Once he completed his service as a submarine officer in the U.S. Navy, Ken Barnes thought he wanted to become a hospital administrator. But he wasn’t absolutely sure. He reasoned that pursuing an MBA “would allow time for me to take healthcare classes and work in a hospital during my summer internship, to provide the exposure I needed to make a more informed career decision.”

With its healthcare concentration and its nearly next-door connection to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the Vanderbilt MBA offered what Ken calls “the perfect choice.” He explains, “I’ve been able to observe a hip replacement in the OR, shadow nurses in the NICU, and listen to healthcare leaders from all aspects of the industry speak through my MBA classes.”

It helped, too, that Vanderbilt offers what Ken describes as “an incredibly welcoming program for veterans.” For those who qualify 100 percent for the GI Bill, he notes, Vanderbilt matches Yellow Ribbon program funding so that all tuition costs are covered. And, he says, “The faculty, staff, and students are extremely welcoming to those with military experience, and your perspective is valued in classroom discussions.”

During his time in Nashville, Ken helped start a small nonprofit called Urban Bicycle Food Ministry to serve people in the community affected by homelessness. After graduation, he left for Baltimore and a fellowship in hospital administration at Johns Hopkins Medicine. “I came to Owen for a high-caliber education where I could also be immersed in the healthcare industry, and Owen delivered. Through my healthcare classes, my MBA summer internship in a hospital, and my professional network gained at Vanderbilt, I have been able to rebrand myself as an aspiring healthcare leader, and I am excited and confident about launching my next career.”

Fun Fact: The summer before he came to Vanderbilt, Ken completed an 85-day, cross-country bicycle trip that covered 20 states and more than 5,000 miles.

I came to Owen for a high-caliber education where I could also be immersed in the healthcare industry, and Owen delivered.