For Sharon Leung, a devoted healthcare skilled with 15 years of expertise, the pursuit of an engineering diploma might sound a bit off target. Nonetheless, Sharon’s dedication to lifelong studying and revolutionary problem-solving led her to enroll within the on-line Grasp of Engineering in Engineering Administration program at CU Boulder. With this diploma, Sharon is redefining the intersection of healthcare, expertise, and enterprise. Based mostly in Hong Kong, she works full-time as a Managed Care Officer for an ISO-certified healthcare companies supplier whereas learning part-time. Her story demonstrates how artistic upskilling and a dedication to private development can result in distinctive interdisciplinary experience.
Folding Engineering Practices right into a Profession in Healthcare
With a background in psychology, Sharon spent 12 years working in a medical setting earlier than transitioning into healthcare administration. A 12 months and a half in the past, she joined a managed care staff, making vital selections that influence healthcare supply. This shift sparked her curiosity in expertise and synthetic intelligence (AI) and the way engineering ideas might be built-in into healthcare.
“Folks ask me: How is healthcare associated to engineering? How is psychology associated to engineering? To me, studying a brand new set of expertise is a wonderful approach to sort out a posh healthcare downside, in an revolutionary approach.”
The Journey to CU Boulder
Sharon initially explored on-line programs to upskill through the COVID-19 lockdown. She has since accomplished over 60 non-credit programs on Coursera exterior of her diploma necessities, choosing subjects that she knew would broaden her pondering inside her profession. When she found CU Boulder’s Engineering Administration program, she was drawn to its flexibility, repute, and distinctive method.
“I knew CU Boulder had a powerful repute as a public analysis college, however I didn’t know they supplied these sorts of packages. It was an ideal alternative for somebody like me, who doesn’t have a conventional engineering background.“
In contrast to conventional engineering grasp’s packages that require an undergraduate diploma in engineering, CU Boulder’s program embraces various backgrounds. The flexibility to preview programs earlier than committing to full tuition was a game-changer for Sharon, permitting her to bridge data gaps earlier than taking extra superior lessons.
A Distinctive Studying Expertise
Sharon highlights CU Boulder’s supportive on-line setting as one other key benefit. In contrast to different on-line packages, the place college students might really feel remoted, this program supplies entry to TA’s and a strong peer community.
“We’ve got entry to tutors and professors who reply our questions. There are workplace hours, lecture movies, and readings—rigorous sufficient for a grasp’s stage program. Plus, the peer overview system is effective as a result of it permits us to see how different college students try assignments and we’re capable of study from one another.”
Networking alternatives additionally set this system aside. By CU Boulder’s college Slack channel, Sharon has linked with professionals throughout numerous industries, together with engineers, programmers, and entrepreneurs. She relishes the various pupil backgrounds that she will be able to join with and feels strongly that she is changing into a stronger engineer for the expertise.
“I’ve made some nice pals. We share articles, talk about new programs, and assist one another. A lot of my classmates are already in management roles, and I study lots from them.”
The Worth of Efficiency-Based mostly Admissions (PBA)
Sharon acknowledges skepticism surrounding CU Boulder’s Efficiency-Based mostly Admissions (PBA) mannequin, which permits college students to show their capabilities by coursework somewhat than standardized take a look at scores or prerequisite engineering levels. Nonetheless, she emphasizes this system’s rigorous expectations.
“It’s not that simple to move the primary three lessons. The grading scale is excessive, they usually anticipate high quality work. Everybody I’ve met in this system is a profitable skilled.”
Engineering Administration: Past Technical Expertise
Whereas technical expertise are important, Sharon believes that engineering administration additionally requires sturdy communication and management talents.
“Managing folks might be extra vital than simply doing the technical work. This program is nice for people who find themselves inquisitive about engineering however is likely to be afraid of the tech aspect.”
For Sharon, she was capable of brush up on her data by extra non-credit programs in methods engineering, statistics, and AI.
A Future in Engineering-Pushed Healthcare
Publish-graduation, Sharon goals to leverage her engineering administration expertise to enhance healthcare sustainability and effectivity. She appreciates CU Boulder’s profession counseling companies, which have guided her subsequent steps.
“Boulder is admittedly daring to introduce this program. It’s opening doorways for individuals who might need potential in engineering however don’t have a conventional background. Engineers profit from working with professionals from completely different fields, and healthcare can achieve lots from engineering approaches—particularly in areas like error discount and AI-driven options.”
With a deep curiosity and a dedication to deep, lifelong studying, Sharon is redefining the worth of what it means to be an engineer in healthcare. Her journey at CU Boulder is not only about incomes a level however about equipping herself with the talents to form the way forward for the business.
