Get to know Jenny Phan, HS Student

Health Studies student Jenny Phan took time out of her busy schedule to answer a few questions for us about her experiences at UWB and her plans for the future.

Tell us about yourself and what led you to UW Bothell.

Hi, my name is Jenny Phan and I am a first-gen student. I love trying new recipes every week so I cook a lot, I also like hiking, and doing small projects like knitting, drawing, and painting. Before attending UWB, I was transferred from Edmonds CC after working as a CNA. I was getting my AA degree in pre-nursing and wanted to get into nursing school and UW was one of them. I was struggling for a while due to a career change and other circumstances. However, I realize that I still want to be in healthcare but not have much interaction with patients, so then I found the Health Studies program. The Health Studies program helps students to get prepare for graduate school as well as other advanced training. In addition, Health Studies have several possible careers for students to start and find their area of focus. I did a lot of research about locations, tuition, as well as resources between the 3 campuses of UW (Tacoma, Seattle, Bothell). After all, UWB was the one that met my expectations.

How did your experience in your coursework help you find your career path (area of focus)? You may want to tell us about a moment at UW Bothell that you are proud of, what you’ve carried over from your education, and what has fueled your passion.

During my time at UWB, all of the courses in the Health Studies program were amazing. My favorite part is my fieldwork class where I can gain some hands-on experience. I interned with Bloodwork Northwest, an independent, non-profit organization that has been supplying blood to our area hospital for over 70 years. I primarily focus on outreach to some areas in WA and OR to help spread the word and encourage people to donate blood. In addition to that, I also host a virtual blood drive for them. After working with them, I gained a lot of experience in customer services, outreach, and other skills. Moreover, I learned a lot about the history of blood transfusion. It was such a wonderful opportunity. This opportunity strongly encourages me to be a part of a healthcare worker and be able to help others. After taking some Leadership and Management course in the Health Studies program, I realize that I have always been passionate to become a Health Administrator/ Health Management.

Where has life taken you since graduation and what are your future plans?

After graduation, I will start working at Overlake Medical Center as a Patient Services Representative. My role is focusing on scheduling, patient registration, answering phones, and other administrative tasks. In the future, I am planning to get a master’s degree in Health Management and Informatics.

Was there a faculty, staff, or student service that had a positive impact on your success?

I am so thankful for all the faculty in the Health Studies program, especially, my academic advisor Kaitlin Wright. Kaitlin is my academic advisor for the program, she helps me a lot with how to navigate myself in the right direction so I can complete the requirement on time. I am also grateful for my experience at UWB with the help of Dr. Jody Early, prof Jen Sengadelli, and other Health Studies faculty and staff. Without you all, we will never be successful in a Health Studies program like this.

What else would you like to share?

I also participated as a Student Representative in the Health Studies Curriculum Committee for the 2020-2021 academic year. This wonderful opportunity brought me a lot of chances to advocate for students for better courses, improved the material as well as be a part of the Health Studies program. I got a chance to suggest ideas and comments from a student perspective to evaluate the course for the future student who will be attending the Health Studies program. In addition to that, I am very proud to be a part of the Residential Life and the Diversity Center where I see myself growing every day and preparing myself for my professional career.