{"id":32454,"date":"2024-05-10T12:09:38","date_gmt":"2024-05-10T16:09:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/online\/?p=32454"},"modified":"2025-04-15T11:03:15","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T15:03:15","slug":"another-challenge-accepted-and-conquered-for-cancer-survivor-kristie-litaker-23mha","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/online\/healthcare\/news\/another-challenge-accepted-and-conquered-for-cancer-survivor-kristie-litaker-23mha","title":{"rendered":"Another Challenge Accepted and Conquered for Cancer Survivor Kristie Litaker \u201923MHA"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-lg-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<p class=\"lead\">UCONN Grad Receives Master\u2019s Degree from UCF\u2019s Fully Online Program<\/p>\n<p>A lot of things have changed in Kristie Litaker\u2019s life since she graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2004 with a degree in athletic training.<\/p>\n<p>The Husky is also now a Knight.<\/p>\n<p>Litaker was a high-school athlete and wanted to go into a sport-related field. She took an interest in athletic training, where she threw herself into the curriculum required for the rigorous profession.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-lg-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<figure style=\"width: 225px\" class=\"p-4\"><noscript><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-45909 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_1638-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"woman in graduation attire\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_1638-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_1638-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_1638-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_1638-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_1638-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\"><\/noscript><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-45909 size-medium lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20225%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"woman in graduation attire\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20225%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_1638-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_1638-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_1638-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_1638-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_1638-scaled.jpg 1920w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_1638-225x300.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Litaker at her graduation from UCONN.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-lg-8\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<p>For nearly 20 years, Litaker was an American Red Cross Certified Professional Rescuer, and served as a teaching assistant in emergency procedures while at UCONN. She was also a student trainer for the CT Elite Field Hockey Camp, and a volunteer trainer for the Nutmeg State Games.<\/p>\n<p>Eventually, Litaker became an NASM certified personal trainer, a licensure she held until 2012. She was working two jobs as a physical therapy assistant and as a medical secretary and technician for a veterinary office.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI felt like my background in athletic training prepared me for real life,\u201d Litaker says.<\/p>\n<p>And then her trajectory was halted \u2013 at least temporarily. Litaker became with child, and in the course of her pregnancy, also discovered that she had breast cancer: Stage IIIA ductal carcinoma with metastasis to the lymph nodes.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-lg-8\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<p>Now, nine years later, both Litaker and her daughter are thriving. In fact, her daughter, Aria, was part of Litaker\u2019s inspiration to go back for her master\u2019s degree.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI had considered going back to school, but could never find the right time,\u201d Litaker says. \u201cLife seemed to always get in the way.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Once her daughter got a little older, and COVID shut down everything, Litaker decided to take the plunge. Not only did her job at Stamford Health in Connecticut support her decision, but they also helped finance her continuing education. It was also important to her that both she and her daughter would be working together on their education during the pandemic.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was a completely personal decision, to not only grow myself professionally, but for my daughter to see my example of working hard during COVID and online school,\u201d Litaker says. \u201cI wanted her to see me as a role model.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-lg-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<figure style=\"width: 225px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-45914 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_1636-225x300.jpg\" alt=\"woman and athlete at stadium\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_1636-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_1636-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_1636-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_1636-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_1636-scaled.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-45914 size-medium lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20225%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"woman and athlete at stadium\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20225%20300%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_1636-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_1636-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_1636-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_1636-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_1636-scaled.jpg 1920w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_1636-225x300.jpg\"><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Litaker spent years as an athletic trainer and an American Red Cross Certified Professional Rescuer before her work at Stamford Health in Connecticut.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-lg-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<figure style=\"width: 180px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-45910\" src=\"https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_3644-170x300.jpg\" alt=\"woman and baby\" width=\"180\" height=\"317\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_3644-170x300.jpg 170w, https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_3644.jpg 363w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 180px) 100vw, 180px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-45910 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20180%20317%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"woman and baby\" width=\"180\" height=\"317\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20180%20317%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 180w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 180px) 100vw, 180px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_3644-170x300.jpg 170w, https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_3644.jpg 363w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_3644-170x300.jpg\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-45910\" class=\"figure-caption\">Litaker and her daughter, Aria.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-lg-8\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<p>Despite her desire to grow professionally, Litaker said starting the program was still a little scary.<\/p>\n<p>After doing an online search for programs, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/online\/degree\/executive-master-health-administration\/\">UCF\u2019s Executive Master of Health Administration<\/a> piqued her interest.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cI reached out to the advisor, and it seemed like a great accredited program, something that was important to me,\u201d Litaker says. \u201cWhen I did a virtual tour of the campus, I was kind of jealous that I wasn\u2019t able to come in person, but I set that as a goal for when I graduated.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The anticipated length of the program is about two years, Litaker said, but her advisors told her they were flexible with the time frame to complete the degree. Because of her fulltime job and responsibilities as a parent, Litaker finished her degree in about three-and-a-half years.<\/p>\n<p>When Litaker was doing her undergraduate studies at UCONN, she admits she wasn\u2019t the best student. And even though that had been many years ago, she had some lingering reservations about starting UCF\u2019s rigorous program.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<blockquote class=\"blockquote blockquote-quotation\">\n<p>I was nervous to be starting again,\u201d Litaker says. \u201cBut starting the program began to push me out of my comfort zone and working at your own pace meant that I had to do it on my own. It was challenging.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-lg-8\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<p>Litaker and her daughter got through it together.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe was at school during the day, and when we came home, we had a schedule, depending on her activities,\u201d Litaker says. \u201cI made dinner while she got her homework done, and then when she went to bed, I did my homework.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Litaker also squeezed in her homework or virtual meetings with her professor while she waited for her daughter at her after-school activities. It was also helpful that Litaker\u2019s employer was flexible and supportive.<\/p>\n<p>As an added bonus, much of the coursework that Litaker was doing was directly related to her work at Stamford Health.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cI gained valuable insight into why my day-to-day work in the radiology department related risk management and quality assurance was important,\u201d<\/strong> Litaker says. In addition to the support from her immediate supervisor, Litaker was also developing valuable relationships with the hospital\u2019s leadership team.<\/p>\n<p>And even though Litaker was the member of multiple cohorts in the program because of her busy schedule, she appreciated the peer-to-peer evaluations from each of her cohorts and keeps in touch with others from the program.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen we graduated, we were able to meet in person and put faces to the names,\u201d Litaker says. \u201cQuite a number of us came for the ceremony, and it was important for me to meet my professors in person, but <strong>most of all, I wanted my daughter to see me walk across the stage.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When Litaker walked across the stage, her name appeared on the screen, much to her daughter\u2019s delight.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe fact that I graduated with a 4.0 made it even better,\u201d Litaker recalls.<\/p>\n<p>That was a goal Litaker had set for herself when she started the program, she says. One of the requirements of the program is that its students must not fall below a \u201cB\u201d average. The one time she got a \u201cB,\u201d she complained to her mother about it.\u201d<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-lg-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<figure style=\"width: 420px\" class><noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_9572.jpg\" alt=\"woman and her daughter\" width=\"420\" height=\"628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_9572.jpg 428w, https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_9572-201x300.jpg 201w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 420px) 100vw, 420px\"><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20420%20628%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"woman and her daughter\" width=\"420\" height=\"628\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20420%20628%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 420w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 420px) 100vw, 420px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_9572.jpg 428w, https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_9572-201x300.jpg 201w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/IMG_9572.jpg\" class=\" lazyload\"><figcaption class=\"figure-caption\">Litaker and Aria at Litaker\u2019s UCF graduation ceremony.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\" col-lg-10\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<p>\u201cMy mother told me that was good enough, but I wanted to finish strong,\u201d Litaker says.<\/p>\n<p>Since receiving her master\u2019s degree from UCF, Litaker says that other departments in the hospital have been noticing her work, some of which is focused on capital and budgeting projects. She adds that being able to take financial management classes through the program has allowed her to better understand the complexities of budgeting and depreciation of equipment.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn addition to capital budget and project management for both radiology and laboratory services, I also support the radiology physician practice where I create a quality assurance report that we compare to national data. This was something I was doing before I started my degree, but the classes I took for the program helped put everything into perspective.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Getting her master\u2019s degree from UCF has also heightened Litaker\u2019s confidence in her own impressive abilities, she says.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cThere are places in my organization where I can grow, but I also have interest in giving back by becoming an adjunct professor in our field,\u201d Litaker says. \u201cMy long-term goal is to perhaps go back to school again to pursue my doctorate.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Her takeaway, however, is to let anyone who is considering going back to school that there is no time like the present.<\/p>\n<p><strong>\u201cEducating myself gave me such a good feeling, because of all the time that had passed,\u201d Litaker says<\/strong>. \u201cWhen people congratulate me, I am so proud and say, yes, I did it. My professors were wonderful, amazing, and supportive. I don\u2019t think I could have made a better decision for my family, my life and my career.\u201d <em>Since this interview, Litaker has been promoted to radiology quality manager. Charge On, Kristie!<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"small\">Article reposted from UCF Alumni Blog <a href=\"https:\/\/ucfalumni.com\/blog\/another-challenge-accepted-and-conquered-for-cancer-survivor-kristie-litaker-23mha\/\">Another Challenge Accepted and Conquered for Cancer Survivor Kristie Litaker \u201923MHA<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"container mt-5 mb-5\">\n\t\t\t\t\n<h2 class=\"mb-4 pb-lg-2\" id=\"news\">Latest Healthcare News<\/h2>\n<p>\t<\/p><div class=\"ucf-post-list ucf-post-list-default\" id=\"post-list-444127\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row ucf-post-list-items\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"col-12 col-lg mb-4 mb-lg-5 ucf-post-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"d-block text-secondary text-decoration-none hover-parent\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ucf.edu\/online\/healthcare\/news\/what-is-healthcare-technology-and-how-is-it-evolving\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ucf-post-list-thumbnail-block media-background-container 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Salaries\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":59,"featured_media":32466,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[931],"tags":[1097,6191,930],"class_list":["post-32454","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-healthcare","tag-emha","tag-executive-healthcare-administration","tag-healthcare"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v22.3 (Yoast SEO v27.5) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Another Challenge Accepted and Conquered for Cancer Survivor Kristie Litaker \u201923MHA | UCF Online<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, 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