Alumna uses MBA/MSN to open sixth clinic for ambulatory OB/GYN outpatients

Nearly five years into her current position, Jennifer Hrabowski (MBA/MSN ’10) is in the process of opening her sixth women’s health clinic at Emory Healthcare.

Hrabowski serves as the Administrator of Clinic Operations for the Women’s Center in the Emory University health care system. Her job duties include launching and operating the ambulatory OB/GYN outpatient clinics.

Working in women’s health services her entire career, Hrabowski started at Johns Hopkins Hospital overseeing women’s surgery in the operating room. While part of the Johns Hopkins health care system, she felt it was the perfect opportunity to further her education with a graduate degree and enrolled in a certificate program.

“I wanted to be sure I could balance school while working full-time before pursuing the dual degree. And the ease of how the certificate program fit into my schedule made the decision that much easier to continue and pursue the MBA/MSN degree at Carey,” said Hrabowski.

With the convenience of traditional, online, and evening classes, the dual degree program fit into Hrabowski’s schedule, allowing her to work full-time then seamlessly transition into a student at night.

Unique qualifications

Now at Emory, Hrabowski credits her Carey education for providing her with the ability to act as a better patient advocate, optimizing outcomes and safety measures, while providing valuable insight for improving the quality and cost-effectiveness of healthcare at the clinics.

“I never realized how unique my education was until I came into this position at Emory. To have the MSN and the MBA, especially from a university like Johns Hopkins, I have the perfect balance. I acclimate to situations quicker and can better command a room,” said Hrabowski.

Her daily responsibilities include both the clinical and business side of operations, tapping into strategies for what is needed to run an efficient business while also thinking like a provider.

“I certainly need to know business strategies, but I also need to think like a clinician on issues pertaining to our providers and patients. I have to combine the two skills so the clinics make sense from both ends. And it’s now much easier to understand because of the extra tools I have gained from Carey,” Hrabowski said.

Because her role has so many facets, Hrabowski attributes the dual degree for the capability to marry the clinical and business aspects of building, opening, and operating the clinics.

“My role does it all – HR, budgeting, managing inventory, surgical scheduling, and more – it keeps me interested. I’m able to collaborate much more having both sets of expertise than if I only graduated with one. And I have no qualms when speaking about medical or business terminology. The dual degree really set me up for success,” she said.

Her parting words were for prospective MBA/MSN students: “Just start. Carey makes it so easy for the working professional. With the flexibility you have in the program, the reward far outweighs anything you could imagine.”