From Hospitality to Healthcare: Marc Viens' Curvy Road to Medical Education

Marc Viens describes his professional journey as a “curvy path,” starting as an undergraduate at Michigan State University and ultimately leading to a leadership role in medical education. Despite the twists and turns, MSU remained a key part of his story.

“I’ve embraced lifelong learning,” he says. “Returning to MSU for my Master’s in Pharmacology and Toxicology in 2014 helped me become more comfortable pursuing advanced education.”

Originally from Swartz Creek, Mich., Viens began his educational journey in MSU’s School of Hospitality Business, aiming for a career in hotel and restaurant management. He later transferred to the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, to complete his degree and entered the hospitality industry.

However, he soon discovered a new niche: meeting and event planning. Transitioning from hotel operations, Viens began managing logistics for large-scale events, particularly global medical meetings for pharmaceutical companies. This exposure sparked a deeper interest in the educational content behind these events.

His path took a pivotal turn when he joined a certified medical education company focused on oncology.

“Most people don’t realize the scale and importance of certified medical education,” he said.

Viens served for six years as Vice President of Operations at the Institute for Medical Education & Research (IMER). When IMER was sold in 2013, he and his colleague, Linda King, acquired part of the company and launched AXIS Medical Education, specializing in oncology-focused continuing education.

“Our mission was to provide scientifically rigorous, fair, balanced education to help busy clinicians enhance their knowledge, skills, strategies, and performance to improve patient care,” he said.

To deepen his scientific foundation, Viens returned to MSU in 2014 to pursue a Master’s Degree in Pharmacology and Toxicology.

“It was a great fit for my work in medical education,” he said. “It gave me a molecular-level understanding of how therapeutic compounds work. And the faculty were top-notch—challenging yet supportive.”

His passion for medical education continues to grow, and he credits the MSU Master’s in Pharmacology and Toxicology program with expanding his role in scientific content development within AXIS.

“It’s a field where you can truly make a difference in patient outcomes,” he said.

In 2021, AXIS was acquired by US HealthConnect. Viens has since launched a new venture, Exigent Medical Education.

Viens’ curiosity led him further into what he calls “frontier medicine.” With a growing interest in the therapeutic use of cannabis for cancer symptom management, he earned a second master’s degree in Medical Cannabis Science and Therapeutics from the University of Maryland, Baltimore in 2022.

“I applied the skills and knowledge acquired in the Pharmacology and Toxicology program to cannabis science,” he said. “We heard from clinicians that patients are using cannabis to manage their side effects. It needs to be part of the provider–patient conversation.” At 60, Viens is still eager to learn.

“I’m not stopping,” he said. “If you find a program that excites and engages you, pursue it—at any stage in your career.”

Program Director Dr. Isola Brown adds, “Marc's story is a great example of how our online program can support mid-career advancement. Because our program is completely asynchronous, Marc was able to work and build his business while taking classes and expanding his scientific knowledge.”