adults.
“Something unique to our program is the prior learning assessment,” said Miller. Students can earn up to 48 college credit hours based on their prior work or education experience and potentially save up to $25,000.
This is particularly valuable to the ever-growing healthcare industry, with about 1.8 million job openings expected annually from 2022 to 2032, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Miller emphasized that many of these jobs will not be in the traditional hospital setting that most associate with healthcare. “We are very much shifting to a more diffused, holistic, community-based approach – particularly with rural healthcare needs,” said Miller.
The HCL curriculum prepares students for diverse healthcare settings and includes micro-credentials such as a Six Sigma White Belt Certification and an Institute for Healthcare Improvement Basic Safety certificate.
“I want my students to be prepared for whatever healthcare agency they go to,” said Miller. “They'll come out with some of these micro-credentials, which on their own may not be a lot, but when combined with work experience, a degree and application, they can enhance job prospects.”
Join Anastasia Miller and the HCL program to upgrade your career in the rapidly evolving healthcare industry.
About the College of Education and Human Development:
Founded in 1968, the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) is a vibrant community that prepares students for leadership in a variety of metropolitan settings including schools, public and private corporations, and governmental agencies.
CEHD embraces the University's mission to advance the intellectual, cultural, and economic development of our diverse communities and citizens. Our commitment to student success is unparalleled as we promote the highest levels of learning and social, emotional, and physical health and well-being for all children, individuals, and families.
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