MHA Student Brett Louviere Finds Second Home at SLU, with 'Perks of a Big City with the Personality of a Small Town'
Coming from the small town of Jasper, Indiana, second-year Master of Health Administration (MHA) student Brett Louviere has always had an eye on healthcare.
“I have always had an interest in the healthcare industry due to its impact on my personal life and society. Since I knew my interests and strengths were not on the clinical side, I believed health administration would align better with my passions and career aspirations,” Louviere said.
Before coming to Saint Louis University, Louviere received his bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Management and Policy from Indiana University. After Indiana University, Louviere longed for a school with the tools that could help his career after graduate school. That’s when he found SLU.
“(The MHA program is) a top-ranked program within reasonable driving distance to the people most important in my life. Yet, it was the program’s emphasis on ethical leadership and the robust alumni network that were the differentiating factors,” he said. “Being from a small town, St. Louis is a perfect size for me. It has the perks of a big city with the personality of a small town.”
In the health administration program, students like Brett are introduced to flexible graduate degree options that include in person, hybrid (online and in-person) and online only classes, and one-on-one attention from faculty that goes beyond the classroom and includes exclusive access to alumni who are industry experts.
Louviere’s favorite thing about SLU CPHSJ is the people.
“Whether it be my peers, faculty, or alumni, everyone seems to have the initial instinct to help and give back. There are so many opportunities to give back and be involved, whether that be with SLU, CPHSJ, or the St. Louis community,” he said.
A standout amongst its peers, SLU’s M.H.A. program is one of the nation’s oldest and largest graduate programs in health administration. It is consistently ranked among the top programs in graduate health care management education by US News and World Report, accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME), and highly regarded by its competitors.
In the classroom, Louviere has been energized by innovative course offerings that have increased his excitement for a future in health management. His favorite being ‘Ethical Leadership in Health Management.’
“One of the assignments was giving face-to-face feedback to team members,” he said. “This was a great opportunity to understand how to give and receive feedback in a way that is constructive and uplifting.”
Louviere currently works in the undergraduate department of the CPHSJ as the Professional Development Graduate Assistant. His main role includes hosting monthly events that support students as they take on internships and jobs.
“My favorite part is seeing students take initiative and ownership in their career goals. The events are not mandatory. Yet, students choose to spend their free time attending these events,” he said.
After graduation, Louviere will begin as a fellow with the Mayo Clinic in their Administrative Fellowship program.
College for Public Health and Social Justice
The Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice is the only academic unit of its kind, studying social, environmental and physical influences that together determine the health and well-being of people and communities. It also is the only accredited school or college of public health among nearly 250 Catholic institutions of higher education in the United States. Guided by a mission of social justice and focus on finding innovative and collaborative solutions for complex health problems, the college offers nationally recognized programs in public health and health administration.