Association of Future Healthcare Administrators
The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) Association of Future Healthcare Administrators (AFHA) serves as an official organization of the Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) programs. Any current student of the UIC MHA program is eligible for AFHA membership. The organization focuses on three main areas- professional development, academic affairs, and social networking.
Mission & Vision Heading link
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Mission
The mission of AFHA is to provide a vehicle for the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) students to be connected and utilize opportunities within the MHA Program, UIC Campus, and external affiliations.
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Vision
The vision of AFHA is to become a leading resource for UIC MHA students to be connected and informed of healthcare management, especially in the Chicago-land area, as to advance their career development.
Meet the AFHA Executive Board Heading link
We are excited to serve as your student leadership team.
Prakruti Patel, President
Where are you from? I’m from Hoffman Estates, IL
Where did you get your undergraduate degree? What did you major in? I received my undergraduate degree right here at UIC! I majored in Integrated Health Studies with a concentration in Health and Science. I also minored in Psychology.
Why did you choose the MHA degree program at UIC?I chose UIC because the year long preceptorship was unique and would provide me the best opportunity to fully immerse myself into a healthcare organization! I also love the city of Chicago and wanted to continue making long lasting connections here.
Describe your role as a board member: As president, my role is to provide MHA students with opportunities to socially and professionally connect and network with alumni, faculty, and healthcare organizations. I work with the program director, faculty advisor, and board to provide these resources to prepare students for the MHA program as well as their future careers as healthcare leaders.
What are your long-term career goals? I hope to become an executive for healthcare operations at an organization dedicated to providing access to health services to those in underserved communities.
Have you started your internship? What organization are you working with? Please describe your position: I am doing my preceptorship at UI Health in the Emergency Management and
Environment of Care departments. As an administrative intern, I support my preceptors with current and new projects as well as being involved in various initiatives that expose me to different aspects of operations of a healthcare system.
Favorite class/faculty member? I really enjoyed HPA 417 Quality Management with Adam Andersen. It was interesting to learn about quality improvement and safety in healthcare.
What piece of advice you would give for incoming students? Get involved! There are so many resources and opportunities for growth available. Create friendships within your cohort and the second years! You’ll get to meet some really amazing people and create great connections.
Anything else that you would like us to know about yourself/add? N/A
Mathilde Hanchard, Vice President of Operations
Where are you from? Northern Suburbs of Chicago (Mundelein)
Where did you get your undergraduate degree? What did you major in? University of Illinois Urbana Champaign where I majored in chemistry and community health.
Why did you choose the MHA degree program at UIC? UIC’s unique year long preceptorship program is the biggest reason for choosing this program, being able to settle into a role for a year and do a year long capstone is the best way to get relevant experience for our future. At UIC, there is also incredible staff with first hand experience within healthcare fields, there’s an incredible Case Competition team as well!
Describe your role as a board member: I am the VP of operations, my role includes being the liaison for the Alumni Council and supporting the president of AFHA to organize professional and social events for AFHA.
What are your long-term career goals? I am still exploring what my long term career may be. Being able to be in a position where I can make a difference and increase access to healthcare is my goal.
Have you started your internship? What organization are you working with? Please describe your position: I just started my preceptorship at Ascension Saint Joseph Chicago as an executive intern. I am able to join several committees, shadow the units and leaders, and eventually chose my own capstone project.
Favorite class/faculty member? Healthcare Data Analytics (and Nicholas Tilipman)
What piece of advice would you give to incoming students? Try everything out! Try the case competitions, try the networking, put yourself out there. It truly is what you make of it!
Anything else you want us to know about yourself/add? N/A
Rachael Tuttle, Vice President of Community Relations
Where are you from? I’m from Wellsboro, Pennsylvania.
Where did you get your undergraduate degree? What did you major in? Bloomsburg University, I majored in Biology.
Why did you choose the MHA degree program at UIC? I chose the MHA degree program at UIC because of the extensive alumni network and the vast healthcare opportunities within Chicagoland.
Describe your role as a board member: As the VP of Community Relations, I coordinate healthcare-related community outreach events for the student body. I maintain records of all community events. Facilitate opportunities for students to get involved in Chicago healthcare initiatives, including, but not limited to ACHE/CHEF, volunteering, and other healthcare-related opportunities.
What are your long-term career goals? My long-term career goal would be to work in operations at a community healthcare network. I am dedicated to improving my community through patient experience and access. I believe that operations can help me lead initiatives to improve the quality of care given to underserved populations.
Have you started your internship? What organization are you working with? Please describe your position: I am precepting at Northwestern Medicine’s Canning Thoracic Institute, where I assist the leadership team in performing projects and ongoing operations for their pulmonary, thoracic, and lung transplant departments. I primarily work in operations but have projects in quality, data analytics, marketing, and community outreach.
Favorite class/faculty member? My favorite class was HPA 403: US Health Care System with John and John! It was interesting hearing about their different backgrounds, and each week, we had presentations, which helped to develop my public speaking skills.
What piece of advice would you give to incoming students? Networking during your preceptorship and outside of class is the most important thing for a future healthcare leader. I have realized how small the healthcare world is in Chicago and everyone knows everyone!
Anything else you want us to know about yourself/add? I am very excited to meet the upcoming class! Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
Jamie Youngberg, Vice President of Social Programming
Where are you from? St Charles, IL.
Where did you get your undergraduate degree? What did you major in? Michigan State University, Human Biology.
Why did you choose the MHA degree program at UIC? I heard great things about the program, and the preceptorship during 2nd year was a major selling point for me! UIC has so many connections within the city and I felt that it would provide me with the best experience.
Describe your role as a board member: As the Vice President of Social Programming, a large part of my role is bringing people together! Graduate school is a great time for networking and growing your circle, so this year we plan on having plenty of social events for people to connect on a personal and professional level. I will be overseeing this year’s MHA Mentorship Program and I’m so excited for everyone to meet.
What are your long-term career goals? Coming from a clinical background, I would love to have a career that allows me to work with clinical staff. I’ve worked in the OR for roughly 2.5 years, so delivering exceptional surgical care is something I care deeply about and continuing to be involved with surgical services would be a dream!
Have you started your internship? What organization are you working with? Please describe your position:Â My position is at Northwestern Medicine within the NMG Quality team! Everything we do centers around improving patient outcomes and ensuring that NM patients get consistent, quality healthcare. Our team is always striving to make the system better than it was yesterday through various projects and improvement efforts.
Favorite class/faculty member? Hard to choose, but one of them was definitely Public Health Foundations with Dr. McCay. It’s a super informative and super important class!
What piece of advice would you give to incoming students? You are meant to be here, and you deserve every great thing that comes your way. Imposter syndrome is real, and especially moving forward as you meet so many impressive individuals. But remember your worth and know that every person once started from humble beginnings. Go get em!
Anything else you want us to know about yourself/add? My body is compromised of 98% caffeine. If you ever want to have a coffee meet-up, I’m your girl!
John Slubowski, Vice President of Membership and Finance
Where are you from? Burbank, IL.
Where did you get your undergraduate degree? What did you major in? University of Illinois at Urbana-Campaign, Kinesiology.
Why did you choose the MHA degree program at UIC? I believe UIC’s preceptorship program would equip me with the necessary skill set and practical experience to present myself as a stand-out fellowship applicant.
Describe your role as a board member:Â My role in AFHA as Vice President of Membership and Finance consists of coordinating event planning and monitoring the budget as we host events throughout the year.
What are your long-term career goals? In 10 years I see myself working as an assistant director or hopefully director of a hospital department. I am particularly interested in operations as my preceptor, Karen, Director of Facility Operations and Life Safety has been mentoring and educating me.
Have you started your internship? What organization are you working with? Please describe your position: Within the last month or so, I have started my graduate assistant position at UI Health in the Support Services Administration department. I assist in coordinating and tracking project requests from different hospital departments and ensure they are proceeding as intended.
Favorite class/faculty member? I could not pick a favorite faculty member but I did thoroughly enjoy Nick Tilipman’s Quantitative Statistics course where we learned the basics of coding in statistical software.
What piece of advice would you give to incoming students? Take advantage of all the opportunities SPH presents you with. Get involved and make yourself stand out.
Anything else you want us to know about yourself/add? I like to lift weights and my favorite food is pizza.
Ruben Sauer Calvo, Vice President of Part-Time Affairs
Where are you from? Mexico.
Where did you get your undergraduate degree? What did you major in? Medicine.
Why did you choose the MHA degree program at UIC? Diversity and good ranking.
Describe your role as a board member:Â VP of part-time students affairs.
What are your long-term career goals? Improve access to healthcare to underserved population, bring diversity to healthcare administration workforce, reduce bias and reduce healthcare workers burnout
Have you started your internship? What organization are you working with? Please describe your position:Â Not yet, probably at UI Health next year.
Favorite class/faculty member? Adam Andersen
What piece of advice would you give to incoming students? Learn from your faculty, invited guess, classmates and network.
Anything else you want us to know about yourself/add? N/A
Membership Benefits Heading link
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Professional Development
Facilitate and offer professional development activities.
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Academic Affairs
Provides current and incoming students with details related to professors, classes, preceptors and preceptroship sites. Serves as a liaison between the students’ voices and the program leadership team.
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Social Networking
Social activities are intended to provide a forum for members to interact outside of the classroom.
Social Media & Events Heading link
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Social Media
Follow UIC’s AFHA on Instagram @mhaatuic
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Social Events
Upcoming Events
Cards for Kids, Friday (March 8, 2024), SPHPI, Room 160, 1603 W Taylor St., Chicago, IL
Volunteering Event(s) & Opportunities to Engage Heading link
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Volunteering Event(s)
TBD
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Opportunities to Engage
TBD
