Dr Philippus Visser
Dr Philippus Visser
Master of Health Management
I enrolled in this course at a time when I wanted to take the next step up into leadership in Emergency Medicine. I actually landed a great role during my first semester of study. Studying leadership while learning the ropes in a senior management role was a fantastic way to immediately apply and consolidate my new skills, and I could use my study to wrangle everyday work challenges. It's a practical course that's given me transferrable skills, and a step up in my professional development I didn't quite realise was possible.
Dr Phil Visser is a medical doctor who was working as the Director of Training in the Emergency Department of a busy hospital when he decided to enrol in our Master of Health Management.
“It was only after I started that role that I realised that teaching was actually a very small component of the job. I spent a lot of time managing workforce issues, helping trainees to develop their skills and advance their own careers, and working alongside other departments to improve quality through interprofessional training. This helped me realise how much I enjoyed improving quality of care, and to appreciate the potential of systems change.
“Professionally, I reached a point where I wanted to step up into the next level of Emergency Department leadership. After unsuccessfully applying for a couple of roles, I was advised by a mentor who graduated from the Monash Master of Health Management to consider enrolment. He said he’d found the course really practical and tailored to the health and medical industry, and was a further opportunity to build a network and open up job prospects.”
Phil enrolled, planning to use sabbatical leave to study intensively. But as with so many plans during the pandemic years, things took an unexpected turn.
“During my first semester I took a long shot and interviewed for an interstate role. Our kids were at an age where we felt a big move was possible and we were ready for a change. My application for the Deputy Director of the Emergency Department at the Concord Hospital was successful and we made the move to Sydney.”
Lockdowns meant Phil and his family had to take a big leap of faith, committing to the job, a house, and an unfamiliar city, all without being able to fly up and see any of it in person.
The new role was challenging. Not only was Phil studying part time, there was a lot to learn in the new role and the health system in another state. And just three months in, another challenging opportunity presented, as the departmental Director moved on, and Phil took on the senior role.
“It was not easy, the department needed compassionate leadership and culture change. But I honestly I think the timing of my enrolment and the new role was perfect when I look back. Studying while doing the job resulted in synergy between my studies and work, where I could consolidate learning in my workplace.”
“I could use real issues at work as the basis of many of my assignments. It was a real contrast to previous leadership study I’d done. I’ve found that if you don’t immediately apply learning, there is a big chance it will remain conceptual.”
Phil’s experiences of studying during lockdowns meant he wasn’t able to enjoy the connectivity with peers his mentor had enjoyed, but he found he could handle the workload quite independently.
“It’s a really practical course that’s tightly focussed on healthcare and medicine leadership, and yields skills and knowledge that are transferrable right across the field. It’s provided me with a step up of professional development that I didn’t quite realise was possible, and has supported me in my ascent to senior management.”