Charell Brinkley

Frank G. Zarb School of Business, Hofstra University

“Award-winning healthcare leader advancing clinical research excellence through innovative training programs and strategic management at Northwell Health.”

Age: 37

Hometown: Westbury, NY

Fun fact about yourself: I have a passion for global exploration. I love learning about other cultures and embracing different languages. Since my first international trip in 2018, I have made it my mission to visit a new country every few years. I have traveled to France, Mexico, Thailand, Dominican Republic, The Bahamas, and Japan. I also plan to visit Colombia in July 2026. In 2019, I had the opportunity to interact and be photographed with my two favorite animals in their natural habitat: I swam with the dolphins in Mexico and played with Tigers in Thailand.

Undergraduate School and Degree:

New York University- Biochemistry, Bachelor of Arts

Hofstra University- Strategic Healthcare Management, Master of Business Administration

Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honor Society, Inductee (2025)

Where are you currently working?

Company: Northwell Health
Department: Office of Clinical Research
Role: Director, Clinical Research

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? My greatest professional achievement is advancing to Director of Clinical Research at Northwell Health while simultaneously developing comprehensive training programs that impact clinical research across the institution. Creating resources like ‘The Research Coordinator’s Compass’ and ‘The Clinical Investigator’s Guide’ have standardized research practices and empowered countless clinical research professionals. This accomplishment is particularly meaningful because I achieved it while overcoming significant personal challenges and pursuing my MBA. Rising from Research Coordinator to Director while building educational infrastructure demonstrates my commitment to excellence and advancing the field of clinical research. My work now influences how clinical trials are conducted across multiple specialties, directly improving research quality and patient outcomes.

Why did you choose this school’s online MBA program? I selected Hofstra University’s Zarb School of Business MBA program based on its distinguished reputation and national recognition. The program’s comprehensive focus on global business strategy, commitment to advanced communication technologies through the Core Skills Lab, and strategic partnerships with Fortune 500 companies aligned perfectly with my professional aspirations in healthcare leadership and clinical research management.

What was your favorite part of being in an online MBA program? My favorite aspect of the online MBA program was the flexibility to engage with coursework on a schedule aligned with my professional responsibilities. As most MBA students are working professionals, the ability to absorb material at my own pace enabled deep learning without compromising my workplace obligations.

The pinnacle of my Hofstra Zarb School of Business experience was the Global Practicum Capstone course in Japan in 2025. Having long been fascinated by Japanese culture, this opportunity to study its business practices was extraordinary. The experiential learning model proved the program’s most transformative component, immersing us in an unfamiliar environment. Here, we rapidly absorbed cultural customs while synthesizing two years of MBA knowledge into formal business propositions delivered to established Japanese companies. This real-world setting demanded immediate application of theoretical concepts to actual global business challenges.

Equally valuable, the in-person collaboration fostered genuine connections with classmates—relationships difficult to cultivate in virtual settings. The combination of cultural immersion, practical business application, and authentic networking made this experience truly invaluable.

How did your online MBA experience compare with your in-the-classroom experience as an undergraduate student? Compared to my in-classroom undergraduate experience, the online MBA program presented initial challenges requiring exceptional organization, discipline, and time management—without these skills, falling behind was inevitable. However, I valued the autonomy to structure my education around demanding professional responsibilities. The asynchronous format accommodated diverse learning styles, allowing me to revisit lectures, replay instructional videos, and refine notes—flexibility unavailable during my undergraduate years.

Forming study groups proved more difficult in the virtual environment compared to in-person learning. Fortunately, collaborative group assignments facilitated meaningful connections with classmates that transcended the digital barriers. These relationships deepened significantly during the Global Practicum Capstone course, where in-person collaboration transformed virtual acquaintances into lasting professional networks.

What is your best piece of advice to an applicant for thriving in an online MBA program? My advice for thriving in an online MBA program: cultivate strong self-discipline and refine your organizational and time management skills before enrolling. Invest in audio or digital textbooks to maximize learning during commutes or breaks—efficient time utilization is essential for MBA success. Beyond required group assignments, proactively network with classmates through virtual interactions. These connections facilitate study groups and peer support systems that prove invaluable for academic achievement and professional growth. The relationships you build, even virtually, can become lasting professional connections that extend well beyond graduation.

How has your online MBA education helped you in your current job? My online MBA education has significantly enhanced my current career by refining my strategic management capabilities. This proved essential in designing and implementing a comprehensive, standardized clinical research training program across Northwell Health’s enterprise. Additionally, the credential strengthened my qualifications to serve as adjunct faculty for Hofstra University’s newly established MPH program with a Clinical Research concentration, allowing me to shape the next generation of research professionals.

Did you earn a promotion while in the program or immediately after graduation? Yes, I was promoted to Director of Clinical Research while pursuing my MBA at Hofstra. This advancement expanded my responsibilities beyond clinical trial management to include developing and implementing a standardized training curriculum for clinical research professionals across the entire Northwell Health system. The timing was ideal, as I could immediately apply strategic concepts from my coursework to build scalable educational infrastructure and enhance research operations enterprise-wide.

Why did you pursue an online MBA program instead of a full-time residential or executive MBA program? I chose the online MBA program over full-time residential or executive options after receiving enthusiastic recommendations from colleagues who completed the program. Following an informational session, I recognized that the online format best aligned with my career objectives in healthcare leadership while accommodating my demanding role managing clinical research operations at Northwell Health. The program’s flexibility enabled me to immediately apply concepts in real-time to my work, creating a synergistic learning experience.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? Before enrolling in the MBA program, I was unfamiliar with AI and questioned its reliability. The Healthcare IT and Architecture course transformed my perspective by demonstrating AI’s potential to enhance operational efficiency. I began strategically integrating AI tools into my daily workflow, which accelerated task completion and automated previous manual processes. This technological adoption enabled me to scale Northwell’s Clinical Research Education and Training Program at an exponentially faster rate, significantly expanding our reach and impact in ways that would have been impossible through traditional methods alone.

Number of Hours Per Week Spent on an Online MBA: At least 8 hours per week, depending on the course and the assignments.

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? My long-term professional goal is to elevate clinical research excellence through comprehensive education initiatives and strategic trial management at Northwell Health. I aspire to expand my impact by eventually establishing a clinical research consulting firm that serves as a trusted resource for research professionals, pharmaceutical companies, and biotechnology organizations navigating the complexities of clinical trial management and regulatory compliance.

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