Four weeks ago, UAlbany MBA student Salim Kaddo Mouawad was kneeling on the floor at StatStaff Professionals, Inc. in Saratoga Springs performing chest compressions on a CPR training manikin. At his side was Kathy Mion, BSN, RN, Director of Clinical Services. Little did he know that his field placement with DAVIN Healthcare Solutions would include CPR basics and biometric screening.
Not a surprise, according to Mion who promotes health and wellness for their staff and nurse-clients whenever and wherever she can. Although the academic year field project focused on DAVIN Healthcare Solutions, Inc., Mion said the graduate students were “...fascinated with this opportunity, eager to engage and learn.” Mion was also pleased to help the group gain a better understanding of the interaction of the three entities that make up the staffing-healthcare organization—Stat Staff Professionals, Inc., DAVIN Healthcare Solutions, Inc. and their sister organization, Adirondack Health and Wellness.
Collaboration is good for your health (especially when you are in the healthcare business)
Backpedal to the start of the fall semester. Graduate students in the UAlbany Masters in Business Administration-Information Technology Management (MBA-ITM) program began an experiential learning field project that pairs highly qualified graduate students with local small businesses. Considered ‘consultants-in-training; the students worked closely with their professor, Shobha Chengalur-Smith, PhD and Dave Theobald, MS,RN,CSP, CEO of Stat Staff Professionals, Inc. and DAVIN Healthcare Solutions, Inc. Together, they selected a project to meet course learning objectives, and at the same time, provide information and advice for one of the company’s strategic initiatives—to transition to a larger business while retaining the small business advantages of flexibility and entrepreneurship.
To meet that challenge, the field team met with staff during the orientation period to learn about the organization and its 3-component entities. Weekly meetings were held with Theobald to discuss the intricacies of DAVIN. Consultant reports were submitted to Professor Chengalur-Smith and followed up with individual and team meetings to discuss project status. Using a Competing Values Framework (CVF) tool to guide its work, the team gathered and analyzed information on the effectiveness of the organization and identified a guiding framework for future development. Findings were shared in formal presentations at the Saratoga Springs office and at UAlbany.
Bridging the gap between theory and practice
These days, businesses are looking for much more than a credential. Rather, they are searching for employees with real-world experience—individuals who are team players; creative, critical and future-oriented thinkers; excellent communicators; and technically skillful. Add to that an ability to adapt to change, and most business leaders agree that you have an ideal employee.
It’s a big charge, according to Theobald who believes business, students, and universities should benefit equally from the experience. “The opportunity for our employees and the UAlbany students to collaborate and learn from one another was such a unique and rewarding experience as it provided both parties with new insights, ideas, and creativity through engaging hands-on learning experiences,” he said. “Our interactions also sparked new knowledge development and gave us a real competitive advantage needed in today’s fast paced and ever changing healthcare business world.”
Professor Chengalur-Smith agrees. “Real-life experience is a valuable asset when entering the workforce, especially for students with minimal exposure to workplace settings,” she shared. “Field projects give them a taste for the flux in an organization, the day-to-day changes that demand creative problem solving, flexibility and adaptation.” She points out that UAlbany has been bridging the gap between education and industry for over 30 years with the Field Project requirement, considered to be a hallmark of the program.
Not your usual ‘coffee and file’ position
The unique environment at StatStaff-DAVIN is built on collaboration and creative problem solving. The team believes strongly in the value of field projects and internships. According to Nicole Evers, HR Generalist, working with interns is a win-win opportunity. She agrees that businesses offer excellent opportunities to learn. At the same time, she underscores another benefit—that interns offer an objective view of an organization. “They can teach us as well as learn from us,” Evers said. “Their outside perspective is invaluable; this give-and-take interaction is what defines a successful relationship.”
Looking for a value-based opportunity?
StatStaff-DAVIN’s door is open to individuals who want to learn new skills and competencies and be challenged while doing it. Equally important, the team looks for individuals who are ready to share what they know, what they are learning. Speaking on behalf of the field project team, Kaddo Mouawad summed up what one can expect working with DAVIN, “We learned in the process of doing,” he said. “Throughout the experience, we worked with Dave and his team, not for them. We set goals, met expectations, and in doing so, we delivered to the client.” What was most impressive to the team was seeing DAVIN immediately follow up on their recommendations—evidence that their CVF Analysis was on-target. Specified in the CVF report--DAVIN’s strong commitment to human development and trust that their personnel will produce the innovations that make the company’s vision a reality. Interested? Contact Nicole Evers at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. ;
“The opportunity for our employees and the UAlbany students to collaborate and learn from one another was such a unique and rewarding experience as it provided both parties with new insights, ideas, and creativity through engaging hands-on learning experiences.”
Dave Theobald
“...we worked with Dave and his team instead of for them.”
Salim Kaddo Mouawad
