Ravi Batra
Ravi Batra appreciates a lot: nature hikes, Pokémon Go, and helping others. He likes his 11-year career as a nurse in Georgia’s healthcare system. But he loves the force that has guided him there and will light the road to his future: Georgia State University.
“I love Georgia State,” Batra said. “The diversity is amazing. You meet people from all walks of life, and I see the value in that.”
Batra earned a B.S. in biology from Georgia State in 2011. The degree helped him see where he belongs in the professional world, and is the reason why he’s returned to Georgia State: this time to the Robinson College of Business for a dual MBA/Master of Health Administration.
Like many frontline healthcare workers, Batra experienced tremendous burnout throughout the pandemic, as a nurse in Northside Hospital’s ICU and as a traveling nurse. He welcomed the change when COR Consultants recruited him for clinical consulting work in 2022. He enjoyed the administrative side so much that he decided to pursue it further with an advanced degree.
“When I was a nurse, my path was so structured. I went to school, graduated, and worked at a hospital,” he said. “There’s so much open-ended opportunity in the business world. I think I can make an impact through consulting.”
One of Batra's hobbies is playing Pokémon Go.
Batra doesn’t know where he’ll land, but he’s excited to try different hats through his master’s studies. For example, his MBA coursework has exposed him to finance.
“As bedside nurses, we don’t think about the fact that if a patient gets better and doesn’t come back to the hospital, it will save money,” he said. “We focus solely on care, not financial implications.”
Batra is exploring the multitide of job options within the healthcare industry, such as forecasting for government programs like Medicare or Medicaid and revenue cycle management. And, despite his full courseload, he’s still active in the field. He picks up shifts at Northside; interns at CarynHealth, a technology platform enabling healthcare providers to simplify the delivery of their services; and serves as president of Georgia State’s chapter of Future Healthcare Executives, an organization that supports health administration students’ professional development.
Batra has encountered twists and turns along the way, but he feels good about the trajectory he’s following.
“If you asked me 10 years ago, I imagined I’d be a bedside nurse for a few years, then become a nurse practitioner,” he said. “I never would have envisioned myself in business, but I love research, people, and figuring out the journey as I go. I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.”