Rising Visionaries
The annual Director’s Chair Award is conferred to the students who demonstrate excellence in all-around program performance and who the directors believe have the strongest potential in leadership and executive management.
Sarah Alexander, 2023 Award Recipient
Sarah Alexander was awarded the Director’s Chair Award at the Advisory Council Luncheon in April 2023.
Tackling challenges with boldness and strength, Alexander embraces her passion for caring for others. Originally from South Korea, she grew up in Atlanta, and had planned to attend university close to home but found “God had different and better plans” for her. At Baylor University, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology with honors. Her personal experiences with the inequities of the healthcare system fueled her passion for healthcare.
Alexander credits the Robbins Healthcare MBA program for challenging her and introducing her to the world of administration and executive management. Throughout the program, she eagerly embraced every learning opportunity. She served as the President of Future Healthcare Executives (FHE), which further bolstered her confidence in this career path.
Her zest and drive continued at HCA in the Central West Texas Division, where she completed her residency. Alexander led the team in developing and opening the first graduate medical education residency clinic in Austin for St. David’s, addressing women’s health needs as an OBGYN clinic. She also contributed to the 2022 Physician Services Group Budget Presentation, presenting her findings to the HCA corporate leadership team.
Currently, Alexander serves as the director of Surgical Development at St. David’s within the HCA network. She expresses deep gratitude for the Robbins program’s curriculum and the intentional support from the directors, professors and her peers. Alexander embodies the program’s core values of excellence and leadership, representing Baylor and the Robbins program leading with a servant’s heart.
Ashley Dao, 2024 Award Recipient
Ashley Dao was presented with the Director’s Chair Award in April 2024.
Dao is “honored, humbled and blessed” to receive this prestigious award, attributing her success to the Robbins MBA program and its professors for guiding her down the “right path” for a fulfilling career in healthcare.
Her journey in the healthcare field has been marked by unexpected twists. A Houston native, Dao attended the University of Houston, where she earned an undergraduate degree in Liberal Studies. When she matriculated into Baylor College of Medicine, she first encountered the concept of the social determinants of health, which ignited her passion for dismantling healthcare barriers. This pivotal realization prompted her to take a “leap of faith” and leave medical school to pursue the Robbins Healthcare MBA.
Throughout her studies, Dao exhibited grit and a keen desire to learn. In 2023, she proudly represented the Robbins MBA at the Business School Alliance of Health Management Case Competition and also served as an ambassador for the MBA program during her time as a student.
Dao’s enthusiasm and commitment to excellence continued during her residency at Stellus Rx in Plano, Texas. She worked on various key data projects, including exploring the use of Artificial Intelligence. She effectively served as a liaison between the Robbins Institute and Stellus Rx, collaborating on writing the 2023 7th Robbins Case Competition case alongside Forest Kim, PhD, and Noel Fleming, PhD. As a dedicated alumna, she helped coordinate the 2024 Fall Alumni Event.
Currently, Dao serves as a business intelligence analyst for Stellus Rx. She expresses deep appreciation for the Robbins program, which nurtured “her thirst for learning” and honed her leadership abilities. Through her endeavors, Dao exemplifies the program’s core values of stewardship and service, committed to a life of helping her community.
