May 6, 2014 - Victoria Duong, a graduate student in the Masters of Health Administration program, has been offered one of six positions in the highly selective and prestigious CEO Graduate Development Program at CareFirst, Inc. of Maryland. During her time at Mason, Victoria has worked as a graduate research assistant to Dr. PJ Maddox, Chair of the Department of Health Administration and Policy (HAP). She currently serves as president of the award-winning GMU AcademyHealth Student Chapter, is a programs committee member of the National Capital Healthcare Executives, and works at HAP as assistant to the Department Manager. Dr. PJ Maddox describes Ms. Duong as “among the best and brightest this generation of graduate students has to offer. She is an involved, dedicated and service-minded student, giving her best to the community and the profession of Health Administration.”
Duong’s active involvement outside of the classroom has led to her most valuable experiences here at Mason. Working in the department and taking a leadership role in the AcademyHealth Student Chapter have given her access to her professors outside of class. She explains, “I have particularly enjoyed getting to know the faculty in the department. Their leadership and guidance has really helped me grow professionally and become more confident in myself. They’ve taught me the most important thing is to maintain personal goals and values and stay true to who you are.”
Victoria says she’s thrilled to have been chosen for the CEO Graduate Development Program because CareFirst, the largest health care insurer in the Mid-Atlantic, “is ahead of its industry in terms of creating innovative models of health and well-being. They have the nation’s largest Patient-Centered Medical Home program and lead Maryland’s health exchange enrollment numbers.” Dr. Maddox knows that CareFirst will not be disappointed with their decision to offer Victoria a place in the program, “Ms. Duong’s selection for this coveted fellowship is terrific, but knowing her capabilities, I can’t imagine that CareFirst could do better. She is an outstanding young leader with an excellent work ethic and intellectual skills. The HAP Department considers her a rising star in our field.”
The program is designed to recruit and develop talented high potential candidates to serve as the pipeline of future business leaders. The six associates chosen to start this summer will have opportunities to learn the complexities of three assigned departments and work alongside senior executives on high profile projects. Beginning in July, Victoria will take part in three, 6-month rotations starting in Actuarial Services, then moving to Mandates and Strategy and will spend her last six months in Small/Medium Administrative Service Units. Knowing that the performance expectations are high, Duong remarks, “I’m ready for the challenge!”
Written by Valerie Bartush