Is an Executive MHA Right for You? One Doctor’s Journey to Transformative Leadership in Health Care
NATIVE CONTENT ADVERTORIAL | Brought to you by: Cornell University
Are you eager to drive systemic change in health care? Cornell’s Executive Master of Health Administration program can position you for success. Learn more at https://publicpolicy.cornell.edu/masters/sloan/emha.
In today’s dynamic health care environment, physicians are looking beyond clinical roles to make a broader impact on the system. Whether it's navigating health care policy, leading innovative care models or tackling population health challenges, an Executive Master of Health Administration (EMHA) could be the next step for those looking to shape the industry’s future. But is it the right path for you?
For Minesh Patel, MD, MHA, the answer was clear. After practicing medicine for over 15 years, Patel found himself at a crossroads in his career. His desire to influence systemic health care change led him to pursue an Executive Master of Health Administration at Cornell University’s Sloan Program in Health Administration, and it proved to be a transformative decision.
From Physician to Health Care Leader
Before enrolling in Cornell’s EMHA program, Patel was already an experienced physician, but he realized that to create meaningful change on a larger scale, he needed new skills and a broader perspective. “I think the EMHA helps you understand where the landscape is going. When people get to the hospital, it’s too late. When you’re ill, it’s too late; prevention has already failed. And I think that’s what I wanted to do,” Patel said.
This realization drove him to explore how he could better address the health care system's underlying issues, particularly around health policy and prevention. The EMHA program at Cornell became the perfect vehicle for Patel to pivot from direct patient care to a leadership role in health care transformation. What drew him to the program was not just its Ivy League prestige, but its deep focus on health care policy, law and management—subjects that are essential for tackling the complex issues he cared about most.
“Health care spending is $4.9 trillion, which is about 18% of our GDP. It’s a massive, massive problem. It’s very fragmented. One person can’t fix it,” Patel said. “A lot of the programs, MBA programs, will not focus exclusively on health care policy, health care law, health care entrepreneurship, startup funding.”
A Flexible, High-Impact Program for Busy Professionals
For health care professionals who were already balancing a demanding career and personal commitments, the flexibility of Cornell's EMHA program is crucial. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the program offered a robust online learning platform that allowed Patel to continue practicing medicine while earning his degree. As a father with a young child, he also appreciated the program's flexibility in terms of scheduling and location.
But it wasn't just about flexibility. Cornell’s EMHA also gave Patel access to a diverse network of peers in health care, many of whom came from varied backgrounds in policy, life sciences, and consulting, in addition to hospitals and health systems. This diversity was essential in shaping his broader perspective of the industry.
“That is what’s important to health care. We want different views because health care is for all. From a social perspective, I think it’s really important to have and create those leaders who can go out there and demonstrate a level of change that an organization deserves,” Patel said.
The Value of the Cornell Network
One of the most significant benefits Patel found in the Cornell EMHA program was the opportunity to expand his professional network. He credits the program’s connections for opening doors to new career opportunities, from his role at ChenMed — a primary care organization for seniors — to his current position at McKinsey, where he leads the health care practice focused on social health care and public sector entities.
"The Executive Master in Health Administration at Sloan has had a really big impact . . . on the ethos of who I am," Patel said. “It has completely changed my feeling on what I want to actually do in the next decade. I live in D.C., and I'm dabbling into health policy, because even if you make a 1% change, it changes the lives of millions of people.”
As someone who had initially envisioned a more traditional career path in health care leadership, Patel’s journey took an unexpected turn into consulting and venture capital. The exploration of career options is part of what makes the Cornell EMHA a valuable investment. The program provides a platform for leaders to reinvent themselves and explore new, high-impact areas of health care.
Is an Executive MHA Right for You?
An EMHA program can help you gain critical skills in health care policy, economics and leadership—knowledge that can make a profound impact on your career. Whether you want to move into policy, start a health care venture or lead an innovative health care organization, the EMHA can be the catalyst for that transformation.
Cornell’s EMHA, the only hybrid CAHME-accredited executive degree program from an Ivy League institution, provides an unrivaled experience for health care professionals. In the program, you will learn from esteemed faculty in an online format, combined with two week-long sessions on Cornell’s campus in Ithaca, New York, and one weekend session in Boston.
Patel’s advice for anyone considering the program is simple: “Take the risk. Jump in. You’ll be surprised by what you can learn and where it can take you.”
Earn the Cornell EMHA to position yourself for success in the future of health care.
The application for the Class of 2026 is now open. The last deadline to apply is Monday, March 17, 2025. Learn more and apply today.
NATIVE CONTENT ADVERTORIAL | Brought to you by: Cornell University
Learn more at https://publicpolicy.cornell.edu/masters/sloan/emha.
