I’m a physician and have been on faculty at Duke University going on six years as an endocrinologist who specializes in thyroid diseases. For the last two years, I have been the vice chief of clinical affairs for the Division of Endocrinology.

Why an MBA

This current leadership role opened my eyes to healthcare management and clinical operations, and how to redesign healthcare delivery models while maintaining profit and quality. My department chair and mentor suggested I explore Duke’s Weekend Executive MBA (WEMBA) program, as I would like to grow my career in healthcare leadership, but felt I was missing the tools for the next step.

Admissions Process

When I was researching the program I attended an open house, hosted by admissions, which provided amazing insight into what the program can offer. Since I was additionally interested in pursuing the Health Sector Management (HSM) certificate, it helped shed some light on that program as well. Everybody at the event and on the admissions team was incredibly helpful, willing to answer questions and to offer you contact information for additional resources. I considered other MBA programs and ones specifically for physicians. I am very happy and proud that Fuqua and I chose each other.

Classmates, Faculty and Staff

Since I come from a background in medicine, the networking with non-physicians and with classmates from a wealth of backgrounds is a phenomenal asset of the program. The team and case-based learning is very applicable to the business world and is a major attribute of the program and of my learning thus far. This is the fifth institution I have attended across my training, and I am extremely impressed at the quality of the teaching, the content of the courses and the well-rounded, big picture support offered by Fuqua including networking opportunities, career management services and the dedication to enable us to make the most of this program.

The WEMBA program is enriched with guest speakers across many industries and other seminars to enhance our overall experience. It is amazing how much I have learned in the last year. I really feel the faculty and staff are passionate about their educational mission, and have perfected molding this executive MBA into a program that meets the needs of many students from a plethora of industries.

Program Benefits

We’ve completed about two-thirds of the program, and to date, Fuqua has already armed me with a toolbox and a better understanding of business processes and operations. As a result, I have been able to deliver an enhanced performance in my job, and have become a more effective clinical director and operations leader. Even as a busy physician, wife, and mother of two children, the program is structured such that the time required is very manageable. The team-based learning really helped with this as it enhances my learning experience and learning efficiency.

The Fuqua School of Business for me, has been a tremendously good fit and I am grateful for the education and experiences as I prepare for the next path in my career.