Georgia Forrest, MD MBA CPE
Emory University, Goizueta Business School
Age: 41
“Servant leader, mother, entrepreneur, family doc, medical futurist—customer-obsessed and driven by purpose.”
Hometown: Hempstead, NY
Family Members: Husband: Rashaun Forrest; Daughters: Isis Forrest (13), Skylar Forrest (7); Mother: Grettel Bromfield; Sisters: Ladonna Bromfield, Yolanda Bromfield Esq; Niece: Leanna Bromfield; Nephew: Landon Bromfield
Fun fact about yourself: I’m originally from Kingston, Jamaica, and I hold a medical license in Jamaica so I can give back and care for my native community whenever I’m home. It’s a personal mission that keeps me connected to my roots and purpose.
Undergraduate School and Degree:
Temple University BA Biology
UMDNJ Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine MD
Where are you currently working?
Wellstar Health System, Associate Chief Medical Information Officer and Family Physician
Scenthound- Franchise Owner
Delivery King Logistics- Owner
Get Spiffy- Franchise Owner
Extracurricular Activities, Community Work and Leadership Roles:
Impact Course Winner 2024 Goizueta EMBA
Semifinalist John R. Lewis Racial Justice Case Competition 2024
Primary Care Service Line Leadership Award, WellStar Medical Group (2022)
Top Learner Award, Physician Leadership Academy (2022)
2021 Top Doctors, Georgia Trend Magazine (2021)
Volunteer Physician, Medicine in Action (2009 – 2019)
Excellence in OB/GYN, University of Maryland, Department of Family Medicine (2013)
Academic Excellence Award, Nassau County Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated Scholarship (2001 – 2005)
Coca Cola Scholar, Coca Cola Scholarship (2001 – 2005)
Which academic or extracurricular achievement are you most proud of during business school? One of the achievements I’m most proud of was being selected as a semi-finalist in the John R. Lewis Racial Justice Case Competition, where I had the opportunity to represent a nonprofit committed to expanding job opportunities for underserved communities.
This experience was especially meaningful to me because it combined everything Goizueta stands for—business, purpose, and impact. The competition wasn’t just about presenting a strategy; it was about using business principles to drive systemic change and address racial inequities in workforce development. Our team was tasked with helping a nonprofit partner scale its operations while maintaining authenticity and trust within the communities it served.
As someone who deeply values equity, access, and inclusive leadership, I was able to draw from my lived experience as well as the business skills gained through the program—particularly in marketing, financial modeling, and stakeholder strategy. We crafted a plan that balanced growth with mission alignment, and being selected as a semi-finalist was validation that our approach was both bold and actionable.
This competition reminded me that business isn’t just about profit—it’s a powerful tool for social good. It pushed me to think bigger about how I can continue to use my platform in healthcare and entrepreneurship to break barriers, elevate communities, and expand opportunities for those often left behind. It was one of the most fulfilling moments of my MBA journey.
What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? The achievement I’m most proud of is being named Associate Chief Medical Information Officer (ACMIO) at Wellstar Health System while still completing my Executive MBA. It represented a profound turning point—where my experiences as a frontline family physician, serial entrepreneur, and digital health advocate converged into a role of strategic leadership.
In this position, I lead large-scale healthcare IT initiatives that directly impact how clinicians deliver care and how patients experience it. I’m at the intersection of medicine and technology, driving innovation that improves outcomes while reducing provider burden—work that feels both timely and deeply personal.
But what makes this achievement truly meaningful is what it represents: a seat at the table where clinical expertise shapes digital transformation. As a Black woman physician originally from Kingston, Jamaica, this role is more than a title—it’s a symbol of what’s possible when passion, purpose, and preparation align. It’s a chance to build the future of healthcare—and to ensure it works for everyone.
Who was your favorite MBA professor? Professor Usha Rackliffe was my favorite professor at Goizueta. Beyond her brilliant command of financial accounting, it was her dynamic presence and the way she owned every room with confidence and clarity that left a lasting impact on me. She showed me that I didn’t have to shrink or minimize my bold personality to belong in business spaces. Her authenticity gave me permission to show up fully as myself—a physician, entrepreneur, and unapologetically passionate leader—and to know that was more than enough.
Why did you choose this school’s executive MBA program? My journey to Goizueta was rooted in alignment of values, mission, and personal history. As a Georgia resident, I was naturally drawn to a top-tier business school in my home state. However, beyond proximity, it was Goizueta’s unwavering commitment to developing leaders who drive meaningful change that sealed my decision.
The school’s mission, “To prepare principled leaders to have a positive influence on business and society”, resonated deeply with me. It wasn’t just a slogan—it was a call to action that aligned with my aspirations to lead transformation in healthcare, business, and beyond. As a serial entrepreneur, I was drawn to Goizueta’s entrepreneurial spirit, knowing I would be surrounded by individuals who push boundaries, think big, and encourage innovation at every turn.
Another personal connection was Goizueta’s strong ties to Coca-Cola. As a Coca-Cola Scholar, this organization played a crucial role in helping me afford college, ultimately shaping my early trajectory of excellence. Returning to an institution so deeply connected to Coca-Cola felt like a continuation of that legacy—an opportunity to further the impact of those who believed in my potential.
What is the biggest lesson you gained during your MBA and how did you apply it at work? The biggest lesson I gained during my MBA is that leading at the executive level requires a blend of emotional intelligence, strategic thinking, financial fluency, and marketing acumen—a combination that few clinical leaders are formally trained in. Goizueta gave me the toolkit to operate at that level with clarity and confidence.
From emotional intelligence, I learned that leadership isn’t just about driving performance—it’s about understanding people. I began incorporating structured listening into team meetings and made space for psychological safety in large-scale projects. This shift fostered a stronger sense of trust, particularly during high-stakes conversations with physicians navigating digital transformation.
Through strategic management, I gained the ability to see the bigger picture and connect dots across departments, functions, and timelines. I began using frameworks like SWOT and Porter’s Five Forces in real-time to assess initiatives I lead as Associate CMIO. For example, when developing the roadmap for our ambient AI pilot, I used scenario planning to anticipate both risks and scale opportunities—something I wouldn’t have done as confidently before.
In financial reporting, I moved beyond seeing the budget as a constraint. I now view it as a strategic lens. I started creating executive dashboards for projects that clearly communicated ROI and cost-benefit analysis to non-clinical stakeholders. This helped secure support from finance and IT departments, as they could see the clear financial justification tied to clinical outcomes.
And through marketing, I learned that it’s not just about promotion—it’s about deeply understanding your customer’s needs. In healthcare IT, the “customer” is often the provider. I reframed our implementation language, focusing less on features and more on value—from the physician’s lens. This one shift improved communication, adoption rates, and cross-functional collaboration.
These lessons didn’t just make me a better physician leader—they made me a more holistic, cross-functional executive capable of bridging clinical expertise with enterprise-level decision-making. And I’m just getting started.
Give us a story during your time as an executive MBA on how you were able to juggle work, family and education? Balancing my EMBA with my roles as a physician, a health system leader, entrepreneur, wife and mother was, frankly, not balance—it was orchestration. One specific moment stands out: during our financial accounting final, I was simultaneously launching a new healthcare IT pilot, onboarding staff at my franchise business, and helping my child prepare for a school presentation.
I woke up at 4:30 AM, studied for the final, dropped my child off with encouragement and coaching, led a pilot team kickoff at 9 AM, met with my franchise team mid-afternoon, and completed my final exam submission by midnight. It wasn’t perfect, but I learned to be fully present where I was, to prioritize without guilt, and to integrate life in real-time. The EMBA taught me that “balance” isn’t about equal time—it’s about meaningful time, and being intentional with every minute.
What advice would you give to a student looking to enter an executive MBA program? Be clear on your why before you start. This program will stretch you, humble you, and reveal blind spots. Your “why” will keep you grounded when life gets intense.
Also:
- Work-life balance is a myth—Think integration instead. Some days your family will come first, some days your career, and some days school. Give yourself grace.
- Invest in relationships. The network is just as important as the coursework—maybe more.
- Don’t sit in the back row of your own life—Speak up, share, ask questions. The return on effort is exponential.
- Lastly, be willing to transform, not just learn. The person who enters the program will not be the same person who walks across that stage.
What was your biggest regret in business school? My biggest regret is that I didn’t take more finance electives. As someone who’s deeply involved in both healthcare operations and entrepreneurship, I now see how a deeper dive into corporate finance, valuation, and investment strategy could have added another dimension to how I lead and scale both my ventures and internal system-wide projects. While I gained a strong foundation, I now crave even more fluency in financial modeling and capital structuring—especially as I pursue more sophisticated deals and look at long-term growth opportunities.
I also wish I had spent more time with my cohort discussing business ventures and entrepreneurial ideas outside the classroom. The diversity of thought and experience in our class is incredible. There were countless untapped opportunities for collaboration, co-investment, and venture building that I may have missed simply by not initiating enough of those conversations early on. As much as I learned from the program itself, I now realize some of the greatest value came from the brilliant minds sitting right next to me.
If I could go back, I would have carved out more intentional time for finance immersion and entrepreneurial collaboration—two areas where I continue to grow post-graduation.
Which MBA classmate do you most admire? I deeply admire Dr. Venis Wilder and Dr. Bunmi Ojulari, two fellow African American family physicians and entrepreneurs who were in my EMBA cohort. Black female physicians make up less than 3% of all U.S. physicians, so sharing this space with them was more than coincidence—it was destiny.
We were also teammates in the John R. Lewis Racial Justice Case Competition, where we united our voices to advocate for equity and access. Their strength, brilliance, and authenticity reminded me that we rise higher when we rise together.
What was the main reason you chose an executive MBA program over part-time or online alternatives? I chose the Executive MBA format because of the caliber of peer leadership, the structure that supports senior-level professionals, and the in-person intensity that can’t be replicated virtually. I knew I didn’t just want content—I wanted transformation, and that requires community, dialogue, and real-time challenge. The EMBA format brought me face-to-face with C-suite executives, entrepreneurs, and change-makers who weren’t just talking about leadership—they were living it. The program was designed for leaders like me who are already running businesses, leading departments, and navigating high-stakes decisions.
How did you finance your EMBA and what did you do to make tuition and associated costs more affordable? I financed my EMBA through a combination of personal savings, federal student loans, and employer tuition reimbursement. I viewed the program as a long-term investment in my leadership growth, so I was intentional about structuring it in a financially sustainable way.
I used personal financing to cover initial costs and payment deadlines, ensuring flexibility in managing cash flow from my entrepreneurial ventures. I also applied for federal graduate student loans to help cover tuition over time at low interest rates, which offered additional breathing room.
Lastly, I received tuition reimbursement from my employer, Wellstar Health System, which helped offset a portion of the overall cost. I worked closely with HR to meet all eligibility and reporting requirements while aligning my coursework with organizational goals.
Being proactive, financially disciplined, and leveraging all available resources allowed me to pursue this degree without undue burden—and with full focus on the experience and the opportunities it created.
What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? My ultimate goal is to lead lasting change in healthcare transformation—redefining how technology, policy, and clinical care intersect to create a system that is patient-centered, equitable, and future-ready. I aim to become a national voice in healthcare innovation, shaping systems that no longer work in silos, but work for people.
Beyond healthcare leadership, I am also deeply committed to public service. I see myself stepping into healthcare advocacy and potentially political office, where I can influence legislation and policy to drive real systemic change.
At my core, I live by my True North:
To stand tall and brave, listening to the whispers of those who came before me, speaking for those who are silenced, weathering the storm with unyielding grit, and wrapping the world in the fierce embrace of love and inclusion.
This is more than a career for me—it’s a calling. And Goizueta has given me the clarity, confidence, and community to pursue it boldly.
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