From Nonprofit Leadership to Healthcare
Landyn Ford graduated with a BA in religious studies and a concentration in nonprofit leadership in 2023.
During his time at UT, he participated in numerous programs at the Howard H. Baker Center for Public Policy and conducted an undergraduate thesis study on healthcare sharing ministries under the supervision of Assistant Professor Manuela Ceballos.
Ford currently serves as the volunteer programs manager at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital (ETCH) while completing a master’s degree in healthcare administration through the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill.
In his role at ETCH, Ford oversees various programs, including the VolunTeen Program for high school students, which provides volunteer opportunities and attracts nearly 120 students each summer from across East Tennessee. He has developed two new programs for ETCH: the Children’s Hospital Immersive Medical Program (CHIMP) and a Career and Technical Education (CTE) Day. These educational initiatives are designed for students interested in healthcare careers and nonprofit organizations. CHIMP, for example, offers teens who have served at least one summer in the VolunTeen Program a weeklong opportunity to participate in interactive and hands-on experiences, problem-based learning sessions, and healthcare professional forums.
On top of these leadership roles, he assists the adult volunteer program, managing approximately 200 active volunteers, overseeing onboarding, training, and data management.
Ford credits his undergraduate work in religious studies for preparing him for graduate school and his work in the healthcare field, noting the student programs, professors, and classes. “UT prepared me to be a productive student, lifelong learner, and committed member of my community, workplace, and society,” he said.
The future looks bright for Ford. After he finishes his master’s degree, he plans to pursue further graduate work in bioethics and continue to build a career in the healthcare industry.
We are proud to have Landyn as an alumnus!