Michael A. Mayo, DHA, FACHE, president and chief executive officer of Baptist Health in North Florida, exemplifies how the Medical University of South Carolina’s (MUSC) Doctor of Health Administration (DHA) program prepares graduates to lead ever-evolving, complex health care systems. With nearly five years at Baptist Health, a locally governed, not-for-profit, community-centered system, Mayo oversees more than 15,000 employees and 2,000 medical staff in providing coordinated, high-quality patient care.
Before stepping into his role as CEO, Mayo was a student in MUSC’s DHA program, an experience he says helped shape how he thinks, leads, and advocates for health care at both state and national levels.
“My post-graduate education in the MUSC DHA Program enhances my ability to assess and understand health delivery and policy issues in a broader scope at the state and national levels,” Mayo explains.
“The skills developed in the program provide me with the expertise to quantify and educate legislative leaders on the impact of state and national lawmaking decisions.”
The DHA program at MUSC emphasizes both strategic leadership and practical problem-solving, giving graduates the tools to navigate the business, policy, and operational aspects of running a health system. For Mayo, this education became a foundation for a career marked by executive leadership, operational excellence, and policy influence.
Throughout his 30-year career, Mayo has advanced through executive roles at hospitals across multiple states, including Orange Park Medical Center, Frankfort Regional Medical Center, Memorial Hospital Jacksonville, and Methodist Dallas Medical Center. Along the way, he became a respected voice in health policy and hospital administration, serving on the American Hospital Association’s Board of Trustees, the Florida Hospital Association Board, and holding multiple leadership roles with the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), including Board of Governors.
In recognition of his leadership and service, Mayo received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Alumni Association in 2025, honoring graduates who demonstrate outstanding professional achievement, leadership, and impact on their communities.
“Being recognized by my peers and former classmates is truly the highest form of appreciation,” he said.
Today, Mayo continues to lead with purpose not only at Baptist Health but also as a mentor, educator, and advocate. He also serves as an adjunct professor in the Master of Health Administration program at the University of North Florida, helping prepare future health care leaders.
His career is a clear example of how MUSC’s DHA program prepares graduates to make a meaningful impact in their communities by influencing policy, solving complex challenges, leading teams, and stepping confidently into executive roles that shape the future of health care with vision and purpose.
If you aspire to become a health care leader capable of driving real-world change, explore the Doctor of Health Administration (DHA) program at MUSC and discover how it prepares graduates to become visionary health care leaders.
Katie Ennis
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