John Belden ’13, '16, MSN’24, MBA’24 already held two degrees from Fairfield University. In May, he doubled that number. Simultaneously earning a master of science in nursing (MSN) degree and master of business administration (MBA) degree, Belden became the first graduate of the University’s interdisciplinary dual degree MSN/MBA program, a partnership between the Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies and the Charles F. Dolan School of Business.

Belden was drawn to the program because he wanted to further his nursing education while also learning about the business side of healthcare. A two-time Fairfield baccalaureate recipient, he knew he wanted to return for a graduate degree. “The most influential factor in coming back to Fairfield was the incredible experience with the nursing school,” said Belden. Citing his amazing professors and their willingness to assist students, he called his return a “no-brainer.”

The 62-hour MSN/MBA program integrates coursework from across a variety of disciplines, including accounting, finance, marketing, management, pathophysiology, systems leadership, information technology, and healthcare economics. Drawing upon the expertise of faculty in the nationally ranked Egan and Dolan schools, the dual-degree graduate program prepares nurses for executive leadership positions in healthcare organizations.

“The curriculum was a perfect mix for someone working in a nursing leadership role,” said Belden, who is an assistant patient services manager for Emergency Nursing at Yale New Haven Hospital. His primary campus has Level I trauma and stroke designation.

Belden first graduated from Fairfield with a bachelor of science in biology. He developed an interest in nursing during the final semester of his degree program when he took a job as an emergency department technician at Yale Health. In that role, he saw that emergency nurses were involved in all aspects of patient care. Inspired and motivated, Belden returned to Fairfield — this time, for a bachelor of science in nursing, through the Egan School’s popular Accelerated Second Degree Nursing program.

After graduating the second time, Belden stayed in contact with professor and associate dean of graduate studies Sally Gerard, DNP, RN, CDE, CNL. Dr. Gerard is the program director for the dual degree MSN/MBA program. She helped Belden differentiate between the Egan School’s various graduate programs to determine which path was right for him.

“The combination of advanced nursing knowledge with high level business concepts has never been more valuable than in today’s challenging and competitive environment,” said Dr. Gerard. “The MSN/MBA program is a good option for someone like John who has advanced from years as a staff nurse to a management job and is seeking the educational credentials to stand out as a leader with great potential for growth. It is a distinctive program for expert nurses who want to be at the decision-making table with the business experts influencing healthcare.”

Beldon immediately saw value in the diverse and practical curriculum that cuts across nursing and business; however, he admitted that it is not the single defining feature of the program. For him, the relationships and resources stood out. He had caring professors who were invested in his academic journey, and he had access to the exceptional resources and facilities of two highly ranked and recognized schools. These features made the program remarkable for Belden.

In the end, the experience so exceeded Belden’s expectations that he is currently considering a fifth degree from Fairfield.