Morgan Shuey ’23 is completing a master’s in healthcare administration

Morgan Shuey ’23, who just recieved a degree in healthcare administration with a minor in business administration, traveled 1,384 miles from her home in Corning, Iowa, to further her education at Salve Regina.

“Salve Regina is my home away from home,” reflected Shuey. “I took a leap of faith attending a school far away from home, and I have never looked back.”

For now, Shuey isn’t leaving her second home. She’s currently enrolled in Salve Regina’s combined bachelors and master’s program and will walk away in just one more year with a master’s degree in healthcare administration with a certificate in cybersecurity in 2024.

Outside of the classroom, Shuey is captain of the women’s basketball team, vice president of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and is a NCAA Division III Academic All-Conference Honoree.

“As a student-athlete at Salve Regina, I’ve had continuous support both in the classroom and on the basketball court,” explained Shuey. “The University is committed to seeing students succeed in the classroom and with their respected sport.”

Not only is Shuey a student-athlete, but she is an inductee of Sigma Phi Sigma, a volunteer at the Rhode Island Blood Center and the American Cancer Society, a founding member of Salve Regina’s chapter of The American College of Healthcare Executives, and a mentor at Learning Unlimited —  a program for mentality disabled children.

With her deep commitment to making a positive impact in the world, Shuey was recently awarded the Joan Chapdelaine Award for Excellence in Healthcare Administration.

“Shuey is a serious student who is self driven, self-motivated and keen to learn as much as she can possibly soak in from all her endeavors,” said Tiffany McClanaghan, director of operations in the Office of Graduate and Professional studies. “The pride and effort she puts forth in her academic work is consistently impressive.”

When looking back on the undergraduate healthcare administration program at Salve Regina, Shuey described it as exceptional.

“The faculty is unmatched,” explained Shuey. “They are highly-skilled healthcare professionals that have either worked or are still working in the industry. Their background provides real insight on what students can expect once they begin their own career.”

David DeJesus, lecturer in the Department of Business and Economics, stands out to Shuey as an influential professor during her time at Salve Regina, because his classes promoted discussion between full-time students and healthcare professions currently working in the field.

Studying healthcare and cybersecurity at a master’s level

DeJesus also introduced Shuey to Salve Regina’s healthcare administration graduate program and helped advise her in which classes to take.

The cybersecurity certificate that Shuey will be receiving along with the master’s is crucial for the future of healthcare. The certificate courses examine cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities along with assisting healthcare organizations with preventing, protecting and recovering from cyber attacks.

While taking classes, Shuey acquired an internship this summer with the Healthcare and Public Health Sector Coordinating Council (HSCC). HSCC is a public private partnership between the federal government and the healthcare industry — including leaders of large hospital organizations in the United States as well as medical companies such as Philips.

“It would not have been possible without the help and guidance from professor Matthew McMahon, adjunct faculty of business and economics,” said Shuey. “All of the faculty members become invested in your academic experience and career aspirations.”

After completing her master’s, Shuey plans on pursuing a career in the healthcare and public health sector.

“Morgan will literally be shaping the future of healthcare cybersecurity in the United States with this group in making recommendations to the federal government and Congress that often become codified into law,” said McClanaghan.

Shuey wouldn’t change picking Salve Regina as her undergraduate and graduate University.

“I have grown throughout my past four years at Salve, both as a student and an athlete,” reflected Shuey. “When you are a Seahawk, you are a Seahawk for life.”

For more Class of 2023 stories, go here.

This story was written by student writer Morgan Rizzo ’23

Salve Spotlights is a series of people-centered stories periodically featured on SALVEtoday. Check out the tag Salve Spotlights for more stories.