Kelly Papenfus is no stranger to Case Western Reserve University. In her senior year as a psychology major at Miami University in Ohio, she decided to earn a master’s degree in social work and selected Case Western Reserve as the best school to help her fulfill her professional goal of becoming a clinical therapist. With her social work degree, Papenfus worked as a licensed clinical social worker with several healthcare providers, including Nationwide Children’s Hospital. However, in 2021, she grew curious about where else her career could go and began exploring options for advancement.
Now Papenfus is one year from finishing her MBA in Healthcare Management online from Weatherhead School of Management. Many aspects of the curriculum continue to draw her interest, so she’s still determining where she wants to go after graduation, but she’s confident her healthcare MBA will take her career to the next level and qualify her for work both within and beyond the traditional healthcare system.
What made you choose Case Western Reserve for your healthcare MBA?
I looked into a bunch of different schools and decided an online program would be best for me because I’m working full time as a clinical therapist and a supervisor right now. I felt like I wouldn’t have the capacity to go in person to sit down in a classroom after work or during the day. So, I knew I would need to find a degree program for working professionals.
I knew Case Western Reserve had an MBA with a health administration component, which was really intriguing to me based on my background as a clinical therapist. I also wanted to work on program development in a hospital or mental health outpatient setting, which the program supported.
Since I’d gotten my master’s degree in social work here, I knew Case Western Reserve could provide an amazing education and has a great reputation. It was a no-brainer with the online program. It was a healthcare concentration, but I liked that it was still an MBA degree.
What interests you in leadership positions in healthcare?
I’ve always gravitated toward personal development. Because of my personality, professional drive and organizational skills, I feel I have qualities that would be good for leadership roles. And, being a clinical therapist, you learn a lot about how to communicate with others effectively. I thought those could be transferable skills for leadership positions, especially in a more dominated business field.
I’m also really passionate about systemic change in my community. I want to be a part of something bigger, and I know I couldn’t do that with just my social work background. I need that business lens to understand the full picture of what it takes to change programs and make things better.
What brought you back to Case Western Reserve for your MBA?
The reputation was one thing. Whenever I talk to people and I tell them that I’m getting my degree from Case Western Reserve, they’re always really impressed. They’re like, “Wow, that’s a distinguished school” or ”It’s a really good school.” Those kinds of things. My family and fiance like to brag as well. They like to say, “Yeah, she’s getting her MBA at Case Western Reserve.” It was awesome to have their support and excitement when I went to Case Western Reserve for my master’s program in social work.
At that time, I was on campus, so I already knew what the campus was like. I knew the kind of relationships I would have with my professors. I knew the quality of education I would get. My professors then were so helpful, and now they’re always available to connect virtually.
The MBA coursework is rigorous, but everyone is trying to help me succeed, and nobody wants anyone to fail, so I feel really supported. I knew I would be getting the best education possible, and you know that when you’ve got an MBA from Case Western Reserve on your resume that will set you apart from somebody else in a pile of job applications.
Step into healthcare leadership
Earn your healthcare MBA at Case Western Reserve
Tell us about your experience as an online student at Case Western Reserve.
Honestly, it’s been amazing—especially as someone working full time. I don’t know how people who work full time do in-person classes. As a therapist, I see clients in the evening sometimes. So, going to in-person classes would have been really difficult. Now I can have a session with a client that ends at 6 p.m. and be able to hop on Zoom for class at 7 p.m. with no problems.
Plus, the convenience and flexibility of watching coursework videos at my own pace when I’m not working are excellent. All of that has been really helpful in ensuring that I’m getting what I need from the program compared to in-person learning.
The education I’m getting is no different than if I were in the classroom. I’m still building connections with my classmates and professors, despite being in a virtual space. Part of that is from our summer residency program, where we all meet in Cleveland, and another part is because we do group activities. Actually, a few of us are from Columbus, so I’ve met with the Columbus folks in person for study sessions and projects.
Have you been able to use the things you’re learning at your full-time job?
Pursuing an MBA makes you aware of things happening behind the scenes that you don’t see as a therapist. Now, I’m asking questions about things I’m learning in class, like accounting and finance. I want to know what our finances are like for our company. I want to know why my manager makes the decisions he does. What makes our operational stuff flow when scheduling intake appointments and client care? The business side of things is becoming apparent now that I have the education to put words to what I’m seeing.
How was the summer residency?
It was really cool! We got to be in person with all the people we had been meeting online for a year. It’s fun to finally see people and connect on a deeper level because you’re in person.
Going to the four hospital systems in Cleveland was really interesting. When I lived in Cleveland, I utilized them for my own health. So, I had been to Cleveland Clinic and had clients who went to MetroHealth and University Hospitals. It was interesting to go into those hospitals now and have the chance to ask some of their executives, “What makes your hospital unique compared to the other three?” We also used some of our coursework on organizational culture to identify the differences.
It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you won’t be able to find very often. How many places in the country have four different hospital systems within minutes of each other? It’s a unique component of this program, and Suzanne Healy, the program director, did a great job organizing it. She’s awesome.
Networking is an essential part of any MBA program. Tell us about your networking experience in the online program.
I’ve gotten to meet many different people from a variety of healthcare backgrounds. I have one classmate working in marketing and PR, so I’ve been asking her a lot of questions because I have some interest in that, based on what I’ve been learning in class.
I’ve also been using the career support services at Weatherhead, and so I’ve been working with Deb Bibb to revamp my resume and give it more of a business edge. They always send out information about networking updates, telling us about events we could attend in Cleveland or virtual educational series where executives will talk about their companies.
How does Case Western Reserve’s healthcare MBA support your career goals?
I’m still figuring out exactly how I want to use my degree the further I get into the program. At the end of the day, having this degree, regardless of what I do, will set me up for success and allow me opportunities I didn’t have before. Even if I don’t know exactly what I want to do with the degree at this moment, I am confident it will get me where I want to be in the future.
What advice would you give someone considering the MBA in Healthcare Management at the Weatherhead School of Management?
Don’t doubt your abilities to complete an online program. The workload can be rigorous if you work full time or part time—but it is doable. Your professors will help you. Your classmates will be there for you. Your program director and your student success coach will support you along the way. If there are doubts that you can do it, there’s absolutely no reason to lean into those doubts because you have a built-in support network at Weatherhead that won’t let you fail.