Our Fellows
The MD Anderson Administrative Fellowship is successful in training and developing fellows for their careers after the program. Past fellows have found great opportunities inside and outside of MD Anderson.
Through the eyes of our administrative fellows, MD Anderson is the perfect place to grow. It offers numerous opportunities for development and making significant contributions to our institution. Under the leadership of the President's Office, the fellows spend 18 months employed at MD Anderson working on projects in a focus area they select based on their interests.
Current Fellows
Amy Arbit
2024 - The University of Florida, M.H.A.
2022 - The University of North Florida, B.H.A
Amy Arbit was born and raised in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. She received her Bachelor of Science in Health Administration from The University of North Florida and her Master of Health Administration from The University of Florida.
During her academic journey, Amy completed various internships. Notably, she completed an administrative internship at Mayo Clinic in the Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) department, gaining practical experience in a clinical setting. Additionally, Amy completed an internship at The University of Florida College of Medicine in the Dean's Office with a focus on Finance & Administration. Committed to professional development, Amy served as Vice President of Finance for the local chapter of Health Administration Student Association (HASA) while pursuing her master's degree.
In her future role as an Administrative Fellow at MD Anderson, Amy hopes to take her experience to support patients navigating the complexities of healthcare administration. Amy is invested in ensuring that patients receive comprehensive support. Outside of work, Amy enjoys hot yoga, being near the water, trying new coffee shops, and spending time with friends & family.
Shruti Asodaria
2024 - The Ohio State University, M.H.A.
2021 - University of Texas at Dallas, Healthcare Management, B.S.
Shruti Asodaria was born and raised in Dallas, TX, and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Healthcare Management from The University of Texas at Dallas. During her academic journey, she gained valuable hands-on experience as an EMT on campus, where witnessing emergency situations firsthand reinforced her belief in the importance of remembering that behind every decision, there is a patient and family impacted.
After graduating, Shruti took a gap year to acquire work experience. She initially worked in reimbursement and collections for an infusion company but later took the opportunity to manage a startup laboratory. Building the lab from the ground up was challenging but incredibly rewarding, fueling her desire to learn more about operating complex healthcare systems and leading her to pursue an MHA. Following her first year in the MHA program at The Ohio State University, Shruti served as an administrative resident for OhioHealth in Nursing Operations, focusing on patient quality and safety for their new Blood and Marrow Transplant Unit.
In the future, Shruti aspires to be in a role where she can merge her passion for innovation in diagnostics and patient safety. She is also eager to learn more about facilities and construction management, patient safety, and laboratory operations at MD Anderson. When not working, Shruti enjoys reading at a park, spending time with her dog, hiking, and cooking.
Mahir Sayeed
2024 – Rush University, M.S. HSM
2021 – The University of Texas at Dallas, B.S.
Mahir Sayeed is a native Houstonian and received his Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from The University of Texas at Dallas. Prior to applying to graduate school, he spent 5 months working as a unit secretary for the Medical/Surgical Unit in HCA Houston Kingwood, building a basic understanding of hospital operations and resource utilization.
He then left for his Master’s in Health Systems Management from Rush University in Chicago where he worked under the Vice President of Access Operations for his first year. He partnered with leaders in the access center to create strategies and manage deployments of various systems to increase efficiency, utilization, and equity for the West Side Community. He then spent his summer and second year as a graduate administrative intern for Northwestern Medicine International Health, gaining insights into the global landscape of healthcare and leading innovations in process improvement.
Mahir is deeply passionate in developing and propagating equitable care, providing better opportunities for underserved populations and instilling cultural sensitivity to prevent ongoing health inequities. He hopes to use his education and skills to show how increasing health equity can be beneficial to both patients and the organizations that are trailblazers for the initiative. Mahir deeply enjoys playing his guitar, testing new recipes, and finding obscure restaurants to add to his "Foodie Bucket List".
Ihsan Zulkifly
2024 – The Ohio State University, M.H.A.
2022 – Indiana University, B.S.
Ihsan Zulkifly was born in Malaysia and grew up in the UK before moving to the United States in 2012. He received his Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management and Policy with a minor in Human Resource Management from Indiana University Bloomington.
After completing his undergraduate degree, he went straight to graduate school where he received his Master of Health Administration from The Ohio State University. During his time at graduate school, he served as the President of the Association for Future Healthcare Executives. Throughout graduate school he was fortunate enough to work at Ohio State University's Physician Group where he learned the ins and outs of medical group management. Additionally, He spent his summer with the Cleveland Clinic as an Administrative Intern for the Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute where he worked on high-impact initiatives including optimizing outpatient procedure room efficiency, establishing a kidney dialysis crash AAR process, reducing costs associated with ureteroscopy surgeries, and spearheading the development of a business case for a Men's Health Hub.
Ihsan enjoys all aspects of healthcare administration but is particularly interested in how operations can be used to increase the accessibility of healthcare services for patients who need the care. In his free time, Ihsan enjoys lifting weights, running, spending time with loved ones, watching movies, and reading on his kindle.
Past Fellows
2023-2024
Zia Bari, MS-HSM
Zia Bari, MS-HSM is an aspiring healthcare professional with expertise in project management and operations. He graduated from the University of Houston with a major in Health and a minor in Business Administration. Zia received his Master of Science in Health Systems Management at Rush University in Chicago, Illinois.
During his time at Rush University Medical Center, Zia worked closely with Emergency Medicine and Hospital Medicine leaders to assess and implement several operations-enhancing projects based on financial opportunity and logistical viability. These projects furthered his drive toward improving patient care and clinical outcomes. During his tenure, Zia improved his proficiency in financial and data analysis. He designed comprehensive reports and dashboards to make data-driven decisions. Zia's passion for leveraging insights to drive financial improvements and operational optimization in the healthcare industry defined his commitment to making a meaningful impact.
Zia is eager to apply his skills and experience gained from his education and professional background to new opportunities in patient access and clinical operations. He is excited to join MD Anderson and contribute towards its vision - Making Cancer History!
Brianna Guzman, MHA
Brianna Guzman, MHA is elated to join MD Anderson Cancer Center as part of the 2023/2024 Administrative Fellowship Program. She received both her Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences and Master of Health Administration degrees from Texas A&M University.
During her graduate studies, Brianna assisted her institution’s Student Health Center by modernizing their physician credentialing program in preparation for the AAAHC accreditation inspection survey. She completed her graduate administrative internship with Mayo Clinic within their Division of Endocrinology. While there, she developed methods of capturing key productivity metrics to determine efficient inpatient dietitian FTE adjustments.
Brianna is moved by MD Anderson’s relentless efforts to heal the sick, advance the science, and share the knowledge. She is proud to learn from an institution that is leading the world of medicine, and more importantly, instilling hope.
Kirsten Reid, MPH
Kirsten Reid, MPH joins MD Anderson Cancer Center as apart of the 2023/2024 Administrative Fellowship Program in the Leadership Institute. She received her Master of Public Health from Emory University, Atlanta GA, that endorses her love for improving the health of communities through innovative strategies.
Kirsten began her Masters degree working as a research assistant for a level one trauma center in Atlanta, Grady Memorial Hospital, and for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She completed her summer internship at the National Institutes of Health within the Environmental Health Division. While there, she conducted an analysis on the community engagement and research translation work being done at the Superfund Research Program to inform vulnerable populations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl alkyl substance (PFAS) contamination. She concluded her degree working as a Healthcare and Statistics Budget Intern for the Georgia Department of Community Health.
Kirsten has had a lifelong passion for improving the health outcomes and is excited to continue this at MD Anderson. She will continue to embrace challenges and undertake the fellowship with a caring spirit and inquisitive mind.
Ashley Sekul
Ashley Sekul is a third-year MHA candidate at The George Washington University and will receive her degree upon completion of the fellowship. Before her graduate degree, Ashley earned a Biochemistry degree from the University of Mississippi in May 2020. The following year, Ashley was able to further her interests in healthcare through her work as a scribe under a radiation oncologist, cementing her passion for impacting cancer care.
During her graduate studies, Ashley gained experience while interning at Executives for Health Innovation, a health IT (Information Technology) company; Leavitt Partners, a health policy consulting group; and the Patient Centered Outcome Research Institute, a non-profit research grant organization. She also completed her graduate administrative internship within the Heart, Lung, Vascular service line at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, where she gained understanding of ambulatory operations and patient education.
Ashley is eager to begin her career in health administration at such a renowned institution. She looks forward to learning from dedicated healthcare leaders, impacting the lives of patients, and taking part in Making Cancer History ®.”
2022-2023
Meghan Acosta, MHA
University of North Florida
Meghan Acosta received her Master of Healthcare Administration degree from the University of North Florida in May 2022. During her graduate program, she had served both as Vice President and later President for their local chapter of Upsilon Phi Delta- the national academic honor society for students in healthcare administration. Also in her graduate program, Meghan was twice selected by faculty and staff for the Foster G. McGaw Scholarship and had obtained her Lean Competency Systems Continuous Improvement Green Belt 1B-1C from Florida Blue. Meghan had supported Hematology/Oncology research at Mayo Clinic through activation of clinical trials across the institution. She believes this experience had created a firm foundation of knowledge in clinical research as well as a continuous opportunity for learning.
In 2019, Meghan earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Administration and minor in Public Health, also from the University of North Florida. Due to her fond interest in deeper matters of health administration and networking in the region, she was committed to continuing her studies within Brooks College of Health. Meghan had piloted Mayo’s first fully remote monitoring visit for CRO’s and withheld high standards and accuracy within regulatory compliance for Sponsor audits. One of her greatest interests includes innovation, quality and strategy. Meghan previously volunteered at Mayo within the orthopedics department and was the lead dispatch for hospital discharges. In the summer of 2019, Meghan had completed an administrative internship for Mayo Clinic’s School of Graduate Medical Education as well as School of Continuous Professional Development.
Meghan is humbled to be continuing her training with the nation’s #1 cancer center whose team has one goal -- to end cancer. She hopes to work together with physicians, clinicians and staff to provide hope and impact the life of just one more patient.
Quentin Moon
Xavier University
Quentin Moon is a third-year MHSA candidate at Xavier University and will receive his degree upon completion of the fellowship. He completed his summer internship at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, focused on Human Resources and Strategy/Business Development. He spent time at St. Elizabeth identifying community partners in the Northern Kentucky region to address social determinants of health and planning the system's first Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Advancement Summit.
In 2018, Quentin earned his bachelor's degree from Western Illinois University, where he was a student-athlete and studied Biological Sciences and Psychology. While at the university, Quentin worked with the county hospital in Rehabilitation Services, which began his interest in hospital administration.
Prior to joining MD Anderson, Quentin worked for Blue Note Therapeutics, a prescription digital-therapeutic company singularly focused on transforming mental health care for cancer patients. Here, he found a passion for identifying digital health technologies and evidence-based therapeutic interventions to enhance the delivery of cancer care. His project work in business development and digital marketing to increase awareness of available clinical trials and resources solidified his drive in Making Cancer History®.
Louise Goldberg, MBA, RD
University of Houston – Bauer College of Business
Louise Goldberg received her Master of Business Administration from C.T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston in May 2022. Prior to completing this program, Louise was a senior clinical manager at Memorial Hermann and Children’s Memorial Hermann in the Texas Medical Center, responsible for 2 departments and a team of 43 clinicians and technicians. She received her Bachelor of Science at the University of Texas-Austin in Dietetics/Nutrition and became a practicing Registered Dietitian.
During her work experience as both a clinician involved in directly managing medical nutrition therapy for patients, and then as a clinical manager accountable for her team and departments, she took many opportunities to more efficiently and effectively use resources and technology to benefit how care is provided to patients and improve the work environment for employees. Louise sought an MBA to strengthen her business and leadership skills to be able to more deeply impact patients' lives and employees' well-being. She hopes to apply innovative strategies to improve and expand patient access to treatments and how they are delivered, as well as ensure clinicians have the tools and support they need to offer the highest quality of care to their patients.
Stone Kinsey, MHA
Texas A&M University
Stone Kinsey received his Master of Health Administration from Texas A&M University’s Health Science Center in May 2022. During his graduate studies, Stone was an active member and president of his program’s American College of Healthcare Executives student chapter. He also represented Texas A&M by competing in national case competitions. Stone completed his practicum experience within the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, where he worked on increasing patient access and developing a plan for increased efficiency in the research laboratories. Stone also served as a teaching assistant for Health Information Management Systems, a first-year course in the Texas A&M MHA program.
Prior to his graduate degree, Stone earned a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences, also from Texas A&M University, in December 2019. During his undergraduate studies at Texas A&M, he served on the Class of 2020 Student Council, promoting class unity and tradition. Stone was granted the opportunity to study abroad in Bonn, Germany, where he took classes on comparative healthcare models and systems, sparking a new passion for healthcare policy and administration.
Stone is excited to stay in Texas to begin his career in health administration. He has interests in patient access and strategic planning, and is excited to join the MD Anderson team in order to advance the vision — Making Cancer History®.
2021-2022
Dylan Patel
George Washington University
Dylan Patel is a third-year MHA candidate at George Washington University and will receive his degree upon completion of the fellowship. While in graduate school, Dylan served on the MHA Student Association as the Alumni Relations Chair. He also completed his summer residency with the University of Chicago Medical Center, Digestive Diseases Service Line. He spent his time at UChicago primarily assisting to launch a new comprehensive weight management program.
Prior to pursuing his MHA degree, Dylan attended George Washington University where he graduated in May 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in Public Health. During this time, Dylan exercised his passion for healthcare by completing internships with the Los Angeles County Emergency Medical Services Agency and the Department of Public Health-Emergency Preparedness and Response Program, as well as later obtaining his Emergency Medical Technician license. In addition, Dylan had the opportunity to intern for a U.S. Representative on Capitol Hill.
Dylan is originally from Los Angeles, California. He has interests within healthcare administration that range from hospital operations, strategy, and government relations. However, he is particularly passionate about improving access to world-class care for underserved populations. Finally, Dylan is excited for the opportunity to be a part of an organization that emphasizes patient-centered care and innovation. His personal experience has solidified his passion for cancer care, and he is honored and determined to be a part of MD Anderson’s mission to eliminate cancer.
Ann Weston Sistrunk, MHA
University of
Minnesota - Twin Cities
Ann Weston Sistrunk received her Master of Healthcare Administration from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities in May 2021. During the program, Ann Weston studied health plan quality as a research assistant, consulted on projects with local healthcare organizations, and was active in the class governance board. She also represented her school as an ambassador and by competing in a national case competition.
Prior to her graduate degree, Ann Weston earned a Bachelor of Arts
in Public Policy Leadership with Phi Beta Kappa honors from the
University of Mississippi in May 2019. During her time at Ole Miss,
she served the Fraternity and Sorority Life community as Panhellenic
President and found a passion for health policy and administration
through her thesis research on telehealth in Mississippi. After
graduation, Ann Weston worked with the American Medical Group
Association on Capitol Hill focusing on reimbursement policy, surprise
billing, and data security. In the summer of 2020, Ann Weston
continued to pursue her interests in digital health, completing an
Administrative Internship in the Information Technology Division at
Cleveland Clinic. There, she led a virtual visit pilot and
strengthened volume and financial analyses for budgeting and contract
renegotiations.
Ann Weston is looking forward to
gaining exposure to a variety of key departments at MD Anderson and is
honored to be starting her career in health care working with
incredible leaders who are all working towards one goal of Making
Cancer History®.
Loc Trang, E-MBA
University of Colorado
Loc Trang received his Executive Master of Business Administration at the University of Colorado in the Summer of 2020. He completed his bachelor's at the same campus, where he studied Biology and business. Before joining MD Anderson, Loc worked in Supply Chain and Finance at SCL Health, a nonprofit in Colorado. He is extremely grateful and honored to be joining a renowned and astute organization such as MD Anderson where he is a part of something bigger, Making Cancer History®.
Michelle Peng, MHA
Columbia University
Michelle Peng graduated with a Master of Health Administration (MHA) from Columbia University in the City of New York in the spring of 2021. Throughout her graduate studies, Michelle worked as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at Columbia’s Mailman School of Public Health, and as a volunteer at New York-Presbyterian Hospital’s COVID-19 vaccination site, serving largely vulnerable patient communities. In the summer of 2020, Michelle completed her practicum at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Medicine, where she supported the day-to-day functions of the Inpatient Operations team. Her project work in quality, operations, facilities planning, and organizational strategy helped solidify her interest in hospital administration.
In 2018, Michelle earned her Bachelor’s of Science in Public Health from the University of Texas at Austin. During her undergraduate studies, Michelle gained professional exposure to various sectors across the healthcare industry, including healthcare technology, pharmaceuticals, and insurance. Simultaneously, she also continued to volunteer at her local children’s hospital, where her own journey in healthcare began.
Having grown up in Dallas, Michelle is excited to return home to Texas and give back to the communities that helped shape her. Given her dedication to patient-first, family-centered care, she hopes to positively affect patient access, experiences, and outcomes at MD Anderson Cancer Center, ultimately helping to advance the organization’s mission to eliminate cancer.
2020-2021
Mary Titus
Tulane University
Mary Titus received her Master of Business Administration and Master of Health Administration from Tulane University in New Orleans. During graduate school, she completed her integrated administrative residency at Children’s Hospital New Orleans, where she focused on hospital operations and strategy.
Prior to pursuing her master’s degrees, Mary attended The University of Alabama where she double majored in Biology and Psychology. Mary was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority and was heavily involved in research throughout her undergraduate years. Between graduating from The University of Alabama and starting at Tulane, she was a Research Technician at Baylor College of Medicine studying infertility and sterility using the mouse model.
Mary is a Houston native and excited to be back in the city she grew
up in. She looks forward to building relationships across the
institution and further developing her leadership skills. Mary’s
passions lie in strategy and institutional advancement, and she is
thrilled to be a part of MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Braden Hellstern
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Braden Hellstern received his Master of Healthcare Administration from the University of Minnesota in May 2020. During the program, Braden was active in leading process improvement projects with healthcare organizations and volunteered as a Spanish interpreter at a local clinic. He also represented his school by competing in multiple national case competitions.
In 2017, Braden earned his bachelor’s degree from Utah State University where he studied business administration and public health. During his time at the university, Braden confirmed his interest in healthcare as he worked as a project and facilities manager for a federally qualified community health center. In the summer of 2018, Braden continued his work in rural health at Banner Healthcare in Colorado where he conducted a leadership analysis project.
While at Banner, Braden became familiar with MD Anderson Cancer center as an organizational partner. He is honored to join the team at MD Anderson as an administrative fellow and determined to contribute to the inspiring vision of Making Cancer History®.
Aleeza-Maria Vitale
George Washington University
Aleeza Vitale is a third-year MHA candidate at the George Washington University and will receive her degree upon completion of her fellowship. Throughout her time at the George Washington University, Aleeza held the role of graduate research assistant and completed her summer residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. This most recent exposure sparked her interest professionally in Academic Medical Centers and cancer care.
Her interests in healthcare administration include operations, strategy, and addressing care access challenges in communities. Her goals professionally from this fellowship are to grow her leadership and project management capabilities while learning directly from those creating transformational change at MD Anderson.
Prior to pursuing a master’s degree, Aleeza attended the University
of Miami, where she majored in health sector management and policy.
Aleeza grew up in Brussels, Belgium and has spent most of her life in
Europe. In her free time, she enjoys working out, any outdoor
activities, traveling, and taking the time to read or journal. Her
personal and professional experiences have formed her passion for
cancer care. Aleeza is excited for the opportunity to be a part of an
organization that emphasizes thoughtful, personalized care and
research with a mission as important as that of MD Anderson.
Emily Thompson
Texas A&M University
Emily Thompson received her Master of Health Administration degree from Texas A&M University. While in graduate school, she was able to serve as a graduate research assistant at the Southwest Rural Health Research Center, where she worked on several HRSA-funded research projects and publications. In addition, she was able to complete her practicum experience in MD Anderson’s Division of Internal Medicine.
Prior to pursuing her MHA, Emily attended Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, where she graduated with her Bachelor of Business Administration degree with majors in accounting and human resources management. While at Mercer, Emily primarily worked in the political arena, serving as a field director on several campaigns and working at the U.S. Senate. Her advocacy for several issues led to her becoming both a Truman Scholar Finalist and a Stamps Scholar.
Emily hopes to further develop her competencies during her administrative fellowship and gain greater exposure to all aspects of MD Anderson while using her skills to serve others. The mission of MD Anderson has personal significance to Emily, and she is honored to take part in the fight to end cancer.
2019-2020
Kaitlyn Block, MPH
Yale School of Public Health
Kaitlyn Block received her Master of Public Health concentrated in health policy from Yale. As a graduate student, she completed her healthcare management practicum at Smilow Cancer Hospital and interned in the Office of Patient Experience at New York-Presbyterian Hospital.
Prior to pursuing her master’s degree, Kaitlyn attended the University of Texas at Dallas as a Terry Scholar, where she studied public health and political science. In her final semester, she participated in the Archer Fellowship program in Washington, D.C. and interned at the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy in the Office of External and Legislative Affairs.
As a native Texan, born and raised in Houston, Kaitlyn is excited to return to her hometown and begin her career at MD Anderson. She is passionate about addressing the whole health of a patient and looks forward to expanding her knowledge of cancer care, specifically by focusing on areas related to quality and performance improvement.
Josh Breazeale, MBA
Louisiana State University
Josh Breazeale received his Master of Business Administration degree at Louisiana State University specializing in healthcare management. An Alexandria, Louisiana native, Josh earned a B.S. in Business Management from LSU, where he was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He served multiple roles, including Philanthropy Chairman and President, while also assisting in a $7 million capital campaign as a member of the Project Steering Commission for the Star & Crescent Foundation of Louisiana.
Prior to joining MD Anderson, he interned at Gold Weems Law Firm, focusing on medical malpractice defense. In the summer of 2018, he served as Admin Intern at CHRISTUS St. Francis Cabrini Hospital, where he supported department directors and the Cabrini Foundation to discover the strengths and limitations of their hospital and clinics.
Josh has a passion for patient-first cancer care and looks forward to working in areas related to finance, institutional strategy, and institutional advancement.
Laura Farris, MHA
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Laura Farris received her Bachelor’s degree with Phi Beta Kappa honors from Vanderbilt University, where she studied the social and political implications of health and healthcare. During this time, too, Laura developed her interest in cancer care through volunteer work and an administrative internship with Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville.
In 2019, Laura obtained her Master of Healthcare Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While there, Laura assisted UNC’s Department of Family Medicine through projects related to staffing, clinical expansion, patient experience, and performance improvement. She also aided the rural health research team at UNC’s Sheps Center for Health Services Research with communication efforts targeted at critical access hospitals (CAHs) around the country.
Laura is passionate about improving care continuity and clinical operations through a focus on the patient experience. She is excited and honored to aid the mission of MD Anderson Cancer Center as a fellow this year.
Shaun Kurian, MHA
Texas A&M University
Shaun Kurian graduated from Texas A&M where he earned his Bachelor of Science in July 2017 and completed his Master of Health Administration in May 2019. During his Master’s program, he served as the President for the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Student Chapter where he actively engaged with students from the Medical, Pharmaceutical and Public Health fields about improving quality and safety within the healthcare system. Prior to college, he went to The Woodlands High School in Texas where he actively played soccer and golf.
Shaun did his practicum at CHI St. Luke’s Health, The Woodlands Hospital in Texas, where he was tasked to lead the project in transitioning the Executive Health Program to Springwoods Village Hospital. After this stint, he continued working part-time at CHI St. Luke’s Health to assist with additional projects at the hospital while completing his second year of the MHA program.
Shaun looks forward to further developing his leadership skills and talent within the realm of hospital operations at MD Anderson. He is passionate about streamlining processes and improving the overall patient experience in order to provide holistic patient-centered care and in Making Cancer History.