UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Kevin A. Hunt, who earned a master of health administration (MHA) degree from Penn State in 2016, has earned the Navy Medicine Plans, Operations and Medical Intelligence Officer (POMI) of the Year Award for 2021.
The award recognizes one U.S. Navy Medical Operations Officer who has displayed exemplary and sustained superior performance of his/her duties as they pertain to leadership and strategic planning.
Hunt was nominated by his unit’s senior medical officer and endorsed by his commanding officer.
“From COVID-19 to leading medical response efforts during operations in Kabul, Afghanistan, the past year presented many operational challenges," said Hunt. "I was extremely blessed to have had the support of my family and fellow POMI’s to navigate these events.”
Hunt, who has been in the Navy for more than 19 years, recalled just how the MHA degree helped pave his path to success, and ultimately the award.
“Choosing to pursue and complete my MHA at Penn State allowed me to receive a commission in the Navy, which set me up for a long and rewarding career," said Hunt. "Another benefit Penn State afforded me is that my education will give me the ability to set myself up for a future in healthcare leadership and management when I retire. I see many opportunities for employment within the U.S. healthcare system or as an employee at this great institution as a result of my time here.”
Currently, Hunt serves as a medical service corps officer for the Navy and is an active member of the MHA Board of Visitors and a student mentor. He attributes his graduate education at Penn State leading to success throughout his professional career.
“Many aspects of what I learned as an MHA student were applied to how I prepared for deployment and executed operations while overseas," Hunt said. "Specifically, I utilized many of the principles of healthcare operations management in which we learn how to effectively build teams, manage staff, effectively employ queuing theory to drive successful outcomes as they pertained to the delivery of health services to the marines and sailors who make up my team’s population.”
Of the award, Hunt said, “I was truly humbled to find out that I was selected as Navy Medicine’s POMI of the year. There are so many outstanding planners in the medical operations community, and it is an absolute honor that the leaders within my specialty selected me to represent the entire corps.”