Niccole Alexander
1. We see your name frequently on the listserv and read your emails, but what exactly is your job title with the AAP? What’s a typical day like for you?
My title is Senior Manager, Hospital and Surgical Subspecialties within the AAP Department of Primary Care and Subspecialty Pediatrics -- otherwise affectionately known as the Jack-of-All-Trades group. And just like many physicians and providers in the Pediatric Hospital Medicine world, I have never seen a typical day. In the morning I might be meeting with leaders from The Joint Commission, in the afternoon discussing impending legislation with our DC Office, and before ending my day planning a musculoskeletal medicine course targeted to pediatricians. Who knows!
In my role as Senior Manager, I oversee projects and initiatives related to key topic areas within the Academy: hospitalization of children and work of inpatient physicians and providers; pediatric orthopaedic surgery and bone health in children; and neonatal and pediatric transport services. I assist in developing AAP policy statements, clinical reports, and technical manuals as well as design a wide variety of educational programming targeted to clinicians. I also research current market trends to increase member involvement and participation, and work with industry partners to secure funding for strategic initiatives. In addition to the Section on Hospital Medicine, I manage the Committee on Hospital Care, Section on Orthopaedics, and the Section on Transport Medicine.
2. You’ve served as a liaison to government entities, regulatory agencies, nonprofit and public interest groups, and think tanks. What was your career path that led you to your role with the AAP?
Although my career definitely has a theme, like most I didn’t follow a direct path to get where I am today. My background includes an array of positions in nonprofit, provider, consulting, and insurance settings … such as healthcare strategy consulting and health insurance marketing. I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Economics from the Wharton Undergraduate Program, and received a Master of Public Policy degree with a concentration in Health Policy from the University of Chicago. My senior thesis at Penn attempted to outline the very unique challenges African American women face in the healthcare system, and while at Chicago I won the prestigious Quern Fellowship that allowed me to study a variety of adolescent health concerns. My professional responsibilities have ranged from studying treatment trends of patients with long-term illnesses to researching the impact of emerging technology and advances in medical science to providing advice to an Indiana hospital that was thinking about expanding its offerings.
3. Outside of the healthcare arena, you have published articles on community development in the inner city and directed research projects on behalf of Fortune100 companies. Can you tell us more about this work?
While at Chicago I became obsessed with the federal government’s “empowerment zone” program -- even though the focus of my studies was far from housing policy. The empowerment zone program offers cities/counties/states with highly distressed urban and rural areas an opportunity to apply for a combination of grants, tax credits for businesses, bonds, etc. in an effort to improve the quality of life for those communities. I published articles measuring the effectiveness of the program, outlining the concerns, and listing the long-term effects of the program (e.g. gentrification, etc.).
A little secret about me: I’m a real nerd at heart.
4. What is something about you/your job that we don’t realize that you think we should know (or would be surprised to know)?
Anything -- and I do mean anything -- at the AAP related to the field of Pediatric Hospital Medicine or the pediatric hospitalist profession begins with me, involves me, or is overseen by me. I am literally YOUR voice within the Academy, which us why you may see me taking notes at courses, closely monitoring LISTSERV© discussions, and participating in meetings that aren’t directly connected to SOHM. The more I know, the more I am able to advocate on your behalf within (and outside of) the AAP.
5. You have a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Chicago. How does that education help you in your current role?
Negotiation and game theory have been the “keys to the castle” for me! You try chairing a meeting with Brian Alverson without those 2 in your back pocket!!!
My finance background has also been very important as I manage multiple budgets and assist in charting the financial picture for more than a handful of activities; short-term and long-term planning skills are vital as I am responsible for keeping members engaged and the organization abreast of new concepts and ideas related to your practice; advanced statistics has been helpful as I review research cited in AAP policies or at educational programs; and last but certainly not least … Chicago and Penn have given me the ability to speak on any number of topics. Best two schools in the world IMHO (and yes, I am biased)!
But outside of my academic training, my years as a consultant taught me two essential things that have helped me successfully navigate the AAP -- 1) how to work with anyone (and I do mean ABSOLUTELY ANYONE) and 2) how to multitask.
6. As you work with many pediatric hospitalists, what characteristic(s) do you think that most pediatric hospitalists have in common?
Pediatric hospitalists are probably the most passionate physicians we have at the AAP. I hope the group never loses that infectious drive for the work … and of course for our children and families.
7. Jack Percelay often ends his list-serve commentary with the phrase “that’s just my 2 pennies.” What are your two cents?
If you have an idea that you would like the AAP to consider, present it to me … no matter how far fetched it may seem. Please do not assume the Academy’s answer! Anyone who knows me has probably heard me say at least once “Don’t write the obituary until you’ve at least seen the body.” (I know --morbid.)
I was very close to a former chair of the Section on Hospital Medicine, the late Jennifer Daru. We were the same age, entered the Academy at around the same time, and loved our beloved city of Chicago, so there was a natural kinship. She presented the Section leadership with an idea to one day turn the average SOHM newsletter into an academic journal. Everyone in the room laughed when she said that -- assuming her youth was the reason why she came up with such a crazy idea. Absolutely everyone laughed … except me.
And now here we are just short time later reading the very successful Hospital Pediatrics, which started as that very basic Section monthly.
So my 2 pennies … just ask!
My title is Senior Manager, Hospital and Surgical Subspecialties within the AAP Department of Primary Care and Subspecialty Pediatrics -- otherwise affectionately known as the Jack-of-All-Trades group. And just like many physicians and providers in the Pediatric Hospital Medicine world, I have never seen a typical day. In the morning I might be meeting with leaders from The Joint Commission, in the afternoon discussing impending legislation with our DC Office, and before ending my day planning a musculoskeletal medicine course targeted to pediatricians. Who knows!
In my role as Senior Manager, I oversee projects and initiatives related to key topic areas within the Academy: hospitalization of children and work of inpatient physicians and providers; pediatric orthopaedic surgery and bone health in children; and neonatal and pediatric transport services. I assist in developing AAP policy statements, clinical reports, and technical manuals as well as design a wide variety of educational programming targeted to clinicians. I also research current market trends to increase member involvement and participation, and work with industry partners to secure funding for strategic initiatives. In addition to the Section on Hospital Medicine, I manage the Committee on Hospital Care, Section on Orthopaedics, and the Section on Transport Medicine.
2. You’ve served as a liaison to government entities, regulatory agencies, nonprofit and public interest groups, and think tanks. What was your career path that led you to your role with the AAP?
Although my career definitely has a theme, like most I didn’t follow a direct path to get where I am today. My background includes an array of positions in nonprofit, provider, consulting, and insurance settings … such as healthcare strategy consulting and health insurance marketing. I graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Economics from the Wharton Undergraduate Program, and received a Master of Public Policy degree with a concentration in Health Policy from the University of Chicago. My senior thesis at Penn attempted to outline the very unique challenges African American women face in the healthcare system, and while at Chicago I won the prestigious Quern Fellowship that allowed me to study a variety of adolescent health concerns. My professional responsibilities have ranged from studying treatment trends of patients with long-term illnesses to researching the impact of emerging technology and advances in medical science to providing advice to an Indiana hospital that was thinking about expanding its offerings.
3. Outside of the healthcare arena, you have published articles on community development in the inner city and directed research projects on behalf of Fortune100 companies. Can you tell us more about this work?
While at Chicago I became obsessed with the federal government’s “empowerment zone” program -- even though the focus of my studies was far from housing policy. The empowerment zone program offers cities/counties/states with highly distressed urban and rural areas an opportunity to apply for a combination of grants, tax credits for businesses, bonds, etc. in an effort to improve the quality of life for those communities. I published articles measuring the effectiveness of the program, outlining the concerns, and listing the long-term effects of the program (e.g. gentrification, etc.).
A little secret about me: I’m a real nerd at heart.
4. What is something about you/your job that we don’t realize that you think we should know (or would be surprised to know)?
Anything -- and I do mean anything -- at the AAP related to the field of Pediatric Hospital Medicine or the pediatric hospitalist profession begins with me, involves me, or is overseen by me. I am literally YOUR voice within the Academy, which us why you may see me taking notes at courses, closely monitoring LISTSERV© discussions, and participating in meetings that aren’t directly connected to SOHM. The more I know, the more I am able to advocate on your behalf within (and outside of) the AAP.
5. You have a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Chicago. How does that education help you in your current role?
Negotiation and game theory have been the “keys to the castle” for me! You try chairing a meeting with Brian Alverson without those 2 in your back pocket!!!
My finance background has also been very important as I manage multiple budgets and assist in charting the financial picture for more than a handful of activities; short-term and long-term planning skills are vital as I am responsible for keeping members engaged and the organization abreast of new concepts and ideas related to your practice; advanced statistics has been helpful as I review research cited in AAP policies or at educational programs; and last but certainly not least … Chicago and Penn have given me the ability to speak on any number of topics. Best two schools in the world IMHO (and yes, I am biased)!
But outside of my academic training, my years as a consultant taught me two essential things that have helped me successfully navigate the AAP -- 1) how to work with anyone (and I do mean ABSOLUTELY ANYONE) and 2) how to multitask.
6. As you work with many pediatric hospitalists, what characteristic(s) do you think that most pediatric hospitalists have in common?
Pediatric hospitalists are probably the most passionate physicians we have at the AAP. I hope the group never loses that infectious drive for the work … and of course for our children and families.
7. Jack Percelay often ends his list-serve commentary with the phrase “that’s just my 2 pennies.” What are your two cents?
If you have an idea that you would like the AAP to consider, present it to me … no matter how far fetched it may seem. Please do not assume the Academy’s answer! Anyone who knows me has probably heard me say at least once “Don’t write the obituary until you’ve at least seen the body.” (I know --morbid.)
I was very close to a former chair of the Section on Hospital Medicine, the late Jennifer Daru. We were the same age, entered the Academy at around the same time, and loved our beloved city of Chicago, so there was a natural kinship. She presented the Section leadership with an idea to one day turn the average SOHM newsletter into an academic journal. Everyone in the room laughed when she said that -- assuming her youth was the reason why she came up with such a crazy idea. Absolutely everyone laughed … except me.
And now here we are just short time later reading the very successful Hospital Pediatrics, which started as that very basic Section monthly.
So my 2 pennies … just ask!