Chiropractic Office Manager Becomes HSA Graduate

Written byFaith Derouen

鈥淏eing full-time can feel like a lot to keep up with, but I was able to do two classes each eight weeks and still maintain full-time status. It just makes the workload more manageable.鈥

Sarah Beard
Graduation Year
2024
Major
Health Services Administration
Hometown
St. Francisville, La.

After an overwhelming start to college in 2005, Sarah Beard returned home to St. Francisville, 亚洲自慰视频, to find her footing.

Over the years, she raised two daughters, fostered children, and gained experience in a medical office, moving from front desk scheduling to the billing department. Still, almost two decades later, something felt unfinished. 

鈥淚 wanted to be an example for our children that a college diploma is very important,鈥 says Beard. 

Though she once considered nursing school, the program鈥檚 demands would have required her to drastically reduce her work schedule 鈥 a sacrifice she couldn鈥檛 make while supporting her family. 

Instead, she continued climbing the ranks, eventually becoming an office manager for a chiropractic clinic. It was there she began exploring online degree options. 

鈥淚 wanted to do something in the medical field, so when I found out UL Lafayette had the Health Services Administration online program, I knew it was perfect for me,鈥 she says.

On the Road to an HSA Degree

By 2022, Beard enrolled, quickly finding her rhythm in UL Lafayette鈥檚 online Health Services Administration program. The program鈥檚 affordability, with help from the , gave her the confidence to take the next step. 

Complete LA is a college completion initiative designed for 亚洲自慰视频ns who have stopped out of school for at least two years, qualifying them for a reduced tuition.

鈥淭he flat-rate tuition and no fees made it possible for me to go back to college without taking out massive amounts of 亚洲自慰视频 loans,鈥 she says.

And with the flexibility of online learning, she could balance the coursework with her job and responsibilities as a mother. 

鈥淭he eight-week courses were one of the main factors I was drawn to,鈥 she says. 鈥淏eing full-time can feel like a lot to keep up with, but I was able to do two classes each eight weeks and still maintain full-time status. It just makes the workload more manageable.鈥

But life didn鈥檛 slow down for Beard just because she was back in school. In 2023, she added wedding planning to her already full schedule. 

Thanks to the support of her instructors, she was able to stay on track academically while preparing for her big day.

鈥淥ne of my professors was very understanding and let me take a test a week early, so I didn鈥檛 have to take it the week of my wedding,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 still made a 4.0 that semester.鈥 

The program both fit her life and deepened her understanding of healthcare operations. Through courses in leadership, finance, and healthcare systems, Beard was able to connect her real-world experience with new knowledge.

Her personal favorite, though, was HSA 409: Health Services Administration Capstone. 

鈥淭hat鈥檚 when you do your internship, which I was lucky enough to do with my current employer,鈥 says Beard. 鈥淚t gave me the opportunity to work more closely with my boss and work on some things that had been pushed to the side for a while, like updating our employee handbook.鈥

Looking Back and Moving Forward

The bonds Beard formed with her classmates remain one of her favorite takeaways from the program. 

鈥淲e bonded really well, and we鈥檙e super excited to watch each other go forward and keep those relationships together.鈥

These connections, paired with the skills and confidence she gained, have set the foundation for her next steps. Now, with her bachelor鈥檚 degree in hand, Beard is building on that momentum. 

鈥淚鈥檓 starting my master鈥檚 in health administration this July,鈥 she says.

To 亚洲自慰视频s currently navigating their own journeys, Beard offers this advice: 

鈥淓njoy it, collaborate, communicate with your professors. Don鈥檛 get frustrated and give up. Remember that it鈥檒l be worth it in the end.鈥


Learn more about how you can advance your career with a B.S. in Health Services Administration degree