Aaron Pate: Bolstering His Healthcare Career with Help from CLU
Aaron Pate’s venture into healthcare was inspired by his mother. After becoming a nurse in 2015, she rose in the ranks, taught other nurses, earned her master’s degree, and became an administrator for Rancho Los Amigos Rehabilitation Center. Now, she is pursuing her doctorate.
“My mom never pushed me into pursuing the medical field,” Aaron said. “But I felt this natural inclination toward healthcare because of her involvement in the profession and my desire to follow in her footsteps.”
With his mother as role model, Aaron earned his Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science from California State University-Dominguez Hills. After graduating, he entered the workforce as a clinical assistant in the PCR Testing department at Curative. But when the lab closed in 2022, Aaron began to reevaluate his next steps. While he looked for other lab positions, he also began to consider going back to school as another option. He wasn’t exactly sure of the focus he’d take, but he was convinced a master’s degree was in his future.
“I originally planned to go the clinical laboratory route again, but the programs at schools like UC Irvine, UCSD, and UCLA were going to take some time to complete,” Aaron said. “I knew I wanted to get back to work in my field soon.”
Finding Claremont Lincoln University and Learning Ethical Leadership
“I stumbled upon Claremont Lincoln while I was on LinkedIn, and they immediately caught my interest,” Aaron said. “I looked into the details of the healthcare administration program, and it sounded like a perfect fit for me.”
What stood out to Aaron about CLU was how closely the program aligned with his long-term goals. The Claremont Core resonated with him as the embodiment of quality leadership, with “Change” being an important value, as he hopes to bring positive change through his leadership in healthcare.
“One of the main lessons my program taught me is how to be a great leader,” Aaron said. “A lot of the program highlighted the values of inclusivity, and that’s something I carry in my own life, too,” he explained.
Those lessons hold personal meaning for Aaron.
“My brother has mental disabilities, and my sister is part of the LGBTQ community,” said Aaron. “I know some of the barriers they have to deal with, so being inclusive with everybody, not judging people off first glance, really mattered to me.”
Relating CLU’s Coursework to Real-World Scenarios
Aaron felt that he had many takeaways from his courses in the program, especially fostering positive change. One of the most impactful experiences of Aaron’s graduate education was during his capstone project, which focused on the nursing care shortage and the effects of poor staffing and burnout.
“One of the most significant insights I gained was understanding how organizational culture directly impacts nurse well-being and patient outcomes,” Aaron explained. “I learned that positive change in hospitals does not come from policies alone; it comes from consistent advocacy, psychological safety, and systems that genuinely support nurses at the bedside.”
Aaron said that his project gave him new insight into what healthcare workers have to deal with personally, and how he, as a leader, would handle difficult situations in the field. He also believes the program taught him that meaningful change, especially in healthcare, takes courage. He hopes to challenge outdated policies, advocate for safe staffing, promote mental health resources, and ensure medical workers feel heard and valued.
Looking Ahead to Leadership in Healthcare
Today, Aaron has his Master of Arts in Healthcare Administration, and has begun his search for new opportunities in the medical field. Looking toward the future, Aaron hopes to step into a management role where he can apply what he learned at CLU.
For Aaron, CLU equipped him with a new foundation on what it means to be a leader. Aaron hopes to implement the Claremont Core into his leadership style and provide an ethical, transparent work environment in healthcare. Are you ready to become a values-based leader? Consider the programs at CLU and find your own personal passion. If you’re ready to take the first step, fill out the form on this page to connect with one of our reps and we’ll answer all your questions.
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Claremont Lincoln University is a non-profit university offering affordable online degrees, graduate certificates, and professional development programs. Through a socially conscious education framework, CLU’s mission is to create a new leadership ecosystem through its proprietary Claremont Core®, a distinctive model that encompasses the knowledge needed to become an effective leader of positive change in the workplace or community. CLU is regionally accredited by the highly regarded WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), which ensures institutions meet strict standards and fulfill their missions to serve their students and the public good. Degree programs at CLU focus on healthcare administration, human resources, organizational leadership, management, professional studies, public administration, social impact, and sustainability leadership.
Claremont Lincoln University is the university of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, a non-profit global thought leader solving social, environmental, and economic challenges. Together, we are mobilizing leaders worldwide to tackle the most pressing climate, land, water, finance, housing, infrastructure, and other issues.
