Patricia Quackenbush said, "As a working professional trying to raise a family, have a career, and maintain work-life balance, there was not much time for education. I was, however, committed to completing my education and searched for a program that would make obtaining an MBA accessible.  Attending Eastern University's MBA program was one of the best decisions of my life. I found the program at Eastern to be responsive to the needs of the adult learner. The location of the classes was convenient and the instructors knowledgeable in their field.  The cohort size was small, allowing for discussion of real life healthcare experiences. In the end, I not only received an MBA in healthcare, I made many good friends along the way." 

Bennis, Quackenbush and Walker earned the Distinguished Thesis Award for their work for Telemedicine, a new venture service line. Bennis, a resident of Sewell, NJ, is the Executive Director of Virtua Home Care.  Quackenbush resides in Haddonfield, NJ, and is the Director of Quality Management for Virtua Health System.  Walker, who resides in Sewell, NJ, is the Nursing Administrator of Virtua Health System.  All three are members of Delta Mu Delta (Gamma Pi Chapter), a U.S. national honor society in business administration that promotes higher education in business, and recognizes and rewards superior scholastic accomplishment.

Lynn Walker said,  "At Eastern, everyone is so friendly and supportive.  The professors are working professionals and bring a hands-on approach to the classroom. They very much understood that being a wife, mother, granddaughter and full-time worker comes right along with being an adult student!  Through the program, I learned a lot about myself and my abilities to balance the work requirements and home life.  Also, being with the same cohort gives a sense of community and brings many different talents to the table."

Karen Cornwall, a resident of Havertown, PA, and an employee of Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, earned the Distinguished Thesis Award for her work on her organization, Florida Gulf Coast Paws, which provides animal assisted therapy to both children and adults.  Cornwall is also a member of Delta Mu Delta.

The Fast-Track MBA in Health Administration program consists of 11 courses and a project addressing business issues unique to hospitals and other health-related institutions. It seeks to make the student aware of the interaction of health administration with economics, medicine, government policies and social sciences.  Teaching methods and materials are based on adult learning models. Students complete a clerkship, project report and a portfolio. 

The program is taught through five contemporary themes: a global outlook, team building, effective communication, environmental concerns and ethical considerations.  It is intended to help managers understand and work with people from other cultures, while maintaining the integrity of its leaders and the values which influence their decision making.  Students become skilled in fields such as accounting, financial management, marketing research, the organization of the healthcare system, human resource management, healthcare economics and strategic thinking.

Spring 2009 classes for the Fast-Track MBA in Health Administration will be offered in St. Davids, Philadelphia, and Central PA.  For information about the Fast-Track MBA in Health Administration, visit www.eastern.edu/sms, e-mail Sue Volikas at svolikas@eastern.edu, or call 1.800.732.7669.  For information on programs in Harrisburg, Lancaster, or York, call 717.565.1951 or e-mail Ryan Knisley at rknisely@eastern.edu.

The Campolo College of Graduate and Professional Studies at Eastern University offers a broad range of adult, undergraduate and graduate programs from community education to Associate's degrees to its newest Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership. Areas of instruction include business, counseling psychology, education, health administration, leadership, nonprofit management, nursing and urban/international economic development. For more information call 1.800.732.7669, e-mail gpsadm@eastern.edu or visit www.eastern.edu.

Fast-Track MBA® is Registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.