Alumni Spotlight: Eboné Carrington (MPA-HPAM 2004)

“I finished Wagner better equipped to lead, not because of years of experience, but the quality of experience and education,” says Eboné Carrington (MPA-HPAM 2004), who currently serves as managing director of Manatta Health and is a former longtime employee of NYC Health + Hospitals. She was recently appointed as health lead on the NYC Mayor-elect’s transition team. At a young age, she developed a keen interest in healthcare and decided to pursue her MPA in health policy and management. Today, she advises healthcare organizations on operational strategy, performance improvement, organizational management through cultural shifts and transformation, effective team building, and much more. Read about her experience as a student and the ways in which Wagner equipped her with skills to navigate the health field throughout the pandemic.

How would you describe your experience as an NYU Wagner student?
Game changing — I went to Wagner straight after undergrad. A colleague who was also interning for Columbia University’s Affiliation at Harlem Hospital recommended that as a young, bright woman it would be best to obtain my credentials early. As a result, I was positioned for growth based on the practical and evidenced based leadership principles taught in the program. In particular, the modules on emotional intelligence and management science proved to be invaluable for me.

What is your current job and how has it been impacted by the pandemic?
My current role is managing director for Manatt Health, a healthcare consulting firm. I took on this role after serving the safety net system in New York City for 15 years. I served as incident commander during waves I and II of the COVID-19 pandemic and was the architect and receptionist for the vaccine point of distribution. I approached my work throughout the pandemic from a servant leadership role—which was helpful during those trying and stressful times. Wagner is a special training ground for people who want to effectuate change while having a strong sense of corporate and community responsibility. Prior to managing the pandemic, my day-to-day role was to manage and strategize the growth and operation of a 282-bed community teaching hospital. Given the payor mix which is predominantly governmental, we were perpetually required to do more with less. The chronic under payment for Medicaid services resulted in the need to constantly motivate and inspire teams, create retention strategies and think innovatively around care delivery. I would not have been as intellectually nimble or informed without the course of study I had at Wagner.

How did your experiences at NYU Wagner prepare you for your career?
When I started the program, I was already working within my industry and on track to be a mid-level manager. Once I completed the program, I had a much broader skill base, understanding of the healthcare landscape, and tools around emotional intelligence and communication. The coursework in human resource management enabled me to gauge my direct reports and workforce in a more meaningful way. The altitude at which I was forced to think and write in the program provided a comparative advantage particularly in the public health space. I finished Wagner better equipped to lead, not because of years of experience, but the quality of experience and education I had as a student. Additionally, during each portion of my career journey I became increasingly grateful for the case study and capstone work I had completed in the program.

How did your experiences at NYU Wagner prepare you for your current work at Manatt?
The intersection of theory and practice is where consultants thrive. NYU Wagner educates students on the various systems and inputs of public service as well as the significance of managing people and the importance of building frameworks of support. My time at Wagner sensitized me to my management style and leadership voice and my clients value that authenticity. I also learned from so many diverse colleagues at Wagner and that experience and exposure has positioned me well in this new healthcare landscape.