MHA In Focus: Ryan Espineli

Tell us about your background and what led you to be interested in the field of Health Administration.

I am currently a Project Manager for the Ambulatory Electronic Health Records department of North Shore-LIJ Health System Medical Group. When I initially applied to Hofstra University, I chose to apply for the MBA program at the Zarb School of Business. However, the experiences of my fellow co-workers who were alumni of the MHA program has led my curiosity to get more details about the program’s curriculum. After carefully examining the MHA program course bulletin, I realized that my professional goals and interests lie more with the Master of Health Administration’s course offerings.

What attracted you to Hofstra University’s MHA program?

I decided to pursue the MHA program of Hofstra University because the institution values the learning experience of their graduate students. Industry experts teach courses with emphasis on “real world” concepts and scenarios necessary as a healthcare leader, to navigate the complexities of the U.S. Healthcare Industry.

Tell us about your relevant experiences outside of the classroom.  Share information about any current internship/research/volunteer/work opportunities you’re taking advantage of.

The knowledge that I acquire in the classroom directly applies to situations that I encounter in my responsibilities as a healthcare manager almost on a day-to-day basis. Not only do we learn from our professors but also through the experiences and insights that are shared by our peers. Through this process, it helps me learn information to be an effective and successful healthcare manager. At the same time, the theories that are taught in class validate working knowledge that I have been able to obtain over the years of experience in the Healthcare Information Technology field.

Describe your experience working and studying with faculty within the department.

The faculty of the MHA program is very supportive and understanding of their graduate students’ concerns. Working professionals like me are given the opportunity to be able to tailor the pace of the program. It enables me to balance my priorities so that there is minimal disruption to work, family and school obligations. In addition, as industry experts, the professors always provide current and relevant information on the courses that are delivered in class. This ensures that we learn related knowledge as well as policies that affect the healthcare industry.

What are your long-term professional goals and how will the program help you reach them?

In the long term, I hope to help shape healthcare policy through the efficiencies that are continuously being developed to enable interoperability of electronic health records. Another goal for me is to get myself more involved in the area of managing the operations of healthcare systems. The program encourages establishing a professional network with both peers and top industry leaders. Thus, with the former being mentioned, I am firm believer that nurturing your professional relationships is the key to success.

What is your advice for prospective students looking for a degree in health?

Find an area of specialization that you are passionate about. In my opinion, this is the best advice for prospective students looking for a degree in healthcare. Being in an area of specialization sets the individual to a focused function that they can nurture and grow with professionally.  Furthermore, it allows gradual cultivation of specialized area of knowledge necessary to assume the role as a future leader in healthcare.