Retiring professor leaves behind legacy in healthcare sales

Terri Barr, a professor of marketing, started the healthcare sales certification program three years ago; the program now boasts roughly 200 students interested in taking on roles in healthcare.

Barr said she was asked by Miami University administration to start the program with Stryker, a medical equipment manufacturing company that creates a wide range of operating room products.

Through this program, students have the opportunity to interact and network with leaders in the healthcare industry around the world. For example, recently, Greg Roche, the CEO of the Swedish company Distalmotion, came in and talked to students about his experience at Miami, and his career path. Particularly, how he became Distalmotion’s CEO.

Barr said this program is what she is most proud of from her time at Miami.

“[Barr] gave a toast at the end of our dinner when we were touring Stryker. She teared up and got emotional talking about how much the program has meant to her,” said Katie Kruzich, a senior in the healthcare sales certificate program and a marketing major. “You could really tell that this program is her baby. She has poured everything into it, and she's done an amazing job.”

Kruzich said she first met Barr in a professional selling class for marketing her sophomore year — she continued to have two more classes with Barr: Marketing 490C, advanced healthcare sales, and Premedical Studies 320, healthcare sales careers.

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Through the certificate program, Kruzich said Barr encouraged her to go to a resume workshop. There, she met Jeff Tavella, a Stryker employee who also teaches at Miami. Tavella instantly became a mentor for Kruzich, and she said she hopes to continue to work with him in the future after graduation.

“I talk to Jeff now more than I talk to Barr,” Kruzich said. “[But] it was all thanks to Barr.”

Kruzich said Barr has also influenced her in the classroom. After telling Barr about a job her mom got at a medical testing company, the pair bonded.

“[Barr] really cared about not just me but also my family,” Kruzich said. “She was just really interested in her students’ lives.”

Along with starting the healthcare sales certificate program, Barr also helped develop the winter term study abroad programs. This is where senior Ben Hanchar met Barr for the first time. Hanchar, a chemistry major with a minor in business, said he started the healthcare sales certificate program because of Barr.

“I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do with my career,” Hanchar said. “I was kind of just thinking of things, kind of going with the flow. Then, once she introduced me to the program, [Barr] built me from the ground up.”

Specifically, Barr taught Hanchar how to network and connected him with mentors.

“She's just taught me, you always have to be networking,” Hanchar said. “Your network is what's going to get you to jobs and careers.”

Throughout the next year, Hanchar had Marketing 315, professional selling, and Marketing 490C with Barr and started attending her office hours. Barr taught Hanchar to network and connect with other people professionally.

“She's just been so helpful,” Hanchar said. “She is always willing to go the extra mile and help you outside of class.”

mulforsj@miamioh.edu