A few years ago, I found myself itching for something more. I already had a good job in hospital finance, a CPA, and a degree in accounting (after going back to school later in life to get it). But I wanted a new challenge. Not just a better title or another box to check — something that stretched me, taught me something new, and brought new value to the work I was already doing.

Why MSQM?

While researching various master’s degree options, I found Duke’s MSQM: Health Analytics program. I thought about how much data is involved in making financial decisions, and I wanted to further my understanding of the health care industry. This was a degree I could make my own.

I started the program with a full-time job, a wife, and four young kids, including a one-year-old. I’m not going to pretend it didn’t require sacrifice. But once we hit a good cadence, it became surprisingly manageable. I only missed a kid’s soccer game or two, and I was still able to take family trips and be present for my people. Plus, I like to think my kids saw something valuable in it: that hard work pays off, and learning doesn’t stop when you become a grown-up.

Embracing My Team

From the very first online meet-and-greet to the final group project, there was this thread of intentionality running through the MSQM program. The faculty, the format, and the structure of the coursework all felt thoughtfully designed, not just to teach, but to empower.

One of the biggest surprises for me was how much I genuinely enjoyed the team aspect. We were split into cohorts, and I made friendships I didn’t see coming. I found myself rooting for these people — people from different backgrounds and motivations. Somehow, it worked. Really well.

The professors were a huge part of that, too. With a kind of quiet confidence, they were clearly brilliant, always kind, and genuinely supportive. They talked to us as if it were understood that we would go on to do great things — not if but when. One professor I met during an intensive (which is what they called our on-campus weekends) even made time for a one-on-one call months after I’d graduated. He wasn’t obligated to help me figure out a next step in my career, but he did. He even followed up later, just to check in. That kind of support sticks with you.

The In-Person Experience

Getting to be on campus in-person was a highlight for me. The place itself is beautiful, and there’s something energizing about being in a setting like that with people who are all in it with you. Those weekends gave us a chance to connect face-to-face, have deeper conversations, and really take in the atmosphere. It was the perfect balance: not so frequent that it was a burden to travel, but enough to make the experience feel real and grounded. I looked forward to those trips every time.

Not long after finishing the program, I found myself in conversations about a new role that felt like a great fit. It was with a large, reputable nonprofit health system connected to a strong medical school — an excellent opportunity, and one that I believe the MSQM helped open the door for. The data analytics focus, in particular, came up in the interview and has already proved valuable in how I approach strategic decisions in my new role.

Looking back on my time at Duke, I feel proud, but I feel even more grateful…for the people I met, for the ideas I was exposed to, and for the unexpected benefits of the program.

And while it’s nice to have my Saturday mornings back, I miss being a part of it.