Three soon-to-be graduates of East Tennessee State University’s Master of Health Administration (MHA) program in the College of Public Health have been selected for highly competitive administrative fellowships with major health care systems across the nation.

“Health care administrative fellowships are highly competitive, and ETSU’s MHA program is intentionally structured to help students prepare for those opportunities, as well as other leadership roles,” said Dr. Ryan Youngblood, the program’s director. “The program was built with the working professional in mind, so students are constantly connecting theory to real-world practice.”

For students pursuing health care administration, these fellowships are among the most prestigious early-career leadership opportunities, often attracting well over 100 applicants for a single position.

From Appalachia to the Midwest

For Will Easley, the opportunity is also a bridge between two worlds — the urban Midwest where he grew up and the rural Appalachian communities where he spent the past two years preparing for a career in health care leadership.

Easley, originally from Aurora, Illinois, will join Carle Health, an eight-hospital system serving central Illinois. He will primarily be based at Carle Foundation Hospital in Champaign, Illinois, the system’s flagship facility.

“If a patient is seeking health care in any capacity, it is likely to be one of the most stressful experiences they can have,” Easley said. “I’m interested in health administration because of the opportunity to improve these experiences — for both patients and clinicians — at a large scale during their most uncertain times.”

Easley said ETSU helped him develop the kind of perspective that stands out in competitive fellowship interviews.

“Since being at ETSU, I have gained a deepened appreciation for the challenges of addressing the rural health issues and disparities of Appalachia,” he said. “Being able to speak to those challenges built upon my perspective as someone from a more urban area like Chicagoland and made me a more well-rounded candidate.”

Impacting health in rural Florida

Holly Eaves will complete her fellowship with Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast in Miramar Beach, Florida. The 80-bed hospital serves a rural population and offers a wide range of services, including emergency care, surgery, imaging, specialty care, rehabilitation and a nationally recognized family birthing center.

Eaves, originally from Nashville, said ETSU stood out to her for both fit and value.

“When exploring graduate programs, ETSU stood out as the right fit because it aligned well with my academic and professional goals,” she said. “ETSU offered not only a strong academic experience, but also the greatest return on my investment, both financially and in terms of meaningful academic and professional development opportunities.”

Eaves developed a passion for health administration after earning her undergraduate degree in public health. Her  experience with Type 1 diabetes also gave her a “unique perspective and strong motivation to improve the systems that so many depend on every day.”

“Health administration especially appeals to me because it allows me to combine my interest in problem-solving, collaboration and strategic thinking with a desire to create meaningful, system-level impact,” Eaves said.

Football scholarship opens doors to a new career

Cade Larkins originally came to ETSU on a football scholarship, but after deciding against playing on the gridiron, Larkins found a new career – and an opportunity to improve the lives of others outside of sports.

“As someone from Jonesborough, I have always loved ETSU, the campus and the people that make ETSU and East Tennessee special,” said Larkins, who was the only fellow selected from a pool of more than 100 applicants.

Larkins will complete his fellowship with Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center in Macon, Georgia. The 637-bed hospital is the second largest in Georgia and one of only five Level I trauma centers in the state.

“I am immensely thankful for this opportunity as it allows me to get my foot in the door with a great organization while doing work that I am passionate about,” Larkins said.

Larkins said he stayed for graduate school because of the opportunity to learn from experienced faculty and work closely with a major regional health system. He also credited the program's culture and leadership for helping students sharpen their professional narratives.

“This was pivotal in preparing me and ensuring that I had the best chance possible at obtaining a highly sought-after administrative fellowship role,” said Larkins.

Preparing for real-world success

For all three students, the fellowships represent an early opportunity to learn from executive leaders and contribute to high-impact work. For Youngblood, it shows the program’s focus on hands-on learning and applied leadership development is one that resonates with students and employers.

“ETSU’s MHA program is built around the idea that health care leaders learn best when they can connect what they’re studying directly to real-world practice,” said Youngblood. “The program purposely balances leadership development, practical experience and flexibility so that students can grow professionally while completing the degree.”

Learn more about ETSU’s Master of Health Administration or apply at etsu.edu/master/mha. To learn more about the ETSU College of Public Health, visit etsu.edu/cph/.

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