James Ypma '01

Health Trainer
Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Network of West Michigan*

James Ypma trains the staff of the Mental Health and Substance Abuse System in health policies, practice and methods. This includes medications, infection control, CPR-First-Aid, pathophysiology, drugs of abuse, and disease processes, just to name a few.

"The GVSU MPA program gave me, I believe, the skills and competencies I need to work effectively and ethically in the processes of governance. I have a better understanding of the challenges that public agencies face in an environment of reduced budgets, and ever changing healthcare system policies. When I attend meetings at work, I can now engage my contemporaries with confidence and knowledge of the process, including policy development, management and finance issues! A great feeling!"

* Organization affiliations are provided for identification purposes only. All statements are the personal opinions of the individuals and do not reflect an organizational endorsement of GVSU or its MPA program.