About a year ago, I decided to join the MSQM: Health Analytics program because I wanted to double down on my learning in health. I had recently completed my MBA from another institution. Although the MBA was a wonderful experience, I wanted to enhance my abilities by learning hard skills in the quantitative space. I knew the MSQM: HA program was going to be an excellent choice, but I didn’t realize how powerful Team Fuqua really was and how connected to the university I was going to feel in the online program.

Opportunities Are Everywhere

One of my tenets is to do my best to make an impact in all the experiences I take on—academically, personally, and professionally. Above all, I strive to provide value in some capacity or exceed expectations. I couldn’t believe how many opportunities were provided in the MSQM: HA program. I was fortunate to be selected as a career fellow with the Career Management Center (CMC). Later, I took on the admissions fellow position as it fit my work and family priorities more appropriately. We are expecting our first baby in our family, so as you can imagine, it is a very exciting and busy time. As I learned more throughout my first term about the leadership opportunities, I was excited these experiences were available to MSQM students and I couldn’t wait to apply!

Despite the MSQM program being largely online, there are many opportunities to connect with my classmates, our dean, our program directors and to Fuqua in general. Throughout our program, we have at least four events that bring us to Duke University, including Orientation, a leadership intensive after our second term, a data visualization summit before our fifth term and graduation. These are all opportunities to meet live at Duke to spend time with our classmates and program, build our network and make memories to last a lifetime.

Program Interconnectivity and Hands-On Learning

Wanting to learn more about private equity, I approached Associate Dean Jeremy Petranka about the possibility of doing an Independent Study with Revival Healthcare Capital, a private equity firm based in Austin, TX specializing in the Medical Device and Diagnostic space. From there I received nothing but support from him to create this unique opportunity. I connected with two students in the residential MQM program to take a deep dive into a project on ambulatory surgery centers. Our group looked at their landscape in reference to the robotics space.

Not only was it worthwhile to learn more about private equity, but being able to connect, work and learn from two students that were in a different program allowed me to see just how connected Team Fuqua really is.

No matter what program you are in, residential or virtual, you are at the very core of Team Fuqua.