This week’s spotlight is on Brianna Fullenkamp, PT, DPT, a Non-Clinical 101 graduate who is now Enterprise Client Executive for Medbridge! This is Brianna’s second spotlight, and we’re so happy to share her non-clinical career update!
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What is your full name, title, and company name for your current, primary role?
Brianna Fullenkamp, PT, DPT — Enterprise Client Executive for Medbridge
Where are you located?
Iowa.
Where did you go to PT school, and what year did you graduate?
Bradley University, 2017.
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If you’re a Non-Clinical 101 student, you can network with many of our spotlight participants in the alumni groups!
What did you do when you first finished school, and for how long?
I started out in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) full time with a little home health PRN. I was there for a little over a year.
In what setting(s) did you work, and what types of patients did you treat?
I began my career in a SNF, then moved to outpatient vestibular rehabilitation in an ENT clinic, and eventually transitioned to home health care.
Throughout each role, I worked with a diverse range of patients, including:
- Older adults
- Post-operative individuals
- Those with balance issues
- Deconditioned patients at risk of falls
- Chronic pain sufferers
- Individuals with conditions like TMD, heart failure, and COPD
What did you enjoy about your early roles? What didn’t you enjoy?
I found great satisfaction in conducting evaluations, as it allowed me to uncover root causes and determine what needed to be addressed. I also enjoyed developing personalized care plans for patients and their families.
Witnessing patients’ successes and their determination to push themselves toward achieving results was particularly rewarding.
The less ideal aspect for me was the lack of flexibility. I realized I needed a role that would allow me to balance family growth, attend doctor appointments, and have more time off around the holidays. This was a significant factor in my decision.
What else have you done since then, prior to your current role?
After my clinical care experience, I was fortunate to transition into a performance improvement specialist role, which I thoroughly enjoyed. It was an ideal fit for my goals.
I was able to identify root causes using Six Sigma tools, plan projects, and keep the team on track, all while making a meaningful impact on clinician workflows and patient care. This role offered greater flexibility and the opportunity to collaborate with wonderful colleagues.
Editor’s Note: Brianna’s journey is a great example of non-clinical career growth! Check out Brianna’s first spotlight as a performance improvement specialist to see where she’s been, then read on to see how her career has growth since then!
When and why did you decide to do something non-clinical?
I knew early on that I wanted to do something outside of clinical care, mainly for flexibility. Therefore, I took steps to figure out what type of non-clinical career I wanted.
What are you doing these days?
I am an enterprise client executive at Medbridge. I collaborate with large health organizations to achieve their strategic goals, plan for the future, and maximize the value of our services. Recently, I’ve also taken on responsibilities for renewals and subscription management.
Are you still treating patients, or are you solely non-clinical?
I am solely non-clinical!
How long have you been in your current role?
I joined Medbridge in May 2023 as Performance Improvement Consultant and now hold the title of Client Executive when taking on renewals and subscription management.
Did you get any special certifications or training along the way to help you get into your current role?
I took Non-Clinical 101 back in 2019, which seems like a long time ago.
This of course was so helpful to figure out where I wanted to go with my career and to learn how to target different job roles that fit me and what I was looking for.
Plus, you’ll get early access to curated non-clinical job listings and a bonus lesson on AI!
How did you find your job? Did you apply or find it through a connection?
I found my job on LinkedIn. A recruiter reached out to me.
Did you do anything special to your resume and cover letter to land the job?
I worked with a resume writer to help showcase my skills for positions I was looking for. Thank you to The Non-Clinical PT for the assistance in connecting me! Those skills and experiences were also put on my LinkedIn.
I had a good base of a resume that I was able to put together myself from the Non-Clinical 101 course and then grew it from there.
How have people reacted to you leaving patient care?
Everyone has been very supportive.
They have seen me thrive in the type of roles I have done since my clinical career and know it was the right path for me.
What’s a typical day or week in the life like for you? What types of tasks and responsibilities fill your time?
My day-to-day involves leading external meetings with clients, preparing for upcoming meetings, and participating in internal discussions to stay updated on our products and roadmaps and connect with different teams.
I also focus on entering feedback suggestions, analyzing data to inform our goals and project development, and, more recently, learning the renewal and subscription management processes.
What are some of the rewards of your role? What are the biggest challenges?
The rewards I experience come from connecting with large health systems and making a meaningful impact in the healthcare sector by enhancing clinician workflows and improving patient outcomes.
I believe in the product I represent and take pride in seeing how it helps so many.
I also enjoy building relationships and have developed strong connections with external leaders, which I find incredibly fulfilling.
The current challenge for me lies in the sales aspect, particularly navigating pricing discussions and understanding the legal implications of contracts, which are still relatively unfamiliar territory. I’m actively working through these challenges and am fortunate to have great mentors to support me.
How did your clinical background prepare you for this role? Which skills transferred?
My clinical background has proven to be incredibly beneficial in my role. I work closely with external leaders, many of whom are therapists themselves, allowing me to connect through shared language and a deep understanding of how health systems operate. This insight enables me to effectively partner with these organizations and grasp the challenges they face.
Roughly speaking, how are the hours and pay compared to patient care?
The hours and compensation are better than when I worked as a treating PT. I enjoy more flexibility in my schedule, allowing me to take time off around holidays. The pay is also higher.
What type of person do you think would do well in your enterprise client executive role?
A successful candidate for this role would have a clinical or healthcare background, strong performance improvement skills, and excellent organizational abilities. They should also enjoy building relationships and be comfortable navigating ambiguity in a fast-paced environment.
Do you work remotely or onsite?
Does your organization hire PT, OT, or SLP professionals into non-clinical roles? If so, what type of roles?
Yes, Medbridge hires individuals with various therapy backgrounds for different roles, including client executives, account executives, and content managers, among others.
Did you read any books, take any courses, or do anything special overall to get you where you are today?
Non-Clinical 101 helped me focus on what type of role I was looking for to narrow in on what skills I needed to develop.
I also completed Six Sigma Certification.
What is a typical career path for someone in your enterprise client executive role?
There are various career paths available for these roles.
For those interested in a sales career, there is the potential to advance to an account executive position, managing larger accounts.
This role can lead to opportunities in leadership as well.
What is next for you? What are your high-level career aspirations?
I’ve recently become interested in medical copywriting, as I look to expand my skill set and explore new opportunities.
My long-term goal is to improve multidisciplinary care, recognizing that many patients need diverse types of treatment from various healthcare professionals but often lack access to comprehensive, coordinated care.
While I’m still figuring out my specific role in addressing this challenge, I have some ideas about how I want to get started. More to come!
What career advice would you give yourself that you wish you had during school?
I wish I had pursued a business minor in my undergraduate studies and sought out opportunities to work in both healthcare and business-related roles during that time.
The business aspect is incredibly important, and I believe I would have greatly benefited from that additional knowledge and experience.
