When Shulamith Acevedo enrolled in Brown University’s master of science in healthcare leadership (MHL) program, she was already at the helm of Kiva Centers, an indigenous-led nonprofit dedicated to mental health, substance use and trauma healing.
During the pandemic, the organization experienced rapid growth, adding new services and reaching far more people than ever before. As it expanded, systems designed for a smaller operation struggled to keep up, leading Acevedo to recognize the need for new skills and perspectives.
She sought a program that combined a focus on equity, workforce development and a deeper understanding of healthcare, qualities she found in Brown’s MHL program.
Balancing life and learning
Acevedo learned she was pregnant just two weeks after the first residential session.
“At first, I was really nervous,” she recalled. “But the professors were incredibly communicative from the very beginning.” The MHL program’s faculty and staff provided unwavering support. During her first trimester, severe nausea made even routine coursework difficult. “I was writing papers while being sick,” she said. “But because the faculty kept such open lines of communication, I could say, ‘I’m really sick right now,’ and they understood.”
The program’s structure — designed for working professionals — proved.jpeg)
essential. Lectures were recorded, small-group discussions were virtual and faculty checked in regularly. Rather than feeling like an inconvenience, Acevedo felt celebrated. “One professor came on Zoom, and we talked for a bit about parenthood, even comparing sleep schedules during the early months” she said. “It wasn’t about accommodating me; it was about recognizing that this was real life.”
Her classmates played an equally critical role. “They texted me, shared notes, checked in,” she said. “That says a lot about how the program selects people who aren’t just there for themselves but for each other.”
After her daughter, Naomi, was born, Acevedo was able to complete the program with her daughter by her side. Naomi occasionally joined Zoom sessions, listening in on discussions of health care strategy, leadership and finance. “I like to think the exposure helps her development,” Acevedo shared with a laugh. “She learned all about health care marketing and finances right alongside me.”