Nine Southern students were among the 33 accepted into the highly selective 2015 Leadership Development program at Adventist Health System. (AHS). These financial management majors will spend 12 weeks gaining hands-on experience during internships at the organization’s 44 hospital campuses.

"This program serves as a vehicle to launch them into a career in health care," said Norman Miles, AHS’s director of Leadership Development, in a report released by the organization. "It's an awesome opportunity for interns and residents to develop a deeper understanding of the nuances within the industry, hone their skill sets, and develop a context around what they need to do to prepare for a career in health care."

AHS reviewed more than 100 applications for exceptional academic performance, community service involvement, and leadership potential. This year, more students were accepted into the Leadership Development program from Southern than from any other school, a compliment to the university given the program’s competitive selection process.

“It says that AHS has great confidence in our curriculum and the quality of students we are producing,” said Lisa Kuhlman, School of Business and Management graduate studies coordinator. “This is essentially one of their favorite places to interview because of the quality of students coming out of our program.”

Zach Dye, a senior financial management major accepted in to the program, understands the role Southern played in his acquisition of the internship position. Dye has taken advantage of the numerous community service opportunities on and off campus, such as sending boxes of toys and warm clothes to children of the Navajo Nation and teaching local children how to start a home garden.

“These events helped me to grow as a leader by teaching me to always consider the situations of other people,” Dye said. “No matter how your life is going, there is always something you can do to help others. They also taught me how to work with others and identify the best of a group's ideas to achieve the most effective results.”

According to Miles, the main goal of the Leadership Development program is to “introduce top talent to the organization,” which can lead to key leadership positions within AHS. Many interns have gone on to obtain these positions, including Jeff Villanueva, ’94, administrator of Florida Hospital Kissimmee.

"The Leadership Development Residency and Internship programs have helped ensure that we have a strong pipeline of emerging Christian leaders who are able to assume various roles within the organization," Miles said. "This year's group is diverse, dynamic, bright and energetic, and I believe that they will be able to make many meaningful contributions to the world of health care in the years to come."