Three degrees in five years: healthcare administration and MBA grad embodies a new generation of leaders

By Karen Carlo Ruhren

As a child, Megan Ranucci ’24, ’25 (MBA) enjoyed visiting her mother at her job as a transitional care unit coordinator at a skilled nursing facility. “But what intrigued me even more was what my mom’s boss was doing. That’s when I knew I wanted to work in healthcare administration,” she recalled.

At 22 years old, Ranucci is well on her way to realizing her dream, on a fast track to success, after earning three degrees at Salve Regina University in five years: a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in healthcare administration and an MBA. She even found time to sneak in a semester abroad, studying at Saint Clare’s Oxford International College in England. In her spare time, Ranucci served as president of Salve’s chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

“Megan is an exceptional individual, and [her] dedication to the field of healthcare administration is truly exemplary,” said Dr. Myra Edelstein, associate professor in the Jean and David W. Wallace Department of Business and Economics. “Her sense of personal drive and sharp focus on maximizing her academic achievements has launched what I am sure will be an outstanding career in this dynamic and critical field."

Edelstein’s admiration for Ranucci is mutual. “I spent my senior year at Bay View Academy, a Sisters of Mercy school, which reinforced my desire to go to Salve Regina,” said Ranucci.

“Salve helped me grow up. It taught me about how to treat the Earth right, about women’s rights…[the mercy mission] really affected me in so many ways. And Dr. Edelstein was instrumental.”

From an academic standpoint, Ranucci credits Salve for preparing her “1,000 percent” for her career in healthcare administration. “Both programs are amazing for someone who wants to be in healthcare leadership. I learned about nursing, medical terminology, finance…it’s so well-rounded,” she said.

Ranucci emphasizes the national shift in healthcare leadership in the past few decades, citing the ‘old-school’ corporate hierarchy of physicians or businesspeople at the helm of hospitals.

Now, Ranucci is inspired by a new generation of leaders with a background in healthcare administration who are both healthcare-trained and business-minded. “No more deficits in leadership,” she added confidently.

Fully equipped and ready to soar, Ranucci had no trouble this past May landing her first professional job after earning her graduate degrees. She currently works as the medical practice manager at the Neurologic Center for Epilepsy in East Providence, where she is re-establishing a more efficient workflow and training new healthcare staff members. “It’s the perfect first job for me,” she said. “It’s very patient-facing, I get to see the physician’s work firsthand and I feel I’m making a difference in people’s lives.”

Projecting 10 years from now, Ranucci contemplates her future. “I’ve always wanted to serve on the executive board of a hospital, maybe as the CFO with my training as an MBA. I’m also interested in working one day for the R.I. Department of Health,” said Ranucci, who is busy applying to Ph.D. programs in public health.

Public sector service is a relatively new consideration for Ranucci, which – like so many of her professional goals – she credits to Salve.