Adam Smith, DO
The MHA faculty, classmates, and speakers are deeply invested in your growth, and the program consistently makes you feel connected to a larger community of healthcare leaders.
I’m a psychiatric resident at Nuvance/Northwell Health and a Captain in the U.S. Army Reserves. In my current role, I provide psychiatric care across a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings, working closely with multidisciplinary teams to support patients with complex mental health needs. I’m passionate about improving the systems that shape healthcare delivery, which led me to collaborate on a post-discharge follow-up initiative and contribute to a Joint Commission audit focused on patient safety. As a first-generation college graduate and former Navy sailor, I bring a diverse background shaped by service, resilience, and a deep commitment to equity in healthcare. My goal is to lead transformational change in hospital systems and expand access to high-quality mental health care on a broader scale.
Outside of work I love staying active and hands-on. I’m into running, weightlifting, and playing tennis, and I’ve also gotten into woodworking. Mindfulness is a regular part of my routine, and I enjoy reading nonfiction, especially books that challenge how I think or help me grow personally and professionally.
What drew you to pursue an MHA degree?
What drew me to pursue an MHA was the growing realization that many of the barriers my patients face aren’t always clinical, they’re also systemic. I’ve seen firsthand how operational inefficiencies, poor coordination, and access issues can undermine even the best care.
As someone who naturally gravitates toward leadership and problem-solving, I want to be part of fixing those systems, not just working around them.
Why Dartmouth?
What drew me to Dartmouth’s MHA program was the unique integration of the Tuck School of Business and the Geisel School of Medicine. I saw this intersection as a significant advantage, combining rigorous training in business strategy and leadership with a strong grounding in healthcare delivery and health equity. That dual perspective is clearly reflected in the curriculum, which goes beyond traditional management training to emphasize equity, systems thinking, and real-world healthcare impact.
Additionally, the program felt particularly well aligned with my goals as an early-career physician. Many MHA programs are designed for individuals with five to ten years of administrative experience, whereas Dartmouth’s program intentionally supports clinicians earlier in their careers who are looking to develop leadership and operational skills alongside their clinical training.
What has been the best part of the program for you – so far?
The best part of the MHA program for me so far has been the in-person and virtual site visits incorporated into the residential experience. These visits have been particularly impactful because they translate concepts from coursework, such as healthcare operations, financial decision-making, and leadership tradeoffs, into real-world settings. Seeing how these principles are applied in hospitals and other healthcare organizations made the material far more concrete and memorable. Equally valuable was the opportunity to engage directly with healthcare leaders during these visits. Being able to ask questions and hear firsthand how decisions are made across different organizational contexts expanded my understanding beyond what can be conveyed through lectures alone and helped solidify how classroom learning applies to real operational challenges.
What are your career goals post-MHA?
My career goal post-MHA is to continue working as a clinician in a hospital setting while also taking on a formal leadership role, such as a medical director or a comparable physician-leader position. While I am still in residency and remain open to the specific opportunities that may be available at that time, my intention is to build a career that integrates clinical practice with operational and strategic leadership. I am confident that the training provided by Dartmouth’s MHA program, along with its extensive alumni and professional network, will position me well to identify and pursue roles that align with both my clinical expertise and leadership aspirations.
Is there anything else that you would tell a friend or colleague who was considering Dartmouth’s MHA program?
I would absolutely encourage them to do it. From my own experience, Dartmouth’s MHA program has been both intellectually challenging and genuinely supportive. The MHA faculty, classmates, and speakers are deeply invested in your growth, and the program consistently makes you feel connected to a larger community of healthcare leaders. I’ve found the experience to be not only professionally valuable, but personally motivating, and I would not hesitate to recommend it to a friend or colleague who is considering the program.