From ISU to Healthcare Leadership: How Blake Rose Built a Career of Purpose, Service, and Heart

POCATELLO, Idaho––Blake Rose, a 2010 graduate of Idaho State University (ISU), had not yet decided whether he would study law or business when he started his undergraduate studies. Along the way, he discovered his interests spanned both language and leadership, earning degrees in Spanish and Business Administration—preparing him for a career that would eventually take him to a hospital’s executive suite.

Now, he works as the Chief Operating Officer of Idaho Falls Community Hospital (formerly Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center), where he oversees hospital administration, a fast-paced world that he masterfully operates with confidence and compassion. “There’s a lot of variety, and I get to work with people,” he says. “I’m a people person, and healthcare is meaningful work—it’s about taking care of people.”

ISU was a natural choice for Rose, since he grew up in Idaho Falls. ISU was close to his home, a school he could afford, and a place that offered both language and business programs. “It was pretty easy,” he recalls. “Some of my friends were going there, and they had the programs I was interested in.”

At the beginning, he preferred law school, but he also had some interest in the business world. He was a fluent Spanish speaker, and so he decided to double major in Spanish. With this major, he earned his credits rapidly and made his graduate school applications stronger.

Not long after graduating from ISU, he completed his MBA at Grand Canyon University and later began his PhD. coursework, though he has yet to complete his doctoral degree.

After completing his bachelor’s degree, he started working in leadership development programs at AT&T in Pocatello. He got offers for positions in Dallas and Atlanta, but he soon realized that it was not a trajectory he preferred.

“One of my former colleagues convinced me to try healthcare, and I’ve been doing that ever since,” Rose says.

This choice of starting a healthcare career took him from Eastern Washington to the University of Utah for a few years, then to Tacoma, Washington, for about four and a half years. He then moved back to Utah about three years ago and ultimately returned to Idaho last winter. “I’ve moved a lot,” he laughs, “but it feels good to be back home now.”

When Rose thinks back to his time at ISU, he gratefully remembers some mentors for making lasting impacts on him. Especially, he remembers Professor James Fogelquist, PhD., who was the former chair of the Department of Spanish, and Judge Randy Smith, who taught business law classes in the College of Business. “Dr. Fogelquist was awesome, and Judge Smith’s class was phenomenal,” Rose says. “They really got me thinking about education, law, and the kind of career I wanted.”

He worked full-time while in school, and so he was unable to take part in extracurricular activities as much as he would have liked. Rose says that it was the classes and professors at ISU that shaped his professional trajectory. “It was the professors and my peers who helped me start to explore different career paths. The network I built was really valuable.”

When asked if he has any advice for the current students, he sounds unhesitant: “Don’t limit yourself. You can do anything you want. You just have to think big and work hard.” Whatever their career choice may be, be it working as doctors, teachers, or engineers, he thinks students should explore all that is possible, be inquisitive, and be flexible about accommodating change. “You don’t have to know your entire path right away. Just be curious and figure out what it takes to get where you want to go.”

Rose hadn’t stayed closely connected with ISU after graduation, largely because he moved out of Idaho. However, he has recently established connections with ISU for mentoring or guest speaking in the Healthcare Administration program.

Other than his work, he remains engaged with the community through board service and volunteer leadership. He says that such activities keep him rooted. “There are lots of ways to give back. You don’t have to be on campus to support your community or help the next generation,” Rose says.

Rose also mentions, “Think big and work hard. Don’t box yourself into one path—explore and go after it.”.

About our contributor: Suraiya Nasrin is a former Graduate Instructor in the Department of English and Philosophy at Idaho State University, where she taught first-year composition and English as a Second Language. She holds a Master of Arts in English from both Idaho State University and the Islamic University, Kushtia, Bangladesh. Her research focuses on rhetoric and composition, multimodal pedagogy, material culture studies, and environmental humanities, with particular interest in how infographics enhance students’ creativity and critical thinking. Suraiya is also an experienced student mentor, committed to fostering inclusive and engaging learning environments.