Nate Quiala
Something I have come to realize with time is that business and medicine are inextricably linked when it comes to the health care industry. To develop an understanding of how health care operates means to appreciate the relationship between clinical excellence and operational efficiency, and that cannot be accomplished through a sole lens or school of thought.
I have over ten years of experience in administrative, executive, and organizational support roles in luxury hospitality, consulting, and health care. I currently work as an Executive Assistant at VillageMD, a value-based primary care company. I graduated in 2021 from City Colleges of Chicago with an AAS in Communications, and in 2024 from DePaul University where I majored in healthcare administration and minored in legal and political affairs communication.
In my spare time I enjoy going to concerts, playing video games, trying new restaurants, or watching documentaries.
What drew you to pursue an MHA degree?
When I started working at VillageMD in 2019, I was unsure what path I wanted to take professionally. During my first few months there, I quickly became intrigued by health care and realized that many skills I had developed supporting executives were easily transferable. When exploring graduate programs, I was considering an MBA but kept finding that I was more excited by the courses and work that comprised many of the MHA programs I was coming across.
Why Dartmouth?
Something I have come to realize with time is that business and medicine are inextricably linked when it comes to the health care industry. To develop an understanding of how health care operates means to appreciate the relationship between clinical excellence and operational efficiency, and that cannot be accomplished through a sole lens or school of thought. Dartmouth’s MHA program is delivered as a partnership between the Tuck Business School and Geisel Medical School, offering a multidisciplinary curriculum with faculty expertise from both critical areas affecting health care.
Geisel provides deep insights into health care systems, patient care, and the intricacies of medical practice, ensuring that graduates understand the clinical side of health care. Meanwhile, Tuck imparts critical management, finance, strategy, and leadership skills essential to running effective health care organizations. This duality creates professionals capable of navigating health care’s clinical and business aspects.
Dartmouth MHA graduates will be better equipped to drive innovation and improve patient outcomes while managing the financial sustainability of health care organizations.”
What has been the best part of the program for you – so far?
During our in-person residential sessions, we took site visits to various local health care facilities including an academic hospital, community access hospital, and free clinic. It was eye-opening to see firsthand how different health care organizations leverage vastly different funding and resources to accomplish similar goals.
What are your career goals post-MHA?
Government relations and health policy are two areas that I came into the program wanting to learn more about. I would love to partner with government officials and agencies to improve policies and models, particularly those related to preventive medicine and inequities. Many of the disparities and problems we see throughout the American health system today stem from legislative decisions, many of which have yet to evolve with the times.
What would you tell a friend or colleague who was considering Dartmouth’s MHA program?
When I began my MHA search, I felt as if the other schools I spoke to were trying to sell me something rather than trying to understand what I was looking for as a student. From the start, the Dartmouth MHA admissions team and staff expressed a genuine interest in my background and goals and were fully engaged throughout my application process. Their authenticity and sincere support for my personal and professional development made them my first choice.