Dr. Stacy Tarradath earned her Executive Master’s in Health Administration (EMHA) online in 2015, and now serves as the Site Medical Director for AltaMed’s Viva Gold program. The EMHA program fostered her healthcare leadership skills, which she uses to expand accessible, high-quality care.
Q: What motivated you to pursue the Executive Masters in Health Administration online program?
A: During my fellowship at Harbor-UCLA, my mentor told me I had strong leadership qualities. He advised me to consider a career in healthcare leadership, but to transition to that stage, I would need an advanced degree. I’m still a practicing clinical leader, and I strongly believe that you can’t lead clinicians without understanding and experiencing their work yourself.
After a meaningful conversation with my mentor about my future, I decided to apply to USC. For me, it encompassed everything I needed for leadership through business, public health, and advocacy. Coming into the program without formal leadership skills, the breadth of the program gave me the foundation skills I needed to lead, which stood out.
Q: What were your healthcare leadership goals coming into the program?
A: My main goal was to build leadership experience. Many of my classmates already held leadership titles, and I struggled with imposter syndrome. I already had leadership experience from running an entire service in a hospital during my fellowship, but I didn’t realize it [counted] at the time. I remember thinking, “I don’t belong here”, and the uncertainty strengthened my building blocks of leadership.
Q: What was your academic experience with the online modality and in-person residencies?
A: The online modality was very well set up. The best part about it was the ability to work full-time, with an easy transition into academics. The expectations, structure, and communication were clear, making the program manageable for working professionals.
The in-person residencies were the highlight of the program. We had an amazing cohort, and many of us are still in touch. It strengthened the bonds between my classmates. My out-of-state classmates were always looking forward to interacting with our engaging professors and great speakers. The residencies tied everything together.
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Find Out MoreQ: How did you balance your academics with personal and professional commitments?
A: It was a learning curve finding that balance. The program’s structure made it manageable because we knew what to expect, and it allowed us to plan ahead. My classmates were always so engaged and understanding, which made group projects easier.
Q: What were your interactions with professors and peers like?
A: Extremely positive. I admired my classmates. They were all incredibly accomplished, with many holding titles such as medical directors or chief operating officers, which I admired. I didn’t realize that I impressed them as well. We had great respect for each other, and we formed strong friendships, discussing everything from school to work.
My professors were all energetic, engaged, and wanted to pass their knowledge on to us. They respected us because they knew we were working professionals, parents, and growing our families. They were also personable outside of teaching, and wanted to know about you.
Q: Was there a project you did in the EMHA program that you’re particularly proud of, and how do you think it helped prepare you for your future?
A: Our financial project was the one I am most proud of because it was so challenging. We had to calculate the Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) for various healthcare organizations assigned to us, which proved to be a challenging task.
Finance was my weakest area, and it challenged me. However, the fact that I was able to overcome the challenge and be a valuable partner to my group was a significant achievement. That was my proudest moment, because it was one where it pushed me to grow in an area that sometimes makes me anxious.
Q: What foundational skills did you learn that were most impactful to your career?
A: Leading people was the biggest skill. The most impactful aspect of leading people is building trust. With every position I take on, I know the first thing I have to do is get to know the people that I’m working with. I cannot come in there and start problem-solving without getting to know them, understanding who they are, and then moving forward.
The EMHA program was cohesive across all aspects of healthcare leadership. It set the building blocks for me to grow as a leader. I still rely on those blocks whenever I am faced with a career challenge.
Q: Would you recommend the EMHA program to prospective students, and what advice would you give?
A: Yes, I would absolutely recommend the online program to any prospective students. My advice to them would be to listen to professors and colleagues. They have a wealth of information and can teach you something due to their years of experience and their position. The professors are there to teach you, but it’s also about sitting down and listening to your colleagues, their experiences, where they want to go, and how they got to where they are today. Everyone has a great story.
Learn more about the USC Price Executive Master of Health Administration Online.
