SPP Alum Applies MPA Skillsets at Hartford Healthcare

Photo of Ashley Bodamer
Ashley Bodamer, MPA ’18

School of Public Policy (SPP) alum Ashley Bodamer (MPA ’18) currently serves as Director at Hartford Healthcare‘s Tallwood Urology and Kidney Institute. In her role, Ashley oversees existing programs, partners with physicians on programmatic growth opportunities and leads new technology, innovation and quality improvement efforts.

She began her career with Hartford Healthcare after completing her Master of Public Administration (MPA) in 2018 and first served as an Administrative Fellow. In 2019 she became a Program Manager at the Tallwood Urology and Kidney Institute and was promoted to her current role last fall.

During her time with SPP Ashley completed a focus area in healthcare management. A double Husky, Ashley also holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from UConn. While pursuing her bachelor’s she joined SPP’s Fast-Track program as a way to combine her love for political science with a career in healthcare. When asked, why not a Masters of Public Health, Ashely had this to say,

The courses offered through the MPA program prepared me with a combination of management, communication, finance, analytic and program/project development skills that allowed me to have a well-rounded education. I found it attractive to be able to focus on my interest of leadership skills while also being able to take select public health and analytic classes.

Her passion for healthcare and public service stemmed from the impact of seeing the private healthcare industry firsthand. During her undergraduate career, Ashley’s grandmother resided in a skilled nursing facility due to the need for professional care. She explains, “…after seeing how culture can impact the healing and environment of those cared for, I was determined to find ways to advocate for patients like my grandmother utilizing leadership skills to promote a positive culture and continuous program development.”

When it came to her Internship and Professional Practice (IPP) placement, during the second year of her MPA, Ashley knew she wanted to seek opportunities in healthcare. She served as a Strategy and Business Development intern at UConn Health. While at UConn Health she applied her MPA skillsets in real-time while also receiving coaching and mentorship from experienced healthcare leaders. The opportunity allowed her to develop data analytic skillsets, foster relationships with physicians and develop strategic aptitude in a continuously expanding healthcare industry.

As noted earlier, Ashley’s career with Hartford Healthcare began after graduation as an Administrative Fellow. She sought this opportunity as a way to gain broad exposure to a health system and focus on an area of interest. During her experience she focused on service line development and partnered with different departments on meaningful projects. Throughout her fellowship year she laid a foundation of wide-ranging skillsets and relationships across the health system that she will continue to utilize in future positions. While in the program she also received mentorship. She notes,”…my preceptor was instrumental in my success with her willingness to guide and introduce me to the inner workings of the institute model and the organization at the foundation of my career.”

Everyday Ashley utilizes her MPA skillsets. She calls upon “Project Management” to lead the development of programs, and draws upon “Public Finance and Budgeting” as well as “Capital Finance and Budgeting” for analytic tools. She adds, “I reflect on the meaningful real-life examples provided by professors and apply them to the situation at hand.”