Two Degrees. One Friendship. A Shared Path in Healthcare Leadership.
Posted on March 9, 2026 by Daniel Curtis
For Professional Health Sciences alumni Jazmyn Wright and Mariah Grice, a South education did not end at graduation. It grew into a second degree, a close friendship and careers built around keeping complex healthcare operations running smoothly.
Both Wright and Grice earned a Bachelor of Science in Professional Health Sciences from the University of South Alabama. They knew of one another as PHS students, but they became best friends later in graduate school after reconnecting on campus and realizing they shared similar goals and values.
Wright arrived at South knowing she wanted to work in healthcare. Early on, she explored a physical therapy path, and an introductory class helped her clarify where she saw herself long term.
“I realized I still wanted to be in healthcare, but I was drawn more to leadership and operations than a direct clinical role,” Wright said. “A conversation with my advisor helped me see that PHS could give me the broad health foundation I wanted while also aligning with the direction I was headed.”
Offered through the Department of Emergency Medical Services, the Bachelor of Science in Professional Health Sciences (PHS) is designed for students who want a well-rounded background in health sciences without pursuing a specific professional degree. The program also supports students who begin in a pre-professional track and later change directions, allowing them to apply many of their completed credits toward the PHS degree. Graduates are prepared for a range of roles across healthcare settings, including administrative and operational career paths.
After completing PHS, both Wright and Grice continued their education at South, earning a master’s degree that supported their interest in healthcare administration and leadership.
Today, Wright serves as a Program Manager II for the University of Alabama at Birmingham Physician Assistant Studies Program, providing operational leadership and oversight for the program’s daily functions. Her work includes supporting coordination of academic and clinical schedules, managing student records and admissions operations, supporting accreditation and compliance efforts, and strengthening processes to improve consistency and long-term sustainability.
Grice is a Center Administrator with American Family Care (AFC) in the Birmingham area, where she manages the daily operations of an urgent care clinic, supports quality patient care, and mentors team members and students exploring careers in healthcare, including nursing, physician assistant studies and medicine.
Outside of work, the two share another connection that reflects their attention to detail and calm under pressure: volleyball officiating. Wright grew up playing volleyball and chose to take a break from competing during college. She later returned to the sport through her mother, who missed being involved in the game and became interested in officiating. Wright followed her lead, and the sport became an ongoing part of her life. Grice began officiating in 2023 after Wright encouraged her to try it, and the two now balance busy professional schedules with time on the court.
For Wright and Grice, PHS provided a foundation and flexibility. Together, their story reflects how the degree can support students as they discover what fits, build skills and pursue careers across healthcare systems.
Advice to current students
“This degree has so much to offer and provides a broad range of opportunities. Don’t
let that intimidate you. Find what you love doing. If it makes you happy, you’ll know
you are aligned with your purpose in life,” Grice said.