Leaders on the Rise: Alex McConnell

North Shore Healthcare is pleased to partner with University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (UWEC) Health Care Administration (HCAD) program. HCAD offers seniors the opportunity to participate in a full-time, 12-month administrative residency to provide further insight into the field and connect what they learned in the classroom to what’s happening in the real world. Our blog series, “Leaders on the Rise,” will give you the opportunity to meet HCAD seniors whose residency is at a North Shore center and how the experience will help shape their future career.

Alex McConnell is currently serving as an Administrator-in-Training at Hammond Health Services in Hammond, Wisconsin. She began working at Hammond Health in June 2023 and will complete her residency and graduate in May 2024.

Prior to being an Administrator-in-Training, Alex was a dietary aide, resident assistant, and certified nursing assistant (CNA) working in hospitals, nursing homes, residential care facilities, and rehabilitation centers.

Why did you decide to study healthcare administration?

I decided to study healthcare administration once I started working as a CNA during my senior year of high school in 2020.

My mom is a licensed nursing home administrator, so I have always looked up to her and was curious about this field. When I was little, I would come to work with her and help and I loved it! I even used to take the residents to prom with her! Becoming a CNA back in 2020 is what really solidified it. I love caring for the elderly population, and I have never looked back since.

Tell us about your experience at North Shore Healthcare during your time as an Administrator-in-Training.

It has been wonderful working here! All the staff were very welcoming and made me feel so comfortable. North Shore is also great at providing all the resources I need as an Administrator-in-Training. The staff are so knowledgeable in my building, and I have learned a lot so far.

What do you hope to gain from this opportunity and experience?

I look forward to getting as much out of this experience as I can. I hope to be as hands on as I can in every department, so that I can take that with me in the future. This will help me be more confident in my future endeavors. I also hope to gain new connections and mentors to help me along the way.

What are your goals after graduation?

I hope to become a nursing home administrator or a director of an assisted living in Wisconsin or Minnesota.

Born and raised in Hayward, Alex has three siblings, ages 11-18, and two cats, Junior and Carlos. She enjoys hammocking, tubing down the river, shopping, and hanging out with friends and family. The Menominee, Wisconsin resident has read more than 25 books this summer! Traveling is one of Alex’s favorite things to do and she has seen Europe, Africa, Canada, and almost half of the United States, including Alaska this summer.