Army Maj. Kathryn Buckland, the chief of the resource management division for Weed Army Community Hospital at Fort Irwin, California is the type of person who accomplishes whatever goals she sets.
From being high school valedictorian to placing first in the female category in a triathlon on Fort Irwin to becoming a fellow of the American College for Healthcare Executives, she, knows how to push herself without burning out and credits her determination and the military for giving her the necessary skills to achieve her goals.
According to Buckland, ACHE is a professional society for healthcare administrators, managers, and executives who lead hospitals whether in the private sector, nonprofit, or Department of Defense.
"It's on par with other professional requirements and board certifications that we're used to seeing doctors and other clinical professionals obtain," she explained.
Some of the requirements to become an ACHE Fellow include earning a master's degree, having five years of healthcare management experience to include holding an executive healthcare management position, completing at least 36 continuing education hours with 12 of those being face-to-face education, four volunteer activities, obtaining two references from current fellows, and passing the Board of Governors Exam in Healthcare Management.
One of Buckland's references came from Maj. Nathan Kiser, the deputy commander for administration for Weed ACH, who passed the Board of Governors Exam in Healthcare Management to become a fellow in 2018.
"She is a strong healthcare executive already," said Kiser. "Endorsing her...wasn't a question, it was really more of a privilege to do that for her just knowing her background, what she'd already done and then what she'll continue to do for both the college and for the Army and healthcare as a whole."
By completing the process to become a fellow, individuals learn not only how to run a health care organization in a safe, equitable, efficient, patient-centered manner, but also earn a prestigious distinction, according to Kiser.
"It's also a signal to other healthcare executives that this individual has gone above and beyond understanding their craft," he said. "Rather than just working there, you've achieved a level of excellence that...a very small amount of people in the healthcare executive world ever really achieve."
Buckland said she took on the challenge not just to benefit herself, but also her organization.