EJB Talks: Rutgers Bloustein School Experts

Dean Stuart Shapiro talks about the path to a career in health administration with Assistant Teaching Professor Jane Kaye on EJB Talks this week. Professor Kaye shares her unconventional path to healthcare which began in art history. After working in various policy roles she went on to obtain an MBA, eventually becoming a hospital CFO. She discusses the complexities of hospital revenue cycle management and billing, noting how the U.S. healthcare system has evolved to become overly complicated for patients to understand. They also discuss the challenges of hospitals balancing patient care and financial operations. Professor Kaye closes with the reasons why healthcare administration remains an appealing career option for students, given the many opportunities available, and what she aims to teach students to help them succeed and make positive changes in the industry.

We're closing out the semester--and the season—of EJB Talks with a discussion of the tumultuous political events of 2023.  Dean Stuart Shapiro and former podcast producer Amy Cobb MPAP '18 reflect on the challenging year, specifically in the House, where unexpected developments have unfolded. They delve into the chaotic dynamics within the Republican Party, the potential ramifications of Kevin McCarthy's replacement as Speaker of the House, and the ongoing challenges in passing crucial legislation. The conversation then shifts to the 2024 presidential race, highlighting the likelihood of a rematch between Donald Trump and President Biden. Stuart explores the potential impact of Trump's legal challenges and the divisive nature of American politics. He also raises concerns about the state of divisiveness in the United States electorate. The episode concludes with a reflection on the broader issues facing the nation and a preview of the upcoming election.

We will be back in late January to early February 2024 with more timely discussions with experts in policy, urban planning, health, and informatics!

As we head into a short break during Thanksgiving week, dean Stuart Shapiro interviews Juan Ayala, a professor in the school’s world-ranked urban planning program. Their discussion begins with the distinctions between architecture and urban design, emphasizing the historical separation of individual building design and broader urban landscape planning. Ayala highlights the crucial role of urban designers as bridges between architects and planners, illustrating how comprehensive plans, driven by design research and guided by urban designers, can positively impact communities. He also talks about the evolving nature of urban design, incorporating technology, STEM, and visualization to enhance accessibility, inclusivity, and public engagement in the design process. Ayala also advocates for the use of digital technology to illustrate complex information and suggests a resurgence of visual technology for community participation with a greater focus at the government level. He concludes with a discussion of his teaching approach, where he emphasizes incremental learning, conceptual planning, and visualization exercises in his urban design courses to empower students to make informed decisions and find their unique approaches to the field.

This week on EJB Talks Dean Stuart Shapiro welcomes Professor Ceu Cirne-Neves, who teaches in the Bloustein School's health administration program. Ceu talks about her journey from journalism to healthcare administration, her extensive career in hospital administration, and the significant changes in the healthcare industry that she has experienced over the years. Emphasizing the impact of patient safety, the high-reliability movement, and the value-based reimbursement model on healthcare management, she also touches upon the effects of hospital mergers on patient care. They discuss the attractiveness of health administration as a major for students while highlighting the diversity and generosity of students at the Bloustein School. Ceu ends the discussion with an explanation of her teaching goals, which include developing competency, fostering leadership, and instilling a lifelong learning mindset in her students. 

With our return to EJBTalks this fall, host and Dean Stuart Shapiro talks to Mark Paul, assistant professor and author of the recently released book, The Ends of Freedom. Mark discusses his journey into economics and environmental policy, sharing how his first working experiences in a restaurant witnessing inequality and food sustainability issues drove his interest in economics and climate change. He explains the significance of the Inflation Reduction Act in addressing climate change, emphasizing its role as a downpayment on the transition to green energy. The conversation moves into the economic rights outlined in his book, drawing inspiration from FDR's second Bill of Rights and Martin Luther King Jr.'s advocacy for economic rights. He then highlights the importance of regulation and complementary policies to achieve the goal of fully decarbonizing the economy, addressing the challenges of selling such a broad and ambitious vision in the current political climate but also pointing out the support for these ideas among voters. The episode concludes with a discussion of Mark's future work on supply-side fossil fuel policy to wind down fossil fuel assets and transition to renewable energy sources.

On our season 8 finale, Stuart welcomes Amy Cobb back to ask questions about the indictment of President Trump They also discuss what other charges may be coming next and talk about the Republican Party response. Then Amy asks Stuart for his early take on the 2024 election.