Nevada’s healthcare system has long ranked , with critics pointing to both lack of access and quality of care as factors that put the state’s residents at risk.
It’s a problem that can’t be solved overnight, but Hykeem Gaddis won’t rest until he’s made a difference.
“Everyone deserves quality healthcare, and I want to be part of the solution,” the EMBA Cohort 15 graduate says. “I love solving problems, and I think an overhaul is needed, so I’m trying to have an impact on the strategies and decisions that affect thousands of patients.”
Building a Legacy
A Legacy High School graduate, Hykeem earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology at Hampton University before returning to Nevada to pursue a career in the healthcare sector. Med school was an option, he says, but his family all work in the healthcare, military, or entrepreneurial sectors, and he saw healthcare as a way to tackle an issue that impacts all Nevadans.
“One of my mentors owned some clinics, and I did an undergrad internship,” he recalls. “Anytime I would master something, I would ask, ‘What’s next?’ because I wanted to learn more and do more.
“When I started working in the office, I started to get more into leadership and strategy and operations, and I realized I could be much more impactful on that side.”
Hykeem spent several years with Nevada HealthCare Partners and DaVita Medical Group, working his way up the ranks, before enrolling in the EMBA program. He joined Cohort 15 while serving as a senior manager of medical group operations for Intermountain Healthcare, and immediately saw the benefits of the program.
“Being able to incorporate my lessons and design things that are user-focused, for both caregivers and patients, was absolutely a great thing,” Hykeem explains. “Service Operations was my favorite class, because I’m the type of person that, if I’m in a store or restaurant, I am constantly breaking things down in my head to see how it can be better.”
Hykeem completed the EMBA program while at Intermountain Healthcare, but this year he started a new role as Director of Operations and Analytics for Astrana Health, overseeing the top-to-bottom operations for a group of 12 clinics.
“I’m in charge of everything from staffing to hiring to ensuring the team has everything it needs to deliver quality healthcare,” Hykeem says. “I touch all areas of the business, and that can be overwhelming, but I enjoy having input on everything.”
‘You’re Never Too Old to Learn’
Like the healthcare industry, the EMBA program is constantly evolving, and Hykeem says every new cohort member has the opportunity to update their skillset with new tools, new ideas, and a new perspective.
“You’ve got to lean into the expertise of your cohort and your professors, because everyone is at different levels of their lives and careers,” he says. “I may be great at service operations, but finance and accounting may not be my strong points.
“This is an environment where it’s okay to ask questions and get sharper and stronger.”
Like others who have been through the program, Hykeem sees himself as an advocate for continuing education. Recently, he urged a friend who had been laid off to consider going back to school to pursue his own dream of working in healthcare.
“You’re never too old to learn, it’s never too late,” he says. “We get one life, and when you’re inspired to do something, regardless of where you are, you should go after it.”