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Cornell Executive MBA/MS in Healthcare Leadership

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An Ivy League MBA for Healthcare Professionals

From expanding hospital networks to advances in biotechnology, the healthcare field is rapidly changing—and this fast-paced industry needs competent, innovative leaders like never before.

Our industry-immersive program is the only dual-degree program of its kind in the Ivy League. Whether you’re an executive looking to deepen your industry knowledge or a clinician who wants to strengthen your business acumen, Cornell’s Executive MBA/Master’s in Healthcare Leadership allows you to advance your career without putting it on hold.

What to Expect: EMBA/MS Program Overview

Accelerate your healthcare career without putting it on hold. The Johnson School’s New York City-based executive MBA program was designed for ambitious leaders across the healthcare sector—from clinicians to administrators—to pursue a graduate education while working full-time. As you take classes on alternating weekends, you’ll be able to apply what you’re learning immediately.

Degrees Awarded

An MBA and an MS from Cornell University

Location

Roosevelt Island, New York City

Program Format

Classes every other Saturday and half-day Sunday with residential sessions in Ithaca, NY, and New York City

Program Schedule

22 months of classes starting in July

You’ll be part of a close-knit cohort of healthcare professionals and business executives with a range of educational and professional backgrounds. Our students come to the EMBA program with healthcare leadership experience in academic hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, community health organizations, insurance providers, and other health services, consulting, and technology companies.

View Program Profile

Aerial view of the Cornell Tech campus on Roosevelt Island with Manhattan in the background.

The Intersection of Business and Healthcare Leadership: Why Cornell for Your EMBA?

Unique in the Ivy League, our innovative program allows you to graduate with two degrees: an executive MBA from the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management and a master’s in healthcare leadership from the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences. Throughout the 22-month program, you’ll learn from expert faculty members from both schools and from your classmates. This class brings healthcare professionals and business experts into one cohort, creating opportunities to gain insights from both disciplines and form a comprehensive understanding of this dynamic industry.

You’ll take courses every other weekend at the Tata Innovation Center at Cornell Tech on Roosevelt Island in New York City, and come together as a cohort for four weeklong residencies—two in New York City and two at our beautiful, historic Ithaca campus.

Student Stories: A Practitioner and a Business Professional in the Public Health Sector Share Their Experience

Nick Gavin, an emergency room physician, and Neiger Green, a program analyst with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), appreciated many things about this dual-degree program. They agree that Cornell’s collaborative and engaging learning environment allowed them to expand their professional networks. As clinicians and leaders from public health, IT, and community health organizations came together, they were able to discuss challenges and see how everyone at every level can be part of innovative solutions.



The Future of Healthcare | Nick Gavin, MD & Neiger Green, PMP

The Future of Healthcare: Hear from Students

Students share how learning alongside physician leaders, administrators, health policy experts, and other industry professionals gives them a greater appreciation of the healthcare ecosystem—and how their individual roles impact everyone around them.

Laura Ardizzone MBA/MS ’24

Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management
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Biography for Laura Ardizzone MBA/MS ’24

“The particular emphasis and focus on healthcare was important when I was looking for an MBA program. There are multiple programs around New York City metro area but none really that have such a unique focus on healthcare and leadership.”

Christian Pietz MBA/MS ’23

Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management
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Biography for Christian Pietz MBA/MS ’23

“The EMBA/MS program is designed to closely collaborate with classmates establishing and fostering friendships and networks. In this regard I highly appreciated that C-suite leaders from the healthcare industry joined our classes offering networking opportunities and enabling firsthand discussion of case studies with subject matter experts.”

Rashida Malcolm Bradley MBA/MS ’23

Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management
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Biography for Rashida Malcolm Bradley MBA/MS ’23

“[T]he program does an outstanding job recruiting a diverse cohort, who represent many sectors across the healthcare industry including insurance, biotech, medical device, doctors of all specialties, and more. This diversity facilitated many dynamic perspectives to multi-dimensional problems that many of us hope to tackle as we continue our careers.”

Peter Armanious MBA/MS ’23

Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management
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Biography for Peter Armanious MBA/MS ’23

“As healthcare is a continuously evolving environment, so is Cornell's EMBA/MS program adapting to these changes. Regular meetings between the class representatives and the administration were held. These meetings ensured that the program was meeting the evolving needs of the students. This was an immense benefit to all of our diverse needs throughout the program.”

M'Kayl Lewis MBA/MS ’23

Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management
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Biography for M'Kayl Lewis MBA/MS ’23

“The program was extremely applicable in my transition from a start-up culture to a corporate environment before, during, and after the acquisition of my company. I am equipped to continue to make an impact in my new environment.”

A Dynamic Learning Community Designed for You

When you join our program, you become part of a diverse and dynamic learning community. What you learn and share with each other during your 22 months together is a valuable part of the team-based learning experience.

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Where Business Meets Healthcare: The Power of a Professional Network

As a dual-degree student, you’ll not only make meaningful connections with classmates from across the healthcare space, but also engage with senior industry leaders from top organizations. Additionally, you’ll become part of a global alumni network of more than 250,000 Cornellians.

A few examples of formal and informal networking opportunities in the program include:

  • Luminaries in Healthcare Leadership speaker series
  • Lightning Talks—panel discussions with healthcare innovators
  • The Learning Table speaker series
  • Student organizations such as Johnson Healthcare Club and Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences’ Future of Care
  • Alumni events locally and beyond from the Johnson School and Weill Cornell

Discover Program Benefits

Business Breadth and Healthcare Depth: A Practical, Immediately Applicable Curriculum

Deepen your understanding of the healthcare sector while expanding your business acumen. This rich, multidisciplinary curriculum means you’ll learn from faculty members from the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management and the Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences.

Business Courses

Build foundational business knowledge and strengthen your leadership skills through courses such as:

  • Business Strategy
  • Managerial Finance
  • Managing Operations
  • Marketing Management
  • Product & Brand Strategies

Healthcare Leadership Courses

Dive into industry-specific leadership topics and contemporary healthcare issues through courses like:

  • Healthcare Negotiations
  • Health Informatics
  • Healthcare Policy & Incentives
  • Healthcare Innovation & Transformation
  • Evidence-Based Decision Making in Healthcare

Capstone Project

During this culminating course, you’ll work with a team of classmates and an industry partner to tackle a real-world business challenge.

Clients and projects change each year, but organizations represented often include:

  • Hospital systems
  • Community health organizations
  • Biotech companies
  • Pharmaceutical companies
  • Startups

In addition to the required business and healthcare leadership courses, you’ll round out your academic experience with electives. Options vary from year to year, but recent offerings have included Design Thinking in Healthcare; Mergers and Acquisitions; and Management Communication.

View Courses & Requirements

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Collaborative and Convenient: A Schedule That Works for You

Our program format is designed to work with your busy schedule – and also to work for your professional growth.

Over the course of 22 months, you will take classes every other weekend at Cornell Tech’s Roosevelt Island campus and participate in four weeklong residencies, two in New York City and two at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. Through it all, you will get to know your classmates and instructors well—including through an immersive, team-based capstone project.

The program is more than academics: You’ll also participate in professional development activities and have access to personalized career coaching.

View Program Format Details

MBA and Healthcare Leadership News and Updates

Our BusinessFeed features program updates, research news, profiles, and the latest accomplishments of our EMBA/MS students, staff, faculty, and alumni.

a young man wearing a Cornell sweatshirt and sunglasses standing in front of Sage Hall and smiling.
August 12, 2024

Building New Healthcare Partnerships: A Q&A with Durward Rackleff, EMBA/MS ’23

Career Corner: Healthcare expert Durward Rackleff pivoted from leading large quality improvement programs to promoting healthcare transformation.

A woman in a hard hast standing at a long white counter and gesturing to the large room with her left arm outstretched.
April 9, 2024

From Capital Project Owner to Consultant: A Q&A with Liezl Diaz, EMBA/MS ’21

Career Corner: Architect Liezl Diaz pivoted from managing capital projects for a healthcare provider to consulting for healthcare capital projects.

Nichele Nivens standing at the top of a hill with trees and shrubs, a valley, and hills in the background.
March 18, 2024

Nichele Nivens, MBA/MS ’24, Plans Startup to Help Expectant Moms

Nichele Nivens, MD, is developing a startup, Mom Majesty, that will help more women experience the support a doula can offer.

Applying to the EMBA/MS: What You Need to Know

Our admissions committee is looking for EMBA/MS candidates with demonstrated work experience and career progression. In your admissions essay, you’ll have a chance to tell us about your leadership experience and how this dual degree will help you reach your short- and long-term professional goals.

If you’re looking for preliminary feedback on your candidacy for the EMBA/MS in Healthcare Leadership program, we invite you to submit a pre-assessment or start a conversation with our admissions team.

View Admissions Requirements

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Getting Ready to Apply: Start with a Pre-Assessment

Wondering if Cornell’s Executive MBA/MS in Healthcare Leadership is a fit for your background and goals? Submitting a pre-assessment allows the admissions team to provide you with preliminary feedback on your candidacy.

Submit Pre-Assessment

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Connect with the EMBA Admissions Team

Our admissions team is ready to answer any questions about the program format, selection criteria, application deadlines, and other admissions-related details. Start the conversation by requesting more information or registering for an upcoming admissions event.

Request Information

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Cost of an EMBA/MS in Healthcare Leadership Degree

Invest in yourself with the EMBA/MS in Healthcare Leadership degree. Discover the total cost associated with enrolling in the program and exactly what is covered with tuition. Additionally, explore financing options to make the degree more affordable.

Explore Tuition & Financing

Application Dates and Deadlines

Applications for the Executive MBA/MS in Healthcare Leadership program in New York City are being accepted for the program’s July 2025 start. Contact the admissions office with any questions related to the application or deadlines.

The next application deadline is January 15, 2025.

Apply Now

Learn More: Attend an Admissions or Networking Event

Thinking about earning your executive MBA and master’s in healthcare leadership in our unique dual-degree program? We invite you to attend an upcoming admissions event, such as an online information session or an in-person breakfast meetup in New York City. At these events, you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about our program and speak with admissions representatives. We look forward to meeting you!

An Executive MBA for Healthcare Professionals and Business Leaders: Your Questions, Answered

There’s a lot to consider when deciding on a graduate business program. Maybe you’re wondering about options for an MBA in the medical field or what a dual-degree program entails. To help guide your decision, we compiled a few common questions we receive about the executive MBA/healthcare leadership program, including the benefits of combining these two degrees.

Next Steps: Applying to Johnson

Think our dual-degree executive MBA/master’s in healthcare leadership program is right for you? We can’t wait to learn more about your goals for leading and innovating in the healthcare sector. Start your application today.

Apply Now

Additional Cornell Programs: Finding the Right EMBA for You

In addition to our dual-degree, New York City-based EMBA/MS in Healthcare Leadership, the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management offers two other executive MBA programs:

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Cornell EMBA Metro NY

Ideal for executives based in the tri-state area, Cornell’s EMBA Metro NY program is immersive and convenient. Earn your degree on alternating weekends at our Roosevelt Island campus in New York City while continuing to work full-time.

View EMBA Metro NY Program

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Cornell EMBA Americas

Ideal for professionals who want an Ivy League MBA without relocating or putting their career on hold, this weekend-based program allows you to learn alongside international classmates from one of 20 locations across North and South America—or online from home.

View EMBA Americas Program