Co-op to Coordinator

By Ann Krebs

Brooke Mobilian always knew she wanted to be in the health care field, so when she decided she didn’t want to be a doctor or nurse, her interests quickly turned to health care administration. Mobilian is thrilled with her career choice. On Aug. 8, she received a degree in applied health science with a specialization in health care administration. She already has a job as program coordinator with Canton Mercy Medical Center in Canton, Ohio.

Mobilian came to Bowling Green State University because she liked the location and the campus. It was far enough away from her hometown of Canton that she could enjoy the college experience, but close enough that she could go home on the weekends.

“There were always activities happening on campus, and I really liked the rec center, especially now with the new facilities,” Mobilian said. She played on the co-ed recreational volleyball team and liked the fact she could participate year-round. She joined the Pre-Nursing Student Organization before changing majors and was involved in the TOMS Campus Club. “I really enjoyed meeting many different people and becoming friends with them. I liked living in the res hall too because it felt like a community,” she said.

Mobilian found her public health classes very interesting, and the professors were helpful. “They got back to me in a timely manner,” she said. “You were not just a number in class. They took the time to answer questions and talk to you individually.”

“In class, I could tell that Brooke was fully engaged,” said Dr. Philip Welch, assistant professor and graduate coordinator in public health. “I’m delighted I had the opportunity to introduce her to a few key concepts in public health and health care administration.”

Health care administration students are required to complete an internship that provides students with practical experience. Mobilian landed an internship with the Volunteer Services Department at Canton Mercy Medical Center. Welch assisted with the new affiliation agreement between Mercy and BGSU. “We have affiliation agreements with dozens of health care agencies throughout Ohio and the Midwest,” said Welch. “When one of our students finds an agency that fits his or her career goals, we are always open to creating new internship agreements.”

At Mercy, Mobilian assisted with coordinating volunteers and their activities with patients. She managed schedules, interviews, volunteer placement and training. She reviewed volunteer competencies and provided coaching on specific behaviors when interacting with patients to assure volunteers were properly trained and met hospital standards.

She also coordinated the shadowing process for different people who wanted to shadow within the hospital, for example, if they wanted to shadow a doctor. She would contact the various departments for approval and schedule times with the shadows.

“I had no idea when I started in volunteer services all the processes that need to be learned and followed, and all the volunteers that participate,” she shared. “I enjoyed learning all the procedures and meeting all the volunteers because they give a lot back to the hospital, and many of the patients enjoy their company, too.  The volunteers love giving their time even if it’s really early in the morning. They are happy to be there and just cheer you up. It’s a very rewarding job.”

Mobilian is both nervous and excited about her new job as program coordinator. “I’m looking forward to meeting different staff and working with more volunteers, understanding and implementing all the processes we go through, and I really do enjoy training the volunteers,” she said.

“I would like to tell students to be open to any opportunities that are offered to them. I really had no idea what to expect with my internship, so students should remember to keep an open mind. And take a bunch of notes if you get an internship because that is very helpful so you aren’t asking the same questions over and over. It really helped me.

“I tell everyone that’s going to college to go to BG! I enjoyed the whole experience, meeting different people from everywhere and getting to know their stories.”