Highlighting Executive MBA Women in the Business of Healthcare

The underrepresentation of women in executive roles across industries, including healthcare, is well documented. According to the World Health Organization, in 2022, women accounted for 70% of the global healthcare workforce but held just 25% of senior positions.

Women in the Michigan Ross EMBA Program are forging paths to career advancement, gaining the multidisciplinary knowledge and skills for effective executive leadership while enacting positive change in their current roles.

To highlight their experience, we asked three women in the EMBA program about the importance of women in healthcare leadership positions, how they’ve been able to apply what they’re learning, and how they’re integrating the demands of the program with their personal and professional lives.

Keren Rosenblum, MD, FACOG, MBA ’25

Board chair and obstetrician/gynecologist

Why did you pursue a career in healthcare? 
My attraction to working in healthcare grew out of my interest in human biology, combined with a desire to positively impact both individuals and communities. A medical career has allowed me to develop diverse skills, pursue continuous learning, and foster unique and meaningful relationships with my patients.

Where do you hope your EMBA will take your career? 
Over my 15-year career as a physician, I have taken on a variety of leadership roles in my organization. In 2020, I transitioned to a predominantly administrative role and quickly recognized a need to bridge the clinical and business demands of running a physician practice. I hope that my EMBA will help me to better position myself as a liaison between the physician owners and the administrative leadership. I believe a successful future in healthcare requires a clinical organization to be facile and nimble in both clinical and business domains.

How are you applying what you’re learning to your current job? 
I have been surprised at how quickly my EMBA education has become relevant in my current role as board chair. Many of the quantitative skills we learned in accounting, finance, and statistics have facilitated my conversations with our finance department and have influenced our budgeting process. Concepts regarding leading organizational change, strategy, and insights from the leadership development program have impacted my communication with the board and other shareholders as we navigate complicated conversations related to charting a new strategic direction.

Why is it important to have women in leadership roles in healthcare? 
As we learned from Jeffrey Sanchez-Burks, leadership teams that are diverse are more innovative and perform better. I believe gender diversity is critical in helping healthcare leadership make decisions that are both more informed and more creative. While not unique to the healthcare industry, women face challenges regarding discrimination, pay inequity, and diminished opportunities for advancement. Advocacy around these issues can be enhanced by leaders who have personal experiences to inform their recommendations for change. Additionally, mentorship is essential in helping to identify and grow aspiring leaders; organizations must have women in leadership to serve as role models and inspiration.

How do you integrate school into your busy work/life? 
I have found it more challenging than I originally anticipated to integrate my EMBA work demands into an already busy life with a full-time job and a large family. My husband and children are incredibly supportive of my choice to pursue this degree and encourage me to take the time I need to do my EMBA work. My kids like to sit and work on our homework together! I am also lucky that my employer provides strong institutional support for my EMBA pursuits, which allows me to integrate graduate work into my work week.

What or who inspires you?
My greatest inspiration comes from my children, my husband, and my colleagues. I am lucky to be surrounded by people who are kind, compassionate, dedicated, and resilient.

Melissa Grier, MD ’01, FACOG, MBA ’25

Physician site director, Ob Hospitalist Group

Why did you pursue a career in healthcare? 
I was attracted to medical school because I was intrigued by the challenge. The potential magnitude that society at large benefits from the personal investments of medical students, medical residents, and ultimately practicing physicians was a clarion call to me.

Where do you hope your EMBA will take your career?  
Choosing to work toward an EMBA really is a manifestation of what I can now call a growth mindset. The education, so far, has given me tools that I believe can widen the impact I can have professionally.

How are you applying what you’re learning to your current job? 
I am currently involved in several supply chain products at my hospital, and I love that I have
become familiar with new principles which I think are of extreme importance in the delivery of healthcare.

Why is it important to have women in leadership roles in healthcare? 
This is an easy question because roughly half of humankind is born a woman. Women are
uniquely qualified to contribute critical understanding to many aspects of healthcare delivery, from management of healthcare workers, healthcare support staff, and of course, the safe delivery of care to patients.

How do you integrate school into your busy work/life? 
Going to school while working has been one of the most insightful lessons. I am learning to really rely on collaboration with classmates. I have also used this practice to exercise greater discipline in self-care – I am referring to a healthy diet, exercise, and adequate sleep. I cannot emphasize enough how working toward my EMBA has differed from my medical degree. I have a much greater appreciation of the luxury and privilege of education, and I am trying to savor it all – including the balance.

What or who inspires you? 
Lately, I have drawn inspiration from my great-grandmother. She was born in Tennessee in 1878 and passed away more than a decade before I was born, so we have not met. I may have created a mythology around this woman, and I am told she was brilliant. I am acutely aware that I have benefited from opportunities of which she could not have dreamed. Aware of the contrast between the two of us, I like to imagine I can harness her strength, intelligence, and wisdom to do what might seem impossible.

Erika Newman, MD, FAAP, FACS, MBA ’25

Chief, Pediatric Surgery
Associate Professor of Surgery, Michigan Medicine

Why did you pursue a career in healthcare? 
I pursued a career in healthcare because of my profound interest in the sciences and a deep-rooted desire to have a meaningful impact on the lives of others, especially children facing health challenges. My specialty in pediatric surgery and surgical oncology, particularly in the care of children with solid tumors, reflects my passion for making a difference in the lives of my young patients and their families.

Where do you hope your EMBA will take your career? 
My goals are to elevate each individual in the team around me, learners, and patients, to influence policy, advocate for systemic changes, and further advance healthcare equity. I envision leveraging the business acumen gained to enhance my effectiveness as a leader in academic medicine and beyond, contributing to a transformation in how healthcare is delivered and managed.

How are you applying what you’re learning to your current job? 
I am applying what I’ve learned through my extensive medical and leadership experiences by championing diversity, equity, and inclusion across all levels of our institution. I am implementing evidence-based practices in clinical care, educating the next generation of surgeons with cutting-edge knowledge, and leading by example to create an environment where excellence is synonymous with diversity and inclusivity.

Why is it important to have women in leadership roles in healthcare? 
Having women in leadership roles in healthcare is crucial because it brings diverse perspectives to the forefront, mirroring the diversity of our patient population. I believe that when female voices are represented in leadership, we can more effectively shape the culture and policies of our organizations to improve patient care, serve as role models for other women, and work towards closing the gender gap in healthcare leadership.

How do you integrate school into your busy work/life? 
It requires disciplined scheduling and time management. It also means setting clear priorities and boundaries to maintain a balance while ensuring that I remain committed to providing the highest level of care to my patients while driving excellence in my various leadership roles and being present for my teams.

What or who inspires you?
I am inspired by the courage of my young patients and their families, the dedication of my colleagues and learners in pediatric surgery, the many professional medical societies with which I am involved, and the collective commitment we all share to improve healthcare outcomes. My role in driving initiatives like the Michigan Promise stimulates continuous learning and an eagerness to push for innovative solutions in surgical care and health equity. Above all, my faith in God and my family — my husband Robert, my daughter Gabi, and my son Grayson — are my perfect peace and remind me daily of what matters most, and all that is good in the world.