The latest news about ExecHPM students, faculty, and alumni.
A LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Congratulations to the ExecHPM Class of 2026! It’s been a wonderful journey witnessing all of our Executive MPH and online MHA students working so hard while working full-time in professional careers over the last few years, often in the midst of other significant life milestones including career advancements, raising families, and running major initiatives in their own countries. Shout-out to MHA graduate Fatima Maada Bo, the First Lady of Sierra Leone, who advocates for the health of women and children and is President of the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD). Job well done, all of you. From all of us in the Executive Programs Office and the Fielding School of Public Health, congratulations. I’m looking forward to all of your next chapters as engaged UCLA alumni.
Throughout our 30-year history of the Executive Programs Office, we have seen so many illustrious faculty teach in our classrooms. As we always welcome new faculty, it is bittersweet to say goodbye to those who are moving into their next chapters. We wish to thank Tony Schiff, Martin Lee, and Becky Yano for all their considerable contributions to the education of our healthcare leaders. The lessons our students have learned from you will impact their professional lives throughout their careers.
In the MHA program, twelve new students have been accepted and started their online studies this summer. EMPH students who just finished their first year in the program are now working on their summer consulting projects and the new EMPH cohort is nearly finalized as we look forward to fall quarter which begins at the end of August. Applications are still being accepted through July.
I hope you all have a wonderful summer. Rest when you can and we’ll see you in fall!
All my best,
Kyle Sullivan, MSW
Executive Director, Executive Programs in HPM
IMPORTANT DATES
Info Sessions
Please spread the word about our upcoming online Info Sessions. It’s a great opportunity for interested applicants to learn about our programs in a live Q&A webinar that covers program curriculum, admissions requirements, and application materials.
EMPH Info Sessions:
Will resume in October. Check website for updates.
We will accept applications through July 31st. Start or complete your application on the UCLA Grad Portal.
The UCLA Grad Portal closes on August 1st and will re-open in mid-September for Fall 2027 Admissions.
EMPH Fall Quarter 2026:
Classes begin Friday, August 28, 2026.
EMPH Orientation:
August 28, 2026
MHA Summer Quarter 2026:
Classes began June 29, 2026.
MHA Summer Quarter 2026 Immersion: Thursday, August 6 – Saturday, August 8, 2026
Reminder: MHA Immersion I and II are required courses in the curriculum. You must enroll in the course to participate.
MHA Fall Quarter 2026: Application Deadline is July 31, 2026. APPLY NOW
Instruction begins September 21, 2026.
CONGRATULATIONS CLASS OF 2026
We had the honor of conferring Master of Public Health (MPH) and Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) degrees to our brilliant Class of 2026 students on June 12th. If you were not able to attend the commencement ceremony or would like to view it again, a recording is available on the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health YouTube channel.
To view and download photos from commencement day, please click here.
To view the commencement ceremony program, please click here.
To view the full text of Dr. Julio Frenk's keynote address, please click here.
UCLA Fielding School of Public Health's Executive MPH (EMPH) is a two-year graduate degree program. Students attend classes twice a month on Friday and Saturday, in person on the UCLA campus. Tailored for professionals invested in their careers, the EMPH program provides students the opportunity to work full-time while pursuing a rigorous graduate program.
Upon completion of the program, graduates are conferred a fully accredited Master of Public Health (MPH) degree with an emphasis in Health Policy and Management.
The EMPH program is not in session during summer, but as students prepare to start their second year, they participate in a summer consulting project under the leadership of Professor Mike Galper.
First-year students will meet for the first time at EMPH Orientation on August 28, 2026, when fall quarter begins.
UCLA's online MHA is a flexible graduate degree program. Graduates are conferred a fully accredited Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) degree. Featuring two on-campus immersions and a capstone project, this flexible program offers most course content asynchronously, with the freedom to adjust the number of courses taken each quarter.
One of the highlights of UCLA’s online MHA Program is that students can begin their graduate studies any quarter throughout the year. Congratulations to the following MHA candidates who were recently admitted into the program and began classes this Summer Quarter on June 29, 2026: Colesha Easler, Analucia Fuentes, Phillip Wright, Andres Arreguin, Nina Levin, Carolina Arellano, Katherine Do, Diana Patpatian, Ayesha Waseer, DDS, Kimia Ramezani, Valerie Altamirano, Stephanie Corson, and Angela Soto.
We look forward to welcoming you to campus at an upcoming Immersion.
Executive HPM draws on the distinguished faculty, programs, and academics of the nationally renowned UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. Courses are taught by leading practitioners and researchers in the field of public health, health policy, and healthcare management, as well as faculty from UCLA’s other graduate schools and management-related fields. Their expertise spans clinical practice, applied research, policy analysis, entrepreneurship, and consultation at the local, national, and international level.
The UCLA Fielding School of Public Health Executive Programs in Health Policy and Management Alumni Network includes over 700 professionals committed to making a difference in the field of public health. Nothing brings us more joy than sharing your important work with our community. Please notify us of your career updates for an opportunity to be featured. Just send us an email at exechpm@ucla.edu or feel free to DM or tag us on LinkedIn.
EMPH Alumni Career Updates
Jeff Agner, MPH (EMPH 2014) is now Principal, Consulting Senior Manager at CannonDesign.
Marina Martinez, MPH (EMPH 2026) was accepted as an Administrative Fellow at Cedars-Sinai and started her first four-month rotation in June 2026.
Isabella McShane (EMPH Candidate) started a new position as a Research Coordinator for the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)-funded CTN 0155 BISTRO Trial at Community Health Project LA.
Nicole Morales, MPH(EMPH 2025) is now the Research Evaluation Coordinator at The Lundquist Institute.
Lara Peña, DO, MPH (EMPH 2010) is now the Medical Director of Clinical Operations at UCLA Health Medicare Advantage Plan.
Elaina Barr(MHA Candidate) has started a new position as Analyst II Statewide Trainer with California WIC.
Shayok Dutta, MHA(MHA 2025) is now the Lead Business Analyst of Strategic Affiliations and Performance at UC San Diego Health.
Deb Franzon Frederick, MD, MHA(MHA 2024) is now VP System Chief Quality and Safety Officer at Texas Children's Hospital.
Mina Jasovic O., MHA(MHA 2023), lactation consultant at UCLA Health and Providence Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, will be presenting "Ethical Informatics in the Era of Transparency: Using AI to Advance Privacy, Language Access, and Documentation Equity in Newborn and Maternal Care" at the IABLE Abstract Presentation Day on August 7, 2026.
Adrianna Lawrence(MHA Candidate) has started a new position as Manager of Graduate Medical Education at Providence.
Brianna Levenson, MHA (MHA 2023) has started a new position as Customer Outcomes Manager at LeanTaaS.
Melissa Lopez, LVN(MHA Candidate) has been promoted to Assistant Regional Director for the Conejo & West Valley Region at UCLA Health.
Diana Petros, RN(MHA Candidate) is now a Nurse Practitioner at Pulse Primary Care.
Pablo Santos(MHA Candidate) started an internship at Vituity.
Kimberlee Pintea, MHA, RN(MHA 2026) is now a Research Nurse and Clinical Trials Supervisor in the Clinical Trials Unit at Health New Zealand’s Blood and Cancer Centre.
Emily Shearon, MHA, RN(MHA 2023) has completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice at San José State University.
Joyce Tong(MHA Candidate) is now the Manager of Customer Service Operations at Astrana Health.
Please notify us of your professional updates for an opportunity to be featured. Email us at exechpm@ucla.edu or tag us on LinkedIn.
The University of California is the best public university in the 2026 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings. UCLA is in the top 10 for best schools of public health and also ranked in the top 10 for best health policy and management programs.
The world-renowned UCLA Fielding School of Public Health harnesses the resources and expertise of a top-ranked U.S. public university to develop proactive leaders who will shape the future of healthcare.
