This week, our Jefferson County CEO students spent two impactful days at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital, joining forces with Little Egypt CEO for an unforgettable collaborative business visit.

As the second largest employer in Southern Illinois, SSM truly is a city within itself. Students quickly learned that it takes an incredible range of skill sets to operate a hospital of this size, from biomedical engineering and plant operations to marketing, accounting, and administrative leadership.

We had the opportunity to hear directly from members of SSM’s leadership team, including Damon Harbison, John Snodsmith, Monica Heinzmann, Hollie Colle, Tammy Jackson, and Danielle Thompson, who shared their career paths, educational backgrounds, and insights into healthcare leadership. Their willingness to be open, authentic, and engaging gave students valuable perspective on the many ways professionals contribute to patient care beyond the bedside.

On day two, students selected from three distinct tours aligned with their interests:
• Healthcare Administration and Business
• Non Clinical Operations
• Nursing and Clinical Pathways

Each experience reinforced just how many moving parts come together to serve patients and the community every day.

We are incredibly grateful to SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital for hosting us and for investing time and resources into our students. A special thank you to Kay Zibby-Damron for orchestrating this collaborative experience and making it possible.