Noorein Ahmed came to Penn State from Bangalore, India, intending to study health care, but it wasn’t until she had taken a health policy and administration course and spoken to some fellow students in the major that she realized she envisioned herself in an administrative role.
“You’re the sort of person who empowers people who in turn, help your patients,” she said. “So it’s not just one patient that you’re helping but a broad variety of people. You get to make these decisions that can help so many individuals.”
The senior and health policy and administration major, one of three Schreyer Honors Scholars on the 2018 Penn State Homecoming student court, is interested in the effects of employee development on hospital culture, and she is exploring how mentors impact women’s ascension to executive positions in health care.
“When people are happy with where they are, they will go that extra length. When it comes to treating patients, that’s exactly what you want in your employees,” Ahmed said. “I think it’s so important to treat your employees in a good way but also make sure you’re developing them, so that they can get to the next position and, in turn, elevate your hospital.”
Ahmed has developed her leadership skills outside of the classroom at Penn State. As education and knowledge management captain of the communications committee for THON 2018, she helped create a game show network that helped better inform THON’s 100-plus committees about the organization. She was also the onsite coordinator for a six-day immersion program run by LeaderShape, Inc., a nonprofit organization that holds leadership training sessions at campuses around the country.
She has held internships at the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.
Ahmed flies home to India twice a year, and likes to go through different countries each time. She said she has encountered someone with a tie to Penn State on each flight. One of the main reasons she decided to attend the University was the size of its alumni association; among the reasons she has embraced it include the relationships she has developed.
“When I came to Penn State, I just came with the mindset of I wanted to get a degree and get out. It was just about the education,” she said. “But then I came here and found places I wanted to be a part of.
“To be able to represent this wonderful institution that I’ve grown to love and the people that I’ve grown to call family is just so humbling. I’m so excited about it.”
About the Schreyer Honors College
The Schreyer Honors College promotes academic excellence with integrity, the building of a global perspective, and creation of opportunities for leadership and civic engagement. Schreyer Honors Scholars total more than 2,000 students at University Park and 20 Commonwealth Campuses. They represent the top 2 percent of students at Penn State who excel academically and lead on campus.