Please welcome Blake Greufe, Administrative Intern to Clay County Medical Center (CCMC)! Blake is currently working on his Master of Health Administration at University of Missouri. “As CCMC continues to be ranked as a Top 20 Critical Access Hospital in America, we want to share our knowledge base with the next generation of healthcare leaders,” said Austin Gillard, CEO of CCMC. “While at CCMC this summer, Blake will be able to learn medical provider relations, clinic construction, service line development, hospital finances, and have the opportunity to shadow our outstanding leadership team.”

When asked why Blake wanted to complete his internship at CCMC he said, “When I first started looking for internships, I knew that I wanted to be in a rural area. Places like CCMC provide an opportunity to get great hands on experience, build strong relationships with mentors and other staff, as well as begin to see first-hand the impact that an administrator can have on the people in a community. When I first met Austin, he told me about the great work CCMC is doing and the success and impact they are having in the community. It was exactly the place I was looking for, and the perfect opportunity to learn and grow.”

Blake became interested in healthcare when he started exploring physical therapy in his undergraduate program. He was unsure what he wanted to do as a career, but had some great experiences with his own physical therapist in the past. Later on, several of his mentors recommended that he try an internship with the administrative healthcare fellowship program at the University of Missouri. After a few months of working with the administrative fellows, Blake knew healthcare administration was likely a great fit for his talents and interests.

Blake grew up in the country near a small town in Missouri. When exploring physical therapy, he had the opportunity to spend a few weeks shadowing a physical therapist at Golden Valley Memorial Hospital in Clinton, MO. From this experience, Blake said, “I believe that rural healthcare presents a unique opportunity to be innovative and find new solutions in order to provide effective and affordable care. Working on a smaller scale lets you get to know the people you are helping on a personal level and be a member of the community.”

Blake enjoys going to the gym, playing baseball, watching football, and going on walks with his dog, Nellie. His current achievements consist of graduating with Magna Cum Laude Latin Honors, and ranking top 6 out of 42 in The University of Alabama at Birmingham Health Administration case competition.

Blake, welcome to CCMC and the progressive town of Clay Center!