Department of Health Administration and Policy, George Mason University

Congratulations, Justin!

We are so proud of our MHA Student Justin Maranon for representing the George Mason University on Capitol Hill, speaking at a congressional briefing on preserving access to affordable graduate education for future healthcare professionals. Way to go, Justin! 💚💛

Congratulations to our 2026 Foster G. McGaw Scholarship recipients!

The Department of Health Administration and Policy proudly celebrates Madora A. O. King, Faryaal Mamur, and Justin Maranon on this well-deserved recognition. The Foster G. McGaw Scholarship honors outstanding MHA students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential, and a deep commitment to the health administration profession.

We are so proud of you, keep leading the way! 💚💛

HAP Faculty from George Mason University College of Public Health recently participated in the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA), Future Fluent by Design: Developing Leaders for a Transforming World.

Throughout the conference, faculty presented research, exchanged ideas with colleagues from across the country, and discussed new approaches to health administration education.

Congratulations to John Cantiello and Renee Geschke on earning first place in the conference poster competition.

Take a look at a few highlights from the conference below, and stay tuned for more photos from faculty presentations.

The Department of Health Administration and Policy was at the 2026 AUPHA Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA!

Brenda Helen Sheingold received the 2026 Quint Studer Prize in Teaching Excellence and was invited to speak during the morning general session. John Cantiello received the 2026 AUPHA Teaching Excellence Award in Health Management and Leadership, one of five awardees nationwide. The department was also represented through faculty presentations on curriculum innovation, Generation Alpha, and teaching strategies in health administration education.

Stay tuned - more photos coming soon from our presenters: Anton Arbatov, Renady Hightower, Brenda Sheingold, and David Wright.

Congratulations to all of our faculty on this well-deserved recognition!

Congratulations to our HSR PhD alumni and students on their outstanding contributions:

- Carolyn Hoffman (PhD alum) presented a poster on disability and prostate cancer screening. Carolyn is currently a postdoctoral fellow at Brandeis University.

- Nouran Ghanem (PhD alum) also attended and represented Mason at the national stage.

- Shaan Khan (current HSR PhD student) presented her research at the conference alongside faculty members.

We are incredibly proud of your work and the impact you are making in health services research!

Interested in healthcare administrative fellowships?

Join us for an MHA Fellowship Information Session hosted by Professor Brenda Sheingold on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. Professor Sheingold will discuss fellowship opportunities, the current application landscape, and strategies for navigating the fellowship search and application process.

Date: Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Zoom: https://gmu.zoom.us/j/8654372919?omn=95934957997

If students would like to be added to the MHA Fellowship Listserv to receive fellowship announcements and opportunities throughout the summer, they should reply to the announcement email.

Interested in healthcare strategy, leadership, and problem-solving? Consider participating in the Penn State Virtual Case Competition and gain experience tackling a real-world healthcare case alongside your peers.

See the announcement email for details and registration information.

https://hhd.psu.edu/hpa/about/events/penn-state-health-policy-and-administration-virtual-case-competition

Congratulations to Yikuan Li on being selected as a recipient of the 2026 ORAU Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award.

This national recognition highlights outstanding early-career faculty and their contributions to research and innovation.

Join us in celebrating this well-deserved achievement.

We are proud to celebrate Poojya Bommannan, a graduate of the Master of Health Administration program from the Department of Health Administration & Policy, who is making her mark in healthcare operations at Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation in Texas.

During her time at Mason, Poojya's capstone project on telehealth and patient access earned her the department's Innovation in Patient Access Award. Today, she brings that same dedication to her role as a Patient Services Coordinator, ensuring the administrative side of healthcare never hinders patient care.

Read her full story: https://publichealth.gmu.edu/news/2026-05/capstone-clinical-operations-mha-alumna-poojya-bommannan-builds-career-healthcare

Congratulations to our outstanding faculty in the Department of Health Administration and Policy!

Your dedication, scholarship, and commitment to public health education continue to inspire us all. Wishing you continued success and excellence!