As part of its feature on its international graduates, The Scranton Journal spoke to Jarman Alqahatani G'16 who has taken on more responsibility as health care administrator upon his return to Saudi Arabia.
Jarman Alqahtani G'16 MHA
Consultant, Family Medicine/ Healthcare Administrator
Hometown: Abha, Saudi Arabia
Now resides in: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Tell us about why you came to Scranton and how it changed you.
It was a major shift for both my personal and professional lives. Living and staying at Scranton had changed my perspective on how to manage daily life tasks, including my family. I joined The University of Scranton after almost nine months of getting different approvals from my ex-employer. There was much resistance to health care administration as it was thought that a physician should emphasize the clinical. But, as a medical director of a small organization (30 beds), I realized at that time that the leadership style used was more bureaucratic, supported by the fact the organization was under the governance of the military department. Everyone can run the business using the power of the position with no place for creativity or innovation.
That was my major reason to learn more about health care administration and trying to be more innovative than to keep on the status quo.
My greatest Scranton takeaway was getting more skills to be a leader in various aspect of my life.
Would you say Scranton was instrumental in your success as a person today? How has your Scranton education helped you in your professional career?
Once I went back, I was assigned as a medical director of a medium-sized organization (120 beds), and I turned the culture with the help of my team from a punitive and task-oriented culture to a blame-free culture with innovation and creativity within an eight-month period. Then, I got the opportunity to join a large organization (1,200 beds) with more than 50 primary care centers. I started as a medical director for the primary care centers and, in just less than a year, I was given an opportunity to be part of the national transformation program for health care. I got more access to learn more and earn a certificate of health care delivery from Intermountain Healthcare system in Utah. I got also training in lean management and working now on the Dartmouth approach for improving health care services. Recently, I was offered to be the Associate VP of healthcare delivery in Central 2 Cluster in Riyadh that composed of around 128 primary care centers, 3 secondary hospitals, 3 dental centers, 1 dialysis center and 1 tertiary hospital.
Tell me about your family's experience in Scranton.
One of the advantages we got as a family while staying in Scranton was learning from the well-established education system at schools. My kids loved being there and had received a good education. Now, they are keeping asking me to go back to the States to continue their education. My wife as well had learned the English language during our stay. Therefore, I wish that my family members will get the chance to peruse their learning in the States. We are looking also to revisit Disneyland and Universal in Florida.
Give me a rundown of your degrees.
MBBS: Bachelor in Medicine and Surgery
SBFM: Saudi Board of Family Medicine
ABFM: Arab Board of Family Medicine
MHA: Master in Health Administration
ATP Graduate: Advance Training Program in Healthcare Delivery
