Privacy and security are key when it comes to the health-care industry. With the many cyber threats and advancements in technology, now is an important time to make sure health-care systems are secure. 

To discuss these current threats facing health-care organizations, the Healthcare Professionals Graduate Student Alliance (HPGSA) will be hosting guest speaker Lenny Levy, the vice president and chief information security officer for Spectrum Health. The discussion will be held in Grand Valley State University’s DeVos Center, Room 107C, on Tuesday, Dec. 5, at 4:30 p.m. 

Levy has spoken at many conferences and seminars before, in addition to his position at Spectrum Health. Other than his Bachelor of Science in decision and information sciences, Levy also has an MBA with certifications as a security professional and systems auditor. He has also previously worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he was involved with many different industries, including health care, on business issues. In his current position at Spectrum Health, Levy supervises security strategies and privacy, as well as cybersecurity technology. He will look to share his experiences with those who are interested in this topic or field of study.

“Because we do not have much along those lines (at GVSU)—there’s not a course—… we thought it would be beneficial for the students to have some sort of knowledge before they enter the professional field,” said Jasmine Ahuja, member of HPGSA at GVSU. Due to most of the experience in cybersecurity being acquired after students graduate, she thinks it is important to prepare students for what they should expect. 

“His background has a lot of responsibilities to addressing security tactics,” Ahuja said. “We thought he would be very well-qualified to answer any questions, whether the students are early career or mid-career, going into higher positions as they obtain their degree.”

With Levy’s extensive experience in the field, Ahuja thinks he will be a valuable resource for students when it comes to discussing these issues.

“We wanted to provide education for the future leaders and the challenges they’re going to face and how to prevent these threats,” she said. With cybersecurity becoming such a large issue in the health-care industry today, it is an important time to discuss this branch of health administration. 

Before the discussion with Levy, students will have a chance to network with professionals in the field. The discussion will explore cybersecurity topics and the threats the health-care industry fights every day. There will be a Q&A portion for students, in addition to a chance for students to meet graduate students in the health administration field.  

HPGSA also plans to host at least three more events throughout the year to provide both networking and education opportunities for students interested in the health-care administration field. If students have any questions about this event or future ones, they are encouraged to reach out to HPGSA.

All students, regardless of major, who are interested are welcome to attend this event. Food will be served, and there is no fee to attend.