Emilia Adams moved to Nashville—a city full of stages and live events—to further her career as a stage designer. She’s had the opportunity to design stages and layouts for a number of major events, from the CMT Music Awards to the 2019 NFL Draft to concerts for big-name country artists like Luke Bryan.

In 2020, she entered a different stage in her career, joining Vanderbilt University Medical Center to work in the areas of facilities support and operations improvement. “Although I gained exposure to the academic enterprise and worked on diverse projects,” she says, “I was eager to broaden my horizons and gain a deeper understanding of VUMC’s inner workings. I was particularly interested in learning about the different organizations that drive patient care and how we operate as a whole.”

Emilia learned about the MMHC from a director at the medical center, with whom she worked closely. “What drew me to the program,” she says, “was its commitment to having a diverse cohort and providing a comprehensive understanding of the healthcare industry and systems.”

For a full-time professional, managing the demands of both the program and workplace is inevitably challenging. However, notes Emilia, “The program is very well balanced. There are some weeks or modules when the workload seems greater, but then the workload in other modules is spread out.”

It also helped, she found, to be able to study with her classmates—who come from a variety of backgrounds within healthcare—and to learn from them. “Both my peers and alumni have played a significant role in shaping my experience in the program,” Emilia says.

Now, she believes she has a platform for further growth in the field. “My education,” she says, “will be a valuable asset as I explore other specialties, navigate the healthcare industry, collaborate with others, and come to be viewed as a thought partner.”