How Going Back for My MPA Boosted My Career in Healthcare
Since earning my Master of Public Administration (MPA) in 2022, my career has evolved in ways that allow me to directly apply the leadership, policy, and organizational management principles I studied. The program sharpened my ability to approach complex challenges with both analytical rigor and practical solutions. Three years after graduating, I have transitioned into a broader leadership role as Director of Procurement and Accounts Payable at Cornell Scott–Hill Health Center. In this capacity, I oversee purchasing, accounts payable, contracts, and cash management, with a focus on compliance, efficiency, and sustainability.
My MPA equipped me with the tools to align day-to-day operations with larger organizational goals. For example, I’m currently leading initiatives to improve vendor scorecards, streamline order approval processes, and implement automation that reduces manual work. These changes are not only technical improvements, they directly impact the financial health of our community health center and, by extension, the patients we serve. The ability to connect operational details to mission driven outcomes is one of the clearest through lines from my graduate studies to my current work.
Equally important, my MPA deepened my appreciation for collaborative leadership. I now supervise a cross-functional team, and I draw upon lessons in organizational behavior and performance management daily. Guiding staff development, promoting accountability, and ensuring equity in processes are central to how I lead.
Outside of my organization, I have continued to strengthen my leadership through my involvement with the National Association of Health Services Executives (NAHSE). As a Connecticut chapter leader, I help build programs that support professional development, networking, and mentorship for emerging health executives. This service complements my work by keeping me connected to broader conversations about equity and leadership in healthcare.
Together, my MPA education, professional responsibilities, and NAHSE engagement have positioned me to contribute both locally and nationally to advancing healthcare operations and leadership.
Contributed by: Miriam Correia, ’22 MPA