May 2, 2024 | Erin Bluvas, bluvase@sc.edu

Growing up in Hamilton, New Jersey, Madison Paternostro was well aware of her good fortune. A supportive family, good health and food on the table sparked her passion to give back – making her motto: “To whom much is given, much will be required” (Luke 12:48).

During her bachelor’s program at High Point University, she realized that working in the health care field was the best way to do that. Serving nutritious meals to homeless families at a local shelter opened Paternostro’s eyes to the social determinants of health and the safety nets within the health care and social work systems that work to address them. 

Her degree in business administration – coupled with a minor in health care management – triggered an interest in understanding the roles of health care systems as drivers of community health. She knew a Master of Health Administration program was the best path to explore these dynamics, and USC’s stood out as one of the best.    

“The USC MHA program directly aligned with my values in terms of professional development and experiential learning,” Paternostro says. “I liked that the program was cohort style, making it easy to build comradery with my classmates, who will soon become my professional peers.”

As a student in the Department of Health Services Policy and Management, Paternostro developed an interest in clinical operations within health systems – particularly at outpatient facilities where patients receive most of their care. With the opportunity for clinicians to make a significant impact during their interactions with patients at these visits, she believes this setting is a key part of the patient’s care journey and is confident that she can play an important role in the management of daily operations while also leading larger projects to improve patient experiences.

In addition to serving as president for the USC Healthcare Leadership Association and volunteering at Ronald McDonald House in Prisma Health Children’s Hospital, Paternostro also gained practical experience as a graduate assistant with McLeod Health. Working with the associate vice presidents within the physician network, she learned the ins and outs of clinical operations in outpatient settings. The experience set her apart when looking for post-graduation fellowships and helped her land an Administrative Residency with McLeod.

"Administrative fellowships allow for the opportunity to rotate and complete projects within various departments of a health care system and build networks,” says Paternostro, who will begin the 18-month fellowship after graduating in May. “After my residency, I would like to step into an administrator role where I manage multiple practices within the same or similar specialties. I think my degree will help me progress into higher management positions, and in the future, I see myself as a senior administrator of a physician network or health system.  

She loves that many of the MHA program’s course instructors are health care professionals working in the field of the classes they teach – bringing real experiences and applications to the curriculum. The AUPHA Foster G. McGaw Scholarship Award winner found a mentor in clinical assistant professor Melinda Merrell, who helped her navigate the program and push herself to pursue new opportunities. She says she’ll miss the USC campus and living right by the capitol building in the Main Street District.

“My favorite time of year to be a Gamecock is the fall because football is every Saturday, and it is a great way to get together with friends and show your school spirit,” Paternostro says. “Having never lived in a city, it has been great to be able to walk everywhere. I also enjoy exercising, and with the river close by, there are so many beautiful trails to run on.”

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