Chicago City Wire

The Master of Science in Health Systems Management (HSM) program at Rush University is providing its students with unique opportunities to engage with leaders in the consulting field. Kevin McCarthy, a 2013 graduate of the HSM program and now an adjunct faculty member, shares his expertise from the consulting industry with students.

“At Rush, there is an ethos within the HSM program that’s always resonated with me, and that is to pay it forward,” McCarthy says. He has been teaching a popular elective course on consulting since 2017.

McCarthy completed the HSM program while working in information systems at Rush. “One of the things I really loved about the HSM program was the teacher-practitioners, who brought tangible, real-world knowledge. They were working every day but still made time for me,” he says.

After leaving Rush in 2013, McCarthy joined Navigant as managing consultant. The firm changed its name to Guidehouse in 2019, where McCarthy currently serves as a director. Each fall, he invites Rush students to visit Guidehouse.

“It’s a chance for them to meet some of the key stakeholders in our organization and see what consulting looks like day to day, so it’s not just theoretical,” McCarthy explains. “The students also make connections and meet people other than me who can help mentor them in their career."

Diane Howard, chairperson of the Department of Health Systems Management, highlights the importance of these visits: “While the students can get overwhelmed with lunch-and-learns and networking events, the visit to Guidehouse is by far the best on their schedule.”

The Consulting course aims to prepare students for leadership roles in health care. “Consulting is experiential," McCarthy notes. "Even if you take another role in the health care industry, you can apply the same framework.”

Small class sizes allow for personalized mentoring within this top-ranked HSM program. McCarthy assists students with interview preparation and navigating different interview styles.

“Cultivating connections is important in most health care careers," McCarthy says. "I always tell my students that I’m happy to help them use my network.”