Aziza Nassar, MD, MPH, recently took part in the CAHL Board of Governors exam prep and earned her FACHE. Nassar is Chair and Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at Mayo Clinic
How do you see the FACHE credential helping you as a healthcare leader in the future?
It will open up opportunities for me as an executive leader to venture into leadership roles such as chief medical officer, medical director, etc.
What advice do you have for members who are on the fence about pursuing the FACHE credential?
This is an opportunity to elevate your status as an executive healthcare leader, and it will give you a competitive edge when applying for executive positions such as COO, CIO, CMO, CEO, etc.
Could you share a helpful insight or learning that you got from the BOG prep sessions that you wouldn’t have had without them?
The strategy of how to eliminate the wrong answers and the process of identifying the best answer if you have a distractor in the answers’ pool (which is the main trick in this exam).
What surprised you along the way as you were preparing for the BOG?
The preparation was a professional development opportunity for me as I have learned new healthcare laws and regulations that I was not familiar with. Furthermore, it solidified my background information in terms of finance, human resources, quality, ethics, etc.
What suggestions do you have for learning from peers at work and within ACHE that might not be obvious to someone just starting this process?
Join a study group for exchanging information, notes, tips and practicing questions as a group.
Share with us your most helpful study tip:
Utilize practice exam questions that are provided by the CAHL, ACHE and Quizlet App.
How did CAHL and the BOG prep sessions help in your preparation?
They gave me tips on how to decipher the different answers and filter those that are distractors. The strategy that was given during these sessions were very helpful.
What other resources do you recommend to people on this path?
ACHE Navy regent fellow accelerator program (FAP) has virtual sessions and practice exams that are very useful with nominal fee ($50) for registration. In addition to the flashcards, and other book resources more specifically “The Well-Managed Healthcare Organization.”