Bridget Schwab

Q: “Tell us about yourself.”
A: "I am a Texas native and live in the DFW area. My husband and I have a blended family with six kids aged 7 to 15. My husband is also a Norwich alumnus who received his Master of Science in Organizational Leadership in 2018. I enjoy hiking in Colorado in the fall and spending time in the mountains of Colorado snowshoeing in the Winter. I also enjoy antiquing with my husband. We collect antique medical bottles and vintage signs.”

Q: “Please describe your professional experience.”
A: “I began my work in the healthcare field in high school. I did not realize it at the time, but this arena turned out to be my area of passion. I worked in an Oncologist's office throughout high school, and in a hospital outpatient Physical, Occupational, and Cardiac Rehab department during college. Post graduation, I began my career in the Outpatient Radiology field at Envision Radiology. I began my career at Envision Radiology in 2005 and have served in many operational roles throughout my tenure. I currently serve as one of three Directors of Operations in our Texas region, overseeing ten outpatient radiology facilities and leading over 250 employees.”

Q: “What was your motivation for pursuing your degree?”
A: “I have aspired to pursue my master's degree for many years. I began my graduate program path two years after earning my Bachelor of Business Administration at Texas Wesleyan University in 2004. At that time, the program cost was quite high, so I decided to pause this endeavor. 

In 2019, I started back on my path to earn my master's degree and attended the University of North Texas Health Science Center's (UNTHSC) Master of Healthcare Administration program. I decided to transfer into Norwich University's Master of Science in Leadership program after completing two years at UNTHSC, as I was looking to secure a degree that was not strictly healthcare-related in hopes of being prepared if my career path took me to another field. My motivation for pursuing a master's degree was my lifelong interest in learning. I also aspired to be a more well-rounded leader within my organization and be well-prepared to move into higher leadership roles in my career. I also was motivated to pursue my master's degree to show my girls that hard work, tenacity, and dedication pay off and are worth the effort."

Q: “What are your future professional plans?”
A: “I aspire to continue my leadership journey and move into higher senior leadership levels in the healthcare field. I enjoy growing future leaders who share my passion for helping those in need of quality healthcare in our community. I plan to use my degree as a catalyst in leadership advancement in my career.”

Q: “Why did you choose Norwich?”
A: “I learned about Norwich through my husband, as he obtained his Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from the University. This experience with the University and program seemed to fit what I was looking for as a transfer student. As a working professional in a senior leadership role, an online program was the only option due to the requirements of my career. Norwich stood out to me due to the course selection in the leadership program and how the program was structured. My previous program was structured on an 8-week class duration. I preferred the 11-week class duration at Norwich, which was a better fit for my learning needs.”

Q: “What has been your biggest personal or professional success since starting your degree?”
A: "While enrolled at Norwich, I was promoted to Director of Operations in my organization.”

Q: “Please tell us about a time in which you could put your knowledge gained in the classroom to work immediately at your job.”
A: “Learning about resistance to change and embracing resisters was an area that was pertinent to me almost immediately. My organization was in the planning phases of a large change initiative and encountering significant resistance. While many leaders may feel that resistance to change is negative, it can, in fact, benefit the organization during change initiatives.”

Q: “What advice would you give future students enrolling in one of Norwich's online programs?”
A: “While pursuing a master's degree as a working professional may seem overwhelming, it is vital to approach each week of the courses with a daily plan on how to complete all required assignments, readings, and discussion board posts.”