Stephanie Zeiber, M.P.A. (B.S.N. ’12, M.P.A. ’15) was an established leader supporting advanced practice providers across Sentara Health when she decided she could do more.
For Stephanie, the decision to return to the classroom was not about chasing a title. It was about becoming a more effective leader in an increasingly complex healthcare environment. She enrolled in the Doctor of Medical Science (D.M.Sc.) at Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences EVMS School of Health Professions at Old Dominion University and is on a clear path to graduate this year.
“I recognized the opportunity to build a more formal foundation in leadership, business and organizational strategy,” said Stephanie. “Pursuing the D.M.Sc. allowed me to deepen my understanding of the theory behind what I was already doing in practice, while also equipping me with additional tools to be more effective and goal-directed in my approach.”
As director of advanced practice provider development at Sentara Health, Stephanie supports providers throughout their professional journey, from student placements and onboarding to leadership development and long-term career growth. Her work focuses primarily on outpatient divisions, including primary care, urgent care and office-based specialties.
Her path into healthcare leadership, however, was far from traditional.
Stephanie graduated from Old Dominion University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) in 2012, already viewing nursing as an important first step toward her longer-term goal of becoming a physician assistant.
“I’ve always approached my career with a forward-looking mindset, thinking a few steps ahead about how each experience could build toward the next,” she said.
She earned her Master of Physician Assistant (M.P.A.) in 2015 — also part of EVMS School of Health Professions at Old Dominion University — and then entered family medicine, the field in which she has practiced for more than a decade. Early in her career, she became involved in Sentara Health’s systemwide Advanced Practice Provider Council and began taking on projects beyond her clinical responsibilities, including coding and documentation education initiatives tied to value-based care.
“My path into leadership was also nontraditional in that I stepped into leadership roles before pursuing a terminal degree,” Stephanie said. “For me, leadership started with visibility and involvement, not a title or credential.”
That philosophy became one of the driving forces behind her decision to pursue the D.M.Sc. program.
As her responsibilities expanded, so did her desire to strengthen her understanding of healthcare systems, leadership strategy and organizational improvement.
“Advanced practice providers are not always adequately represented in decision-making forums, even when those decisions directly impact their practice,” she said. “That highlighted the importance of being better prepared to advocate effectively and ensure advanced practice provider perspectives are included at the table.”
The doctoral program’s Clinical Leadership and Administration track aligned closely with both Stephanie’s current responsibilities and her long-term goals. As an alumna, Stephanie said pursuing the degree felt less like a question of where and more a question of when.
The program has also allowed her to immediately apply classroom learning to real-world healthcare challenges.
One of the most impactful experiences was her capstone project, which focused on improving transitional care management through an outpatient approach.
As part of the project, she developed a clinical protocol and supporting electronic medical record tools that have since translated into measurable organizational impact.
“Our primary care providers now have organizational goals tied to proper utilization of clinical protocol,” she said.
Another significant moment came when Stephanie presented work connected to her capstone project at Becker Healthcare’s 16th Annual Meeting in Chicago earlier this year. She highlighted the broader impact of advanced practice provider leadership and operational innovation.
Beyond technical and administrative growth, Stephanie said the doctoral program has strengthened her confidence as a communicator and leader.
“I feel more confident presenting to large audiences, whether internally or at national conferences,” she said. “The program has enhanced my ability to lead, communicate and operate effectively across clinical and administrative settings.”
Balancing doctoral coursework with a demanding leadership role has required discipline and intentional time management, but she believes the experience has also reinforced the importance of perspective and balance.
“In healthcare leadership, the work is never truly ‘done,’” she said. “You have to be purposeful about when to step away.”
Looking ahead, Stephanie hopes to continue advancing initiatives that strengthen the advanced practice provider workforce, expand access to care and create more structured leadership and professional development opportunities across healthcare systems.
“Ultimately, my goal is to continue contributing to initiatives that elevate advanced practice provider practice, create meaningful career progression opportunities and support a sustainable, high-performing workforce that meets the evolving needs of healthcare,” she said.
For Stephanie, leadership development is not defined by a title or degree alone. It is built through involvement, initiative and a willingness to continue growing.
“Even small contributions can evolve into significant impact over time,” she said. “You just have to start somewhere.”
And, she found her start at Old Dominion University, where she continues to advance her education and thus, the future of healthcare.
