DeHaven anticipates new partnerships - and a little self-enrichment

Michael DeHaven Vice President and General Counsel, BJC HealthCare

A successful attorney and public policy specialist, DeHaven truly lives a commitment to "life-long learning." He reads relentlessly, keeps up with current events, has his hand in public policy issues and is connected within the St. Louis leadership community. DeHaven, vice president and general counsel for BJC HealthCare and a member of the Webster University Board of Trustees, sees a special relevance in the University's educational model.

"I've watched with great interest Webster's development for a couple of decades now," DeHaven says. "I've been impressed with what it means to the community and what it can do for the community. And I really appreciate the University's holistic approach toward what it means to be educated in today's world."

As with all of the Advisory Board members' particular expertise, DeHaven's close connection to the local medical and health care community fits nicely with the goals of the College - particularly in building partnerships with local institutions and increasing awareness of the College's niche in the science education community. The latter is particularly a focus as the University prepares for fundraising to construct a new biological and health sciences building.

"Michael's responsibilities with BJC touch many areas of the College," Wilson says. "Health care, legal studies, life sciences, public policy. He's both intellectually curious and engaged - a great leader for the College."

Yet DeHaven is just as excited to work with Webster as the College is to have him aboard. "I am a public policy specialist, and I have friends in the community," he says with humility, "But honestly I think I will learn more and be more enriched by this experience than the College will be from my participation."

DeHaven typically finds himself energized by his interactions with faculty and students. "So many things about the College are compelling," he says. "I've learned how Webster can challenge students in so many ways; for instance, how language skills are so important to the development of a student. And more broadly, the worldwide outreach is so important -- not just so students have the opportunity to study abroad, but also so international students are encouraged to come here and know that it will be a comfortable, welcoming environment for them."

The Purdue and Washington University School of Law grad looks at Webster and sees a distinguishing difference from his own impressive educational background. "My education was stringent but narrow in focus," he says. "It was demanding, but I also knew what was in front of me; there were no surprises from one semester to the next. You could remain in your 'safe zone.' Webster really challenges students to go outside their 'safe zone' and seek exposure to the kinds of things that make a person well-rounded. This is no trade school."

For his own part, DeHaven hopes to help the University build on its partnerships with other institutions - something he sees as a unique strength for Webster.

"I think Webster's relationship with the military, for example, has really added a lot of color and maturity to the University," DeHaven says. "And with the variety of expertise on the College Advisory Board, we can help develop more partnerships and programs - the new patent agency program is an example - with other organizations in the community."

"You want to get organizations to see Webster not just as a resource, but as a resource with whom they want to share and build mutually beneficial relationships."

He points to how that has happened with his own organization, BJC HealthCare, which employs 25,000 in Missouri alone, and pays for its employees to continue their education - many of whom enroll at Webster.

DeHaven says relationships like that live and thrive off of the support of the surrounding community.

"For example, we have close to 1,000 medical residents at BJC and Children's Hospital," he says. "It's the number one choice in the country for residents, and the reason is that the St. Louis community nurtures that environment."

On that note, Webster science professors have talked with DeHaven about the importance of interconnection among the St. Louis science and health care communities. "As that happens," he says, "and as the science and health community in general gets stronger and gets a bigger name for itself, we'll be able to attract better students and better faculty at all of the region's schools. It will be good for everyone."

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