MHA Student Finds Connection to Other LSUS Students, Healthcare Field at Conference

SHREVEPORT – Putting faces to names. 
 
Susan Merritt, an LSUS online student in Fort Worth, Texas, felt as connected to her Master of Healthcare Administration classmates as one can in a fully online program. 
 
Merritt is an active participant in Facebook and GroupMe chats, developing rapport with her fellow scholars. 

But Merritt had a chance to put faces with two of her classmates’ names recently at the annual American College of Healthcare Executives Congress held in Houston. 
 
Merritt and fellow LSUS student Anya Lanclos participated in the conference as program assistants, volunteers who help with various conference tasks. 
 
Student Dr. Farhan Jahwed attended as an ACHE member at large. 
 
“Having a face-to-face interaction with other LSUS students made me feel more connected to them and the school after sending messages and emails back and forth,” Merritt said. “We’ve continued to chat after the conference, so it’s helped me to feel more connected. 
 
“I knew (Jahwed) because we had a previous class together, but this was the first time Anya and I talked to each other. Knowing that I wouldn’t be there alone and would have some LSUS classmates made the conference more enjoyable.” 
 
As program assistants, Merritt and Lanclos earned free entry into the four-day conference and the abundant networking opportunities with various regional and national healthcare systems. 
 
“Building connections with seasoned professionals is always great, and I chatted with people from different professions with different titles about what their career is like,” Merritt said. “I talked with recruiters about future fellowships and resume tips. 
 
“It’s incredibly competitive out there, so sometimes future employment is about who you know.” 
 
Merritt began sharing photos of herself and the trio among LSUS student groups, and she said interest spiked in the ACHE organization and its annual conference. 
 
The LSUS trio carry ACHE memberships in their own areas – Merritt (ACHE of North Texas), Lanclos (ACHE of Louisiana) and Jahwed (ACHE Sooner Healthcare Executives in Oklahoma). Jahwed is the medical director for Norman Regional’s inpatient Behavioral Medicine Services in Norman, Okla. 
 
ACHE membership, plus a master’s degree, is how Merritt is trying to break into the healthcare management field. 
 
“I love the LSUS program because it’s something I could afford, and I can do it on my own time,” said the mother of three teenagers who works as a marketing coordinator for Fort Worth Brain and Spine Institute. “As a working mom, I needed that flexibility, and I appreciate that so much about this program. 
 
“I knew I’d never get a director role without a master’s, and I didn’t want to be overlooked for those roles when the time is right.” 
 
At the conference, Merritt also served as an ambassador and member of the communications committee. 

Get Connected with LSUS and LSU Online 

LSU Shreveport (LSUS) and LSU Online & Continuing Education (LSU Online) provide fully online programs designed to help students balance their educational goals with their existing work and personal responsibilities, all without compromising academic quality. By removing traditional barriers to higher education, LSUS and LSU Online make learning more accessible and flexible for today’s learners. 
 
Through the LSUS online Master of Health Administration program, students gain the essential skills and knowledge needed to thrive in today’s dynamic healthcare industry. 
 
Explore the fully online Master of Health Administration program from LSUS and take the next step towards advancing your healthcare career!