Finding her superpower

When Francesca Johnson '26 first heard about University of Redlands' MBA program, she wasn't initially planning to pursue a dual degree. Already in her first year of medical school through California University of Science and Medicine, Johnson saw something that could give her what she calls a "superpower" in healthcare.

"On the surface, it sounds cool to have a dual degree in two fields that are incredibly different but need to work together," she said. “To function well in medicine and have an impact, you need to understand business, which I see as having a superpower.”

In looking ahead to her medical residency, Johnson saw the advantage of having a completed MBA—both on her residency application and in the proven ability to demonstrate commitment and perform under pressure. While both programs shape her approach to patient care, CUSM emphasizes community-engaged practice and global health. 

“By better understanding each other as humans, my cohort and I can be more effective in treating patients,” she said. "The better I understand a patient, the better their care will be. Similarly, the MBA program at Redlands has reinforced this from a business perspective in terms of systems-based thinking. Businesses operate better when the whole system cooperates, from the product-level up to the CEO.”

This comprehensive perspective is already influencing how Johnson views healthcare and business.

“It’s opened my eyes to how inefficient programs, businesses, and clinics are, leading to poor patient outcomes,” she said. “A chronic problem in physician burnout is not understanding business. By providing the knowledge of both, the MD/MBA program has helped me strategically think of ways to provide better patient care.”

As she works towards completing her MBA, Johnson is positioning herself to become a leader in healthcare, with CUSM and Redlands contributing to her current and future success.

“I grew up seeing my dad, a physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor, get so much joy out of talking to patients and treating them,” she said. “He always says, ‘I love having what people need,’ and in medicine, you get to be there and have what people need on a fundamental level. You get to have the thing that will allow them to pick up their grandkid again or live another 10 years. Coupling that with business knowledge and experience makes for a more rewarding impact.”

Discover Business at Redlands.