For Mary Drinkard ’26, health care administration is about creating opportunities for people to receive the care they need, regardless of where they live.
The Rome, Georgia, native, who has long considered Alabama home, graduated from Â鶹ÊÓƵ in May with a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration. Following graduation, Drinkard began her career as a patient advocate at Cooper Green Mercy Health Services. She plans to earn a master’s degree in public health and pursue a career in health policy focused on strengthening rural healthcare delivery efforts across Alabama.
Drinkard's interest in health care began through extracurricular experiences and internships during high school, where she discovered a desire to serve in a non-clinical role. She wasn't sure which career path to pursue until academic advisors introduced her to Samford.
"I chose Samford’s Healthcare Administration program because of how it blends traditional business education—finance, marketing, strategy, management and policy—with public health perspectives to inform administrative endeavors in a way that prioritizes patient outcomes and organizational efficiency," Drinkard said.
Through coursework and faculty mentorship, Drinkard gained a deeper understanding of the challenges facing rural health care.
"There was not one specific moment that led me to having a love for rural health, but rather each class within the degree gave me a clearer lens to view issues that had become prevalent to my family in rural Alabama—the closure of hospitals, hour-long drives to see physicians and a lack of education about preventative medicine and its importance," she said.
During her time at Samford, Drinkard served as a School of Public Health student ambassador, earned the Leadership Award and gained valuable internship and learning opportunities through Birmingham's thriving health care community.
Dennis McCay, associate professor in the Department of Healthcare Administration and Informatics, said Drinkard's commitment to rural health extended well beyond the classroom.
"Mary has a good grasp of what it takes to be successful in healthcare administration, and I am confident that she will make a meaningful impact in whatever field she decides to pursue," McCay said.
Drinkard credits the faculty with helping prepare her for a career focused on improving health care access.
"The real gem of the School of Public Health and the Healthcare Administration program is the faculty and their love for what they teach, and I am confident that my career will reflect the compassion and care I have experienced from my professors over the past four years," Drinkard said.