Through dedicated scholarship, research and service, Michael Riley is pursuing a purposeful second career in medicine
After years working in healthcare administration and oncology strategy, Michael Riley realized he wanted to be closer to the patients at the center of the work. He enrolled in Belmont’s adult degree Chemical and Biological Health Sciences (CBHS) program to prepare for medical school and a second career in clinical care. Through rigorous coursework, cancer research and hands-on hospital service, Riley is building on his healthcare experience while gaining the scientific foundation and patient exposure he’ll need as a future physician.
Getting Closer to Clinical Care
After earning bachelor's degrees in computer science and mathematics from Vanderbilt, Riley entered a hospital management fellowship that allowed him to rotate through different healthcare administration departments. He completed technology-oriented projects in multiple departments, from pharmacy to call center operations.
Later, Riley took a position with HCA Healthcare’s strategy team, where his work focused in part on cancer research and treatment. The experience gave him a broad understanding of the healthcare industry while clarifying where he wanted his career to go next.
“Over the course of my career, I’ve had opportunities to work with so many different people in healthcare, particularly in the oncology space,” Riley said. “But I always felt like I was several layers away from what we were actually there for: the patients. I wanted to use the expertise I’ve already gained in this field, so pursuing a career in clinical healthcare was a very natural decision.”
During his search for a post-baccalaureate program, Riley connected with Dr. Beth Bowman, assistant dean and pre-health advisor of the College of Science and Mathematics. Bowman took time to fully understand Riley’s goals and openly advised him on a path to achieve them, something that stuck out in his school selection process.
“Dr. Bowman gave me really excellent advice,” Riley said. “Even before I was a student, she did a great job understanding what my goals actually were and was very thoughtful in identifying what I needed to do to make this career change possible.”
Belmont also allowed Riley to remain close to the Nashville community he had already established. He was drawn to the CBHS program’s emphasis on faculty mentorship and soon found additional support through study groups and pre-health student organizations.
“We built the CBHS program for students exactly like Michael,” said Bowman. “His passion for service, dedication to learning, and drive and initiative for growth and giving back will not only make him an exceptional future provider, but is also showing up in who he is in our community.”
Gaining Experience in a Supportive Environment
Riley’s preparation for medicine extends beyond the classroom. He volunteers as a patient ambassador at local hospitals, where he attends to patient needs, refills supply carts and supports administration. Working in the emergency room has strengthened his interest in clinical care and shown him the value of gaining patient-facing experience before medical school.
“My exposure to the emergency room and ER doctors has definitely validated that this is something I’m interested in doing,” Riley shared. “And I really believe that work like this is important for getting where I want to go. Every bit of current exposure will make me a better doctor in the future.”
At Belmont, Riley has also gained exposure through his research with the College of Science and Mathematics. Riley worked in the labs of Dr. Hua Mei, assistant professor of chemistry, developing new carrier mechanisms for transporting cancer treatments into tumors, reconnecting him with the oncology field while challenging him to apply scientific concepts he was still learning.
“I’m really fortunate to have worked on a research project that involved oncology care,” Riley said. “I feel really connected to the field because of my previous work, so it would be remiss not to say that it’s something I’m interested in for my future specialty. It wasn’t always easy because I was consistently challenged to work with concepts that were still new to me, but I was being pushed in ways I really appreciate.”
Building on Experience for What Comes Next
As Riley prepares for medical school, he feels ready to meet its academic and professional demands. Belmont’s combination of individualized advising, rigorous coursework, faculty mentorship and research has helped him build the scientific foundation he needed while drawing on the healthcare expertise he already possessed.
“My classroom experience has been wonderful,” Riley shared. “From the thoughtfulness of the curriculum to the availability professors have during office hours, it’s clear that the entire model is designed for students to succeed, which definitely isn’t the case everywhere.”
For Riley, the program has provided a clear path from healthcare strategy to clinical care. His experience also illustrates what Belmont can offer other adults considering a similar transition: the preparation to pursue a new calling while carrying their previous knowledge and experience forward.
Learn More
Learn more about the programs in this story