Alyssa Ierardo, University of Chicago Booth School of Business MBA Class of 2025
Alyssa Ierardo, University of Chicago Booth School of Business MBA Class of 2025Age: 32
Hometown: I was born in Melbourne, Australia and moved to the Philadelphia area when I was 11, so feel very connected to both of those places.
Undergraduate Institution and Major: I attended Syracuse University with dual majors in Biochemistry and Geography and then attended Tufts University, where I completed a dual degree MD/MPH.
Pre-MBA Work Experience (role, company, years): I graduated medical school at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in mid-2020 and immediately transitioned to my emergency medicine residency in Washington, DC at MedStar Washington Hospital Center/Georgetown University. I spent the last three years learning the fundamental skills required to practice clinical medicine in the fast-paced environment of the ER, and in my final year, I was selected as Chief Resident. This opportunity helped marry my interests in management and administration within the emergency department and inspired my decision to pursue a fellowship in Emergency Medicine Administration which ultimately led me to Booth!
Why did you make the decision to attend business school? Why now?
Over the last ten years as part of my medical training, I developed a keen interest in the role of the emergency department as a crucial site of health care delivery within a health system. I see a great need for emergency departments to become more efficient to meet the ever-increasing demands for services without sacrificing quality or outcomes. Business school is an ideal next step for me to build on my foundational clinical knowledge and experiential understanding of health system management. With a focused curriculum including operations, management, and healthcare data analytics courses, I hope to supplement my skill base and broaden my perspectives on what it means to be a savvy health system leader and an advocate for both my future employees and patients.
Why did you choose Chicago Booth? What factors figured most prominently into your decision of where to attend?
I loved the opportunities Booth offered to “choose my own adventure” through a flexible curriculum, especially in light of my prior experience as a physician. With deep connections to healthcare experts through the Healthcare Initiative and affiliation with the University of Chicago Medical Center, a world-renowned institution in and of itself, I knew Booth was the right choice for me.
What do you think is your most valuable or differentiating contribution to the University of Chicago Booth School of Business Class of 2025?
I hope to bring diversity of experience (and some crazy ER stories) to the Class of 2025.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself that didn’t get included on your application:
I have already named my future dog. I currently don’t have a dog because of my hectic work and school schedules, but when I finally have a yard, my dog will be named Cash Money.
Post-MBA career interests:
I am looking for my next emergency medicine faculty position with a defined path to department leadership and ultimately plan to seek medical director/department chair positions in the future.
Advice for Current Prospective Applicants:
–What is one thing you would absolutely do again as part of your application process?
I truly believe you have to be your authentic self during the interview process. Interviewers are not looking for canned answers to questions or the “perfect” responses, it’s as much about selling yourself to the institution as it is about finding the school that will allow you to grow in your unique talents.
–What is one thing you would change or do differently?
I would spend more time looking at specific opportunities that Booth offers that interest you, for me the Healthcare Initiative, and try to connect with folks within those smaller areas.
–What is one part you would have skipped if you could—and what helped you get through it?
I have never been someone who spends a significant amount of time on student-run forums or getting lost in the strategy of crafting the “perfect” application. I try to let my experience and goals speak for themselves. While it’s not necessary to research strategy ahead of applying, it is obviously tempting to do so when you have such high hopes of acceptance. I would encourage current and future applicants to own their experience and highlight the unique skills and energy they can bring to Booth rather than focusing on others’ expectations.
What is your initial impression of the Chicago Booth students/culture/community?
The Booth culture thus far has been truly so welcoming, exciting, and diverse. From second-year students who are offering their time and experience to usher in the first-year class to my new classmates who have a wide array of experiences in life and the business world, the Booth community is really something special.
What is one thing you have learned about Chicago Booth that has surprised you?
Random Walks are a big thing! I would encourage any first-year student coming in to try to go on one of the trips.
What is one thing you are most anxious about in your first year?
I have been anxious about my limited prior experience in the business world (having never taken an economics or accounting course before), but this presents an exciting opportunity to learn and lots of room for growth.
What is one thing you are most excited about in your first year?
I am so excited to get to know my fellow Boothies and to experience academia from a totally new perspective.
