To kick off the spring quarter, Walla Walla University’s Student Development Center hosted Healthcare Professions Week. Students from all over campus got to learn from and build connections with real healthcare professionals from AdventHealth, Providence Family Medicine, Columbia County Health System, and more.
“Events like these are important because they allow students to learn about a wide variety of career paths that may not be immediately obvious. It also provides opportunities for connection between students and working professionals with valuable knowledge to share about their vocations,” said Danielle Setniker, SDC manager.
The week began with a special CommUnity service by Randy Haffner, president and CEO of Central Florida AdventHealth, who spoke about the future of whole-person healthcare. No matter their major, he wanted to encourage any student considering a career in healthcare: “there is a place for you, no matter your major or God-given skills."
The next event of the week was the Leadership Panel and Q&A with current AdventHealth leaders: Haffner, Keisha Maliver, executive director of workforce strategy, and Andrew Vaughan, RMR finance resident and WWU alum. This was an opportunity for students to hear real leadership stories and to ask questions for immediate feedback and more personalized advice.
The final event was the Healthcare Panel, which doubled as the School of Business’ first spring quarter colloquium. Jeremy Wiggins, director of the WWU Center for Health Professions, served as moderator. Students got to learn about real opportunities and experiences in healthcare from current professionals and past interns from Walla Walla Community Hospice, Adventist Health, Providence Family Medical, Columbia County Health System, and AdventHealth.
The SDC hosts a variety of professional events like these throughout the year. They want students to benefit from a wide array of career and academic services uniquely geared to help them succeed in college and set them up for a strong start as a working professional: “Our goal is to help you thrive.”
To learn more about the Center for Health Professions, visit wallawalla.edu/pre-pro. To find more career opportunities and academic support, visit wallawalla.edu/sdc.
Posted April 16, 2026.
