CLASS OF 2025 GRADUATE STUDENT BIOGRAPHY BOOK
Farhet Ahmed
Farhat grew up in the bustling heart of Karachi, Pakistan, where she completed her MBBS (Bachelor’s in Medicine and Surgery) the Pakistani equivalent of an MD. She began her research career in North Dakota, where she worked for Odyssey Research Services and completed multiple studies in Endocrinology. After moving to Canada, she worked at the University of Alberta, where she was a Clinical Research Coordinator in the Department of Neurology and a Regulatory Specialist in the Department of Cardiology. In her current role, she works as a Clinical Research Manager at Georgetown University in the Transplant Department.
As a research manager at Georgetown, a degree in Health Systems Administration will allow Farhat to excel in her career and become a better researcher. She hopes that this program will expose her to operational and managerial details that will serve as a guide for her. She also wants to learn more about cutting-edge questions that are being worked on by the clinical research community.
In her free time, Farhat loves spending time with family, travelling, glass painting, and watercolor painting. You can find her out-and-about, always on some kind of adventure!
Monica Fritz
Monica was born in Boston and moved to Fredericksburg, Virginia as a child. She grew up in Fredericksburg and entered the College of William and Mary in 2016. Monica studied abroad in Cape Town, South Africa during the summer of 2018. While in South Africa, she took her first class on health policy and management at the University of Cape Town, which eventually set her on a path to healthcare management. She graduated in 2020 with her Bachelor of Arts in Government and History. After graduating, Monica began working at a federally qualified health center (FQHC) in Pittsburgh. As the Outreach and Enrollment Coordinator she helped patients apply for Medicaid and other subsidized services. In 2021 Monica moved to D.C. to be closer to family and friends and started a front-facing position at a local FQHC. In 2022 she joined the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, a national accreditation agency ensuring the quality of baccalaureate, graduate, and residency/fellowship programs in nursing. She currently serves as the Accreditation Coordinator, working to make the accreditation process smoother each cycle.
Monica became interested in healthcare administration during her first position at an FQHC in Pittsburgh. She witnessed firsthand the systemic challenges patients had in accessing healthcare and became deeply invested in making the process easier. Monica gained valuable knowledge of Emergency Medicaid, Marketplace health insurance, and other FQHC services. She hopes that Georgetown’s MHSA program will provide a space to enrichen her knowledge on Medicaid and healthcare policy and the administrative challenges facing our current healthcare system. The Department of Health Management & Policy’s focus on creating actively anti-racist and socially conscious advocates of the MHSA graduates greatly influenced Monica’s choice of Georgetown. She is unsure of where she wants to land after the MHSA program but hopes that she will be working to create accessible health care for all.
Monica lives right in the District near the Brookland neighborhood! She loves to listen to podcasts, cross stitch, and pet her cat Asher. She has a lovely and supportive partner and is a member of the LGBTQ+ community. Her favorite place to go in D.C. is the Brookland farmers market on Saturday mornings. If you’re looking for someone to cat sit, she’s your girl!
James Gonzales
Born and raised in Baltimore Maryland, James Gonzales earned his Bachelor’s of Science degree in Nursing from York College of Pennsylvania in 2017. While pursuing his degree, he served as the Vice President of the Student Nurses Association of Pennsylvania chapter at York College during his senior year. He was also a Home Health Aide for BAYADA Pediatrics where he received Remarkable Rookie of the Year in 2016. He completed his Nurse Residency Program at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in 2018. In addition, James is a Commissioned Officer in the United States Air Force, having completed Officer Training School in 2023. James began his career in the Department of Oncology at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and held various subsequent positions with the most recent position being one of the Assistant Nurse Managers of the Supplement Staffing Unit. He has since progressed into his current role as the Director of Medical Support at Patient First: Primary & Urgent Care located in Laurel, Maryland. In this role, he is responsible for overall operations of the center as well as management and development of all non-provider staff.
James is passionate about efficient operations and delivering high-quality patient care. James enjoys challenges and approaches them as a “puzzle with constant moving pieces” that need to be solved. James believes it is imperative to mentor and develop staff members to help them meet their professional goals and aspire to continue to develop into better clinicians. Having experience at the bedside, he advocates for the perspective of bedside clinicians when systemwide changes are discussed and potentially implemented. Ultimately, James is passionate about these topics because he understands that these decisions made on a large scale ultimately impact the quality of care that patients receive. James decided to pursue his advanced degree with Georgetown University because of the rich history, prestige, and legacy of the university.
James comes from a proud Filipino heritage and values quality time with his family and friends. James enjoys the new experiences that come with trying new foods and visiting new places. In fact, he is on the quest to complete his bucket list item to see an NBA game at every stadium. He and his wife met while earning their degrees from York and they now enjoy navigating through life with their dog Murph.
Madison Harbin
Madison grew up in a small town outside of Birmingham, Alabama. She obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in Healthcare Management. This degree allowed her to utilize some of the skills that were earned from her roles in various jobs and a mentorship she held throughout college. She has worked in healthcare since her freshman year of college. She worked as a front desk receptionist in an urgent care setting and as a patient care technician at UAB Hospital. Post undergraduate degree Madison landed a job in Austin, TX and worked in the business development setting. Her role was advocating as a Community Liaison for a Behavioral Health Hospital, which is an avid topic today. Two years later, Madison landed a job with a Non-Profit Organization where she had volunteered several times, called HIMSS. Her current role is an Executive, on the Corporate Relations team working with global companies.
Georgetown was an admiration for Madison since her senior year of college. It opens many doors for students, and they hold standards high on education and practice. She chose a master’s in health systems administration because it allows her to prepare analytically and see insight into the operational side of how health systems work. Her goal is still in development as she will learn in-depth throughout the next two years, but for now, it is to work towards the goal of being Vice President of Strategy and Partnerships in the healthcare sphere.
Madison enjoys running for leisure and races. She enjoys skiing and going for hikes/camping in the mountains. If she is not outdoors, she is enjoying a good book and trying out a new coffee shop. She is not married or partnered and has no kids. She works remotely, so she and her two dogs (a Great Dane and Border Collie) enjoy traveling throughout the United States. Last summer they went out west to Montana, this summer they were traveling across the coast of Florida/Georgia.
Joie Hucko
Joie Hucko grew up in Syracuse, NY. Joie received a Bachelor of Science in Community Health from the University of Maryland School of Public Health in May 2021. During Joie’s time at the University of Maryland she spent a semester studying abroad in Barcelona, Spain. In April 2021, Joie became a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES). Joie began her professional career with an internship at the D.C. Department of Health’s Nutrition and Physical Fitness Bureau and then moved on to work full-time at the Capital Area Food Bank on the Commodity and Supplemental Food Program working to serve older adults in Washington, DC. Joie now works at the MedStar/Georgetown Huntington’s Disease Care, Education, and Research Center as the Outreach Coordinator.
After working at Georgetown University for over a year, Joie decided to further her professional career by pursing a master’s program. Joie chose the Masters of Health Systems Administration Program because she wanted to expand knowledge of the healthcare system and get exposed to new opportunities in the healthcare field. Joie is particularly interested in health equity and hopes to pursue a career in health equity postgraduation, but is excited to learn and grow throughout her time in the program.
Joie has lived in Washington, DC for the last two and half years. Joie recently came back from a trip to Italy, where she visited the Amalfi Coast, Florence, and Rome. In her free time, Joie enjoys cooking and working out. Joie loves animals and hopes to get a dog or a cat within the next few years. Joie loves to travel and is hoping to visit California in the next year.
Hailey Layne
Hailey Layne graduated from the University of Mississippi in May of 2023 with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree specializing in healthcare management. She was a part of the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College and centered her undergraduate thesis around telehealth measures within Mississippi. This research was inspired by her experience of being born and raised in central Mississippi (Brandon, MS). After graduation, Hailey accepted an internship role with Relias Healthcare in Tupelo, Mississippi. Relias primarily focuses on emergency room management and staffing in rural healthcare systems. The company places a high emphasis on provider education and advocacy; Relias aims to support healthcare providers through multi-faceted approaches to healthcare delivery. In the fall, Hailey will begin working as a Growth Strategy & Analytics Coordinator for Privia Health in the Arlington, Virginia office.
Choosing Georgetown was somewhat of a personal leap for Hailey. Her lack of career experience made her question whether this program would be a good fit for her. When speaking to individuals who were a part of the program, she began to feel that the curriculum would allow her to build a framework on which she could center her career interests. She believes that functioning healthcare systems support community well-being. In Mississippi, she has seen the negative impacts of communities losing access to healthcare services. Many of these losses are not solely due to administrative failings, but she feels that leadership has a critical hand in healthcare delivery. Post-graduation, she hopes to be involved in a career that positively impacts access to healthcare. Eventually, she hopes to return to her home state of Mississippi and work to support the health systems and communities there.
Hailey is always seeking out new hobbies especially when they involve being outdoors. She enjoys any kind of outdoor recreational activity but would consider herself an amateur in all sports. Recently, Hailey has learned to pickle a multitude of vegetables and crochet basic items. During her undergraduate years in Oxford, Mississippi she worked at a flower farm. There she learned an extensive amount about flower species and completed the full range of tasks required to grow and harvest flowers. Hailey loves to read and will read anything once regardless of genre or status. Last year, she set a personal goal to read a book translated into English from every language that she could find. She enjoys comparing different versions of English translations.
Simran Madhani
Simran was born and raised in Dallas, TX. She attended Providence College in Providence, RI, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Policy and Management, with minors in Business Studies and Community Health. During her time at Providence, she held several internships, including at the Senate Policy Office at the Rhode Island State House and the Payor Relations and Contracting Department at Lifespan, Rhode Island’s largest hospital system. Her undergraduate studies also took her abroad to London and Jamaica, where she attended Oxford University and the University of West Indies, respectively, to gain a deeper understanding of their countries’ health systems.
After graduating with honors in 2018, Simran moved to Washington D.C. and began her professional career at MCRA, a clinical research organization and full-service medtech consulting firm. There, she assisted medical device manufacturers in developing reimbursement strategies to ensure the successful commercialization of their products. As of 2022, Simran transitioned to industry and joined Siemens Healthineers’ Reimbursement and Health Policy team. Her primary focus is on preserving, protecting, and enhancing their Artificial Intelligence, Digital Health, and Software product portfolio’s reimbursement and payment landscape.
Simran has focused on understanding the intricacies of the U.S. healthcare payment system. Her experience lies in assisting device manufacturers with the development and implementation of reimbursement and market access strategic plans. This crucial process ensures their products secure the appropriate coding, coverage, and payment, facilitating physician adoption and patient access to innovative and beneficial medical advancements.
Simran’s aspirations include gaining deeper insights into the stakeholders responsible for investing in medical technologies, such as health systems. She aims to understand how these stakeholders interact with health policy and how policy influences their decisions to invest in new and innovative medical advancements for their patients. Looking ahead, Simran aspires to work with a venture capital firm that invests in innovative medical technologies and helps them grow into successful commercialized products. By doing so, she envisions contributing even more to the improvement of patient care and access in the healthcare industry.
Simran is a proud Texan with immense love for country music and the delicious flavors of Tex-Mex cuisine. However, she is a city girl at heart, and she couldn’t be happier living in the heart of Downtown DC. She is always on the lookout for new restaurants to try and enjoys attending professional sporting events, Kennedy Center shows, concerts around the city, and great Dupont comedy shows. To balance out her love for food and entertainment, Simran plays on intramural sports teams and enjoys a good tennis match. One of her most cherished routines is taking Sunday walks through different neighborhoods in DC, allowing her to discover hidden gems. Simran also takes full advantage of her proximity to other states, a luxury she didn’t have in Texas. She enjoys taking weekend road trips to explore cities all over the East Coast. And yes, She’s a Dallas Cowboys fan.
Mallory Matthews
Mallory grew up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and pursued her Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Maryland, College Park. After graduating with a Bachelor’s in Community Health, Mallory moved to Washington D.C. to begin her career in mental health recovery and advocacy. Mallory worked at Cornerstone Montgomery, a non-profit organization in Silver Spring Maryland, for a little over a year before taking a position with Georgetown University. Mallory is now pursuing her Master’s Degree at Georgetown, and hopes to return to the mental and community health field upon completion of her MHSA.
Mallory is interested in behavioral and community health, and hopes to find a career in mental health or substance abuse recovery. With personal ties to this field, Mallory is passionate about this type of work and found Washington D.C. to be an area with growing opportunities for her. After graduation, Mallory hopes to stay in the DMV area and work toward a meaningful career.
Mallory currently works remotely for Georgetown University’s English Language Fellowship Program. With lots of flexibility in her current position, Mallory decided that it would be a great time to complete her Master’s Degree. In her free time, she also enjoys running and fitness, reading, traveling, and spending time with her friends in D.C.
Paula McCown-Epps
Paula McCown-Epps grew up in the DMV and currently lives in Washington, DC. She recently earned her degree from the University of the District of Columbia with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, where she was a member of the Psi Chi honor society and made the dean's list. Paula also holds an Associate of Arts in General Studies from Prince George's Community College, where she focused on Psychology and Hospitality Management. Paula currently works for the federal government as a Health Insurance Specialist (Contracts) at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, where she negotiates FEHBP contracts and provides the management of contracts. Paula formerly worked as a Legal Administrative Specialist, where she was responsible for contract compliance and reviewed medical disputes for stakeholders. She currently holds a Contracting Officer Representative Level 2 certification and is working towards a Contracting Professional Certification which would allow her to sign Federal Contracts. In addition, she held various positions at MedStar Health in the Physician's Billing offices. Prior to her career, Paula completed two internships with the Walt Disney Company in hospitality management.
Growing up in Washington DC, Paula always saw Georgetown University as a premier institution for education. So, when it was time to select a graduate program, she naturally chose Georgetown because of its rich tradition and academic rigor. Currently, Paula while working in the Health Insurance program office, she serves as a liaison between many different offices that in turn make up the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program. Studying Health Systems Administration will give her a better overall understanding of the different working parts that make up the program. After successfully completing an undergraduate thesis focusing on Health Disparities, Paula realized she was really interested in how health policy affects different communities, especially minority populations. Going to Georgetown for her advanced degree would help her learn more about and understand health care policy
Paula's world recently expanded with the arrival of her adorable baby girl, Drew Riley, born in May. When Paula isn't busy being a mom, you'll likely find her in the kitchen cooking delicious meals or traveling to new locations. One of Paula's most unforgettable trips was to Italy, a place that stole her heart. She holds a special memory of visiting the Vatican during Easter, a moment that left a lasting impression. Paula's journey also led her to Florida, where she worked at Disney as an intern during her college days. Florida, Disney specifically, remains one of her favorite places to visit each year. While Paula enjoys traveling to new locations, her favorite way to spend time is with her family. Whether it's sharing a meal, embarking on a new travel escapade, or simply enjoying each other's company, these are the moments that are most important to her.
Angel Phan
Angel Phan was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. During her undergraduate, she worked in admissions at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, and interned at Step Up International, a Greater-Boston based nonprofit organization that provided educational and social development opportunities for school-aged children in Botswana. After graduating, Angel did case management for nonprofit organizations, working with diverse populations including the elderly, behavioral health, adults with disabilities, and low-income adults. Her clients had multiple health issues while trying to navigate the healthcare system, and deal with healthcare costs. She also completed a case management certificate and mental health and aging issues certificate from Boston University School of Social Work. She moved to the Washington DCBaltimore metro area in 2021. Angel joined the Georgetown community as a program coordinator in 2021 and is currently an executive assistant.
When Angel was a child, she was a patient at Boston’s Children Hospital for several years, and that’s when her interest in the healthcare field started. She originally went to college to pursue becoming a nurse. However, after clinical work, she realized that direct patient care was not for her, so she transferred to public health. Learning more about the U.S. healthcare system intrigued her, especially about healthcare costs and the financial burden bestowed upon many. She is particularly interested in operations and management, advancing health equity, and improving quality of care. Upon the completion of her degree, Angel plans to use her knowledge to work in a position where she can address health system structure challenges.
Outside of work, Angel enjoys traveling, weightlifting, concerts, hiking, video games, and anime. In the future, she hopes to travel more internationally and visit more national parks. She frequently travels to Boston to visit family and friends back home, and to Vietnam every several years to see family. She loves trying new restaurants and breweries, and it’s important that the “camera eats first”. Angel and her partner currently reside in Maryland.
Manisha Vootkur
Manisha was born and raised in Wisconsin, where she attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and received her bachelor’s in sociology and global health and her bachelor’s in nursing. In undergrad, she volunteered and worked in different clinical settings and began to see the various factors that influence a patient’s health outcomes beyond the clinical scope. These experiences influenced her to pursue opportunities that recognize the impact of social, legal, and political systems on a patient’s health, such as interning at US Senator Tammy Baldwin’s office and working directly with her healthcare caseworker. She also volunteered as a patient resource navigator- providing community resources supporting patients’ social determinants of health. During college, she also studied public health for a semester in Copenhagen, Denmark, where she was exposed to a completely different healthcare system and the strategies they employ for health promotion and disease prevention. Since graduating, Manisha has worked as a registered nurse in Maryland in the cardiac cath lab and the cardiac ICU at Johns Hopkins, caring for critically ill cardiac patients. After having a bit of a quarter-life crisis and being burnt out, she transitioned to her current role working as a nurse in outpatient cardiology at Hopkins and is enjoying it!
As Manisha navigates her career, she aims to formulate policies and develop tools to help healthcare systems improve access to care, patient outcomes, health equity, and quality of care. While continuing to have her feet on the ground in our healthcare system, she chose to start this path by attending the MHSA program at Georgetown because of its focus on evaluating the relationship between various forces that shape healthcare delivery and policy, something she believes is fundamental to drive lasting change in our healthcare ecosystem. The university’s location at the epicenter of healthcare policy-making and the unique exposure to legislative bodies and organizations impacting the healthcare of those around the country excites her. Although undecided about what role she’d like to pursue after graduation, Manisha is eager to be exposed to different positions and fields through the MHSA program.
Manisha greatly enjoys traveling and is always seeking new experiences. Her favorite places she’s been are the Amalfi Coast, Madeira Island in Portugal, and Colombia. She will be going to India very soon for a couple of family events and is excited because it’s the first time she’s been back in 7 years. In Manisha’s free time, she likes spending time outside with friends and going hiking, especially if it includes ending with a visit to a brewery or winery. She also recently got into pottery and has made many lopsided (but still beautiful) mugs and bowls.
Rain Zhang
Rain grew up in the vibrant city of San Francisco, California. In 2019, she completed her bachelor’s degree at the University of California, Davis, where she majored in Nutrition Science with a focus on Public Health. During her time at the university, Rain also pursued a minor in Communication. Rain currently serves as the Clinical Operations Supervisor at Chinese Hospital, a community-based organization dedicated to providing high-quality healthcare to diverse communities, encompassing various socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds. In her role, Rain takes charge of overseeing the operation and program development of four multispecialty clinics within the San Francisco area. Additionally, she has a keen focus on program development and possesses expertise in quality performance improvement, particularly in enhancing patient experience.
Rain was drawn to Georgetown’s MHSA program due to its unique curriculum design, which enables students to pursue a master’s degree while remaining actively engaged in their work field. Her primary focus is on honing her leadership skills to enhance the delivery of healthcare services. She is driven to gain a comprehensive understanding of the prominent issues confronting healthcare organizations today, including evolving health policies, the complexities of medical technology, and the importance of cost-effective care. Rain is particularly enthusiastic about exploring innovative approaches to healthcare delivery, including telehealth and other digital technologies, alongside alternative payment models that incentivize improved quality and access to care. Upon completing her studies, Rain aspires to delve into healthcare strategic consulting, where she aims to address critical challenges in care access, patient experience, financial management, growth, and other aspects of healthcare operations.
Rain enjoys a variety of hobbies and interests that bring her immense joy and fulfillment. Hiking is one of her favorite activities, allowing her to explore the beauty of nature. However, her passion for traveling truly excites her, having visited many breathtaking destinations. She holds a special affection for Hawaii, drawn to its stunning beaches, scenic landscapes, and captivating culture. Looking ahead, Rain eagerly anticipates her upcoming trip to Europe, where she plans to explore the rich art, impressive architecture, and diverse cultures it has to offer.
