Meet Our Faculty

The Department of Health Care Administration and Management is fortunate to have experienced and talented faculty. Students benefit from an experienced team who focus on teaching, scholarship, advisement, service, and mentorship. Many of our department faculty have extensive professional/private industry experience to enhance classroom experiences, and stay current through industry outreach and discipline related research to enhance student learning.

J. James Cotter, Ph.D.

Headshot J. James Cotter

PhD, Health Services Organization and Research

Dr. Cotter served as the Assistant Dean for Distance Education and Director of the Doctoral Program in Health Related Science of Virginia Commonwealth University in the School of Allied Health Professions. He was also an Associate Professor in the Department of Gerontology. He received his Ph.D. in Health Care Organization and Research from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1996. He has a Masters of Arts in History from the University of Buffalo (1975) and his BA (History, with Honors) is from Canisius College in Buffalo (1971).

Dr. Cotter has implemented, developed, managed and evaluated health and social services programs at the local and state levels for 30 years. In 1985, he had the good sense to move to Virginia where he served as Assistant Director of the Area Agency on Aging in Tidewater Virginia until 1988. As Director for Programs at the Virginia Department for the Aging from 1988-1994, he directed and managed services and programs for the older citizens of Virginia. He began teaching at Virginia Commonwealth University in 1997 in gerontology and health services.

Dr. Cotter teaches courses in the sociology of aging, trends of an aging society, health systems, and health care theory.

In 2011, he received the Distinguished Faculty Award for Excellence from the School of Allied Health Professions, Virginia Commonwealth University. He has 29 published articles and has given over 70 professional research presentations.

Jean Dobay, MSN, MBA

Office: Patterson
Email: jean.dobay@sru.edu

N. Jean Dobay, MSN, MBA has extensive business experience beginning in 1973 when she and her family started a long-term care company that has expanded into one of the largest privately owned long-term care companies in Western Pennsylvania. As a nurse and licensed nursing home administrator, Jean has work in upper management and administration in both acute and long-term care. She is an educator and internationally known speaker in the area of "culture change" in long-term care and currently serves as a volunteer Ombudsmen for the Office of Aging.

Jean Dobay received her nursing diploma from Presbyterian-University Hospital School of Nursing in Pittsburgh, her BSN from Carlow College, and her MSN and MBA from Duquesne University. She has maintained both her RN and NHA license and is a consultant with a local long-term care consulting company, Empowered Elders.

Natalie Dick, Ph.D.

Phone: 724.738.4770
Office: Patterson 108
Email: natalie.dick@sru.edu

Dr. Dick is Assistant Professor in the Healthcare Administration & Management department as part of Slippery Rock University’s College of Health Professions. Her research interests include health care organizational ethics and health care quality. Dr. Dick earned her PhD in Healthcare Ethics from Duquesne University and Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) from the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to joining Slippery Rock University, she managed quality improvement, patient safety, clinical pathways and patient experience for the Department of Surgery at UPMC.

John Golden, JD

Phone: 724.738.4352
Office: ECB 315
Email: john.golden@sru.edu

Dr. John Golden teaches Healthacre Law and Global Business in the School of Business at Slippery Rock University where he also serves as the university's Entrepreneur-in-Residence and Chair of the President's Commission on Sustainability. He is the managing director of the Sustainable Enterprise Accelerator (SEA) at Slippery Rock, which assists new start-ups and existing businesses with sustainable growth opportunities. Dr. Golden serves on several boards of directors, profit and non-profit. He is the owner of Golden Intergroup, Inc. a private sustainable business consulting firm. He also practices law in the USA and internationally, specializing in commercial law.

Mary Beth (Bedeck) Jenkins, MBA

Jenkins Headshot

Chief Operating Administrative Officer- UPMC Health Plan

Ms. Jenkins oversees Service Operations, Claims Administration, Configuration, Ancillary Product(s), Third Party Administration, the Organizational Performance and Project Management Office, and Consumer Innovation. Her responsibilities include coordinating fiscal management, administration, and operations for multiple departments; managing budgeting and resource allocation with senior leadership, finance, and Human Resources; and providing matrix reporting oversight across the organization in support of multiple lines of business.

In addition, she translates strategic initiatives into business objectives to support the organization’s continued growth. Ms. Jenkins has driven operational efficiencies at UPMC Health Plan for more than 20 years, helping the company maintain low administrative costs and high customer satisfaction. She is a strong supporter of the Health Plan’s process improvement efforts and has a Green Belt certification in Six Sigma.

Ms. Jenkins serves on the board of directors for several nonprofit organizations and privately held companies and is recognized nationally as an expert on service and claims optimization. She received her Bachelor’s degree in communication from Slippery Rock University and her Master of Business Administration from Duquesne University.

David W. Jordan, Ph.D. (Department Chairperson)

Health Care Administration and Management Department Chairperson

Phone: 724.738.4514
Office: Patterson 109
Email: david.jordan@sru.edu

David W. Jordan, PhD, is a Professor in the Healthcare Administration & Management department as part of Slippery Rock University’s College of Health Professions. His research interests include health care benefit design, health care management and administrative processes, individual and population health behaviors, and factors of health care utilization. Dr. Jordan received his PhD. from Virginia Commonwealth University/Medical College of Virginia in Health Services Research - Health Administration, an MBA from the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business University of Pittsburgh, and a Bachelor of Science in Management from the University of Pittsburgh. He was a Regional Vice President and served 22+ years in the insurance and Managed Care industries prior to joining Slippery Rock University.

Joshua Miller, MHA

Office: Patterson 107
Email: joshua.miller@sru.edu

Mr. Miller teaches healthcare finance for the Health Care Administration and Management program and alsoserves as the Director of Finance for Allegheny Health Network’s Grove City Hospital. As the Director of Finance, Mr. Miller is responsible for overseeing and sustaining the financial performance of AHN – Grove City, budget planning and forecasting, and funding for capital investments.

Mr. Miller joined AHN – Grove City in 2022 and has over 13 years of progressive financial leadership experience, primarily within the healthcare industry. Prior to joining AHN, Mr. Miller served as Chief Financial Officer for Willamette Valley Medical Center in western Oregon, a hospital owned by LifePoint Health headquartered in Brentwood, TN. Previous to LifePoint Health, Mr. Miller also served as Chief Financial Officer for Linton Hospital, a community and critical access hospital outside of Bismarck, ND.

Mr. Miller earned a bachelor of science in Accounting from Penn State Behrend and his Masters of Healthcare Administration from Louisiana State University Shreveport.

Alyshia Ravida, MHA

Office: Patterson 107
Email: Alyshia.Ravida@sru.edu

Mrs. Ravida teaches healthcare value-based reimbursement for the Health Care Administration and Management program. She is also currently works as a Value-Based Reimbursement Strategist on the Quality & Value-Based Programs team at UPMC Health Plan. Her role concentrates on data analytics and strategy development to help support partners in quality and financial incentives that serve to improve outcomes.

Alyshia is a member of Three Rivers AAHAM, where she serves as Vice President and oversees educational planning. She serves as President of the University of Pittsburgh Health Policy & Management Alumni Association. She also serves on the Western PA Healthcare Summit Planning Committee.

Alyshia earned her Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration at the University of Pittsburgh in the Department of Health Policy and Management in 2010. She also obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Slippery Rock University in 2007.

Alyshia resides in Butler, PA with her husband and two sons.

Patrick Santavicca, MS

Office: Patterson
Email: patrick.santavicca@sru.edu

Patrick Santavicca, adjunct instructor, teaches Health Care Information Systems. In addition to teaching, Patrick has spent time in both industry and consulting in the healthcare space. His experience and research interests include clinical data management and analysis, healthcare technology consulting, and value-based reimbursement design & implementation. Most recently, Patrick has advised bio-pharmaceutical companies on value-based reimbursement strategies for next generation therapies, and led the development of a technology platform to facilitate innovative reimbursement arrangements. Patrick holds an M.S. in Health Information Systems from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Bachelors of Music from Duquesne University.

David Tupponce, MD

Tupponce Headshot

AHN Grove City-President

Dr. David Tupponce teaches healthcare practice managemment in the Health Care Administration and Management Program and is also the President of AHN Grove City Medical center. He was appointed as President of AHN Grove City Medical center on January 11. 2021. He has an extensive clinical and administrative background in for-profit and non-profit healthcare systems in both urban and rural environments. Prior to joining Allegheny Health Network, he serves as Executive Vice President of Central Main Healthcare and President of Central Main Medical Center in Lewiston, Maine a 243-bed Level 2 Trauma Center. During his time at CMH, Dr. Tupponce also led the large employed medical group and oversaw significant improvements in quality, safety, and growth initiatives.

Before joining Central Maine, Dr. Tupponce was CEO of Tenet Healthcare’s Abrazo Scottsdale Campus, a 120-bed acute-care hospital in central Arizona. Prior to Tenet, Dr. Tupponce was Chief Medical Officer and then Chief Executive Officer of Paradise Valley Hospital, part of Vanguard Health in Phoenix, Arizona.

Dr. Tupponce earned his medical degree from George Washington University and a Master of Medical Management from Carnegie Mellon University. He was a family medicine chief resident at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and his clinical background includes services as a hospitalist and family practice physician.

Stacey Vaccaro, MPM, FACHE

Office: Patterson
Email:stacey.vaccaro@sru.edu

Stacey Vaccaro teaches leadership for the Healthcare Administration and Management program as is also the President and CEO of Familylinks, Inc. She is a non-profit leader with over 20 years of healthcare and human services experience. Her breadth of experience includes working with young children, youth, adults and older adults in the Pittsburgh Region, and she currently serves at the President & CEO of Familylinks, Inc. Familylinks is a non-profit agency serving individuals who may need behavioral health, drug and alcohol, residential and housing and community-based care management services across the lifespan. Her leadership skills have led her to leadership and founding roles on local non-profit boards such as Veterans Leadership Program, Women for A Healthy Environment, Hollow Oak Land Trust and the Western PA Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Ms. Vaccaro holds a Bachelor of Science Degree with a specialization in Health Services Administration from Slippery Rock University, a Master of Public Management from Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz School and she is currently pursuing a PhD in Business. Ms. Vaccaro lives in Moon Township with her husband and enjoys being outdoors, especially hiking, also baking and reading in her free time.

Health Care Administration and Management

Meet Our Faculty

Health Care Administration and Management

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