When Christina Borrillo B’24 was deciding where to get her degree, she had an advantage that does not always come easily to students: she knew what her long term goals were. After working at Mayo Clinic for a few years, she realized she wanted to continue advancing her professional career within the company with the aim of becoming a healthcare leader.
Saint Mary’s made it easy to find a degree pathway that would make her career plans a reality. Borrillo came across the online B.S. in Healthcare Management program after her dad recommended she look at Saint Mary’s. The program checked all of her boxes and she knew right away it would be the perfect fit.
After completing her bachelor’s degree, Borrillo wanted to continue growing professionally and academically. She decided to pursue a Master’s in Healthcare Administration from Saint Mary’s.
“I wanted to see how far I could push myself and continue to create meaningful professional relationships,” she said. “I also wanted to be able to understand how healthcare leaders’ interactions and decisions can influence organizational success.”
Borrillo now works as a Clinical Research Coordinator in Oncology at Mayo Clinic where she helps advance some of the newest clinical trials for cancer patients. When she receives a new study, there are many parts she has to keep track of. From coordinating research study logistics, to scheduling patient visits, Borrillo collaborates with the appropriate teams to make sure each patient’s experience runs smoothly and aligns with ethical and regulatory standards.
“My career path is very rewarding because I know that what I am doing has a significant
impact on the innovative cancer research clinical trials and treatments that are just coming out. It is hard to see patients progress, but I can bring them hope and show compassion to what they are going through. My goal from day to day is to make a positive imprint wherever I am on my academic or professional journey,” she explained.
Her degrees from Saint Mary’s have broadened her perspective on healthcare systems, making it easier for her to collaborate confidently and effectively across Mayo Clinic’s many teams and departments. The communication, budgeting, and organizational skills she learned in each program are now essential parts of her day to day operations. Ultimately, her degrees have helped her to think like a leader.
Though she admits working full time while earning a degree was not always easy, the outcome has been more than worth it. Her advice to those considering pursuing a degree is to go for it. The journey may be unpredictable, but making the effort goes a long way.
“There will never be a “perfect” time to start – so just do it,” she said. “Education is a lifelong investment – one that keeps you curious, open-minded, and ready for growth. Saint Mary’s not only helped me advance my career but also reminded me that perseverance and passion can truly change your life.”
