Current Student Profiles

Fadi Martinos

Current PhD Student

My experience as a PhD student at the University of Iowa has been very rewarding. I am currently in a number of research projects revolving around state and national medicaid research, particularly when it comes to the utilization of preventative care, and the impact of medicaid policy on hospital finances. I have been also involved in cannabis related research as it pertains to older adults. I have been given the opportunity to present my research in a number of conferences, which is particularly rewarding as it gives me a new perspective and allows me to see how pieces of the puzzle are coming together. 

I’m working on a project that looks at how changes in Medicaid policy affect medical debt in rural hospitals,  specifically critical access hospitals. I’ve learned a ton from this project and I’m really excited to get it published since it’s the first study to explore this relation. The research I contribute to is shared with the state of Iowa and the Center of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), particularly Medicaid. I hope that the evidence we generate can help shape the program.

Alumni Profiles

Erblin Shehu, PhD ’23

Assistant Professor at State University of New York Cortland

Before joining the PhD program, I worked as Head of Statistics at the Health Services Operator in the Ministry of Health and Social Protection in Albania. In that role, I oversaw performance reports for more than 36 hospitals, 35 local agencies of public health and 413 health centers, which deepened my interest in understanding what makes health systems effective. With a background in healthcare administration, data analysis, and health system management, I knew I wanted a career focused on using evidence-based solutions to improve health care delivery. The University of Iowa’s Health Management and Policy PhD program offered the ideal environment for me to pursue that goal.

Early in the program, I had the opportunity to work with Dr. Brian Kaskie and Dr. Kanika Arora, where I learned how to conduct real-world program evaluations and saw firsthand how research can directly impact communities. The program’s culture is highly collaborative and interdisciplinary, and it encourages students to explore different research areas and work with faculty across departments. The diverse coursework and applied experiences prepared me well for my current roles as an Assistant Professor of Healthcare Management at State University of New York Cortland and an affiliated researcher with the Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University.

My advice to future students is to start early, take advantage of every opportunity, and find your niche. This program provides both the foundation and the freedom to shape your career path in meaningful ways.

Hannah Rochford, PhD ’23

Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University

Before entering the program, I had been continuously engaged in education, most recently completing a Master of Public Health while working in clinic and shelter settings. In these roles, I witnessed patients and families struggling to access care, navigate family law, and secure employment or benefits due to major policy barriers. While I valued my time in direct service, these experiences sparked a desire to address systemic issues through policy, and I recognized that developing research skills in this program would position me to do so effectively.

From the very first year, the program immersed me in research opportunities, both within the department and through collaborative projects outside of it. I was eventually able to lead self-funded research projects, which were critical to my professional growth. The department’s supportive culture encouraged teamwork over competition, creating a community that nurtured both personal and professional wellbeing. Faculty mentorship provided detailed, actionable feedback that helped me communicate ideas clearly and confidently. My advice to future students is to enter the program with a mission and pursue the problems that inspire you, making full use of the department’s resources and mentorship to champion your own unique contributions.

Tom Miller, PhD ’07

Director of Health Policy Research,  American Society of Anesthesiologists

After more than 20 years in the health care industry, I applied for and was accepted in the Health Services and Policy PhD program in the Department of Health Management and Policy in the College of Public Health (CPH). I was not sure what to expect and was extremely please with several aspects of the program. From day one, I was involved with applied health services research and the experience and learning continued through graduation. A major strength of the program was the substantial inter-departmental and inter-college collaboration. I had the pleasure to develop relationships with research faculty across CPH department and across colleges, including the College of Medicine and the College of Pharmacy. One real advantage of this collaborative environment was the ability to learn different approaches to research study design and analytics; including those common in the social sciences, in biostatistics, and in econometrics. My dissertation chair was Dr. Fredric Wolinsky, the John W. Colloton Chair in Health Management and Policy, a nationally renowned and prolific author of health services research. The out-of-classroom learning experience with Dr. Wolinsky was tremendous. He was extremely accessible and enabled me to participate in various research projects involving “big data” – specifically, Medicare claims. The experiences has been vital to my current research role in a medical specialty society. Several years later, I still have contact with several of my peers from the program.

Kwame Nyarko, PhD, ’14

Steven M. Teutsch Prevention Effectiveness Fellow, National Center for Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Right after my undergraduate education, I was accepted into the Health Services and Policy program at the University of Iowa. In the program, I had the privilege of working with one of the leading Health Economists in the field of birth defects. My experience in the program prepared me for a career working on infant and child health issues which are aimed at preventing disease, and reducing disease burden and costs. What I appreciate most about my doctoral training at Iowa is that it taught me to ask difficult questions and to look beyond what is obvious. As a Health Economist, it also taught me the importance of assessing potential epidemiologic ramifications of policy interventions, which may be missed  if we only consider cost-savings. This is an important skill that makes for a well-rounded researcher. Thank you Iowa!

Paula Weigel, PhD, ’14

Research Associate, Department of Health Management and Policy

I applied to the Health Services Research and Policy program at the University of Iowa’s College of Public Health with a background in engineering and management science. The program appealed to me because it applies quantitative and qualitative skills to analyze the challenges and opportunities facing our health care delivery system. I think the program does an outstanding job of preparing its candidates for careers in health services research and health policy because of three key program design elements: a curriculum that builds a fund of knowledge about the context of our health system, the development of analytic capabilities through advanced statistics and methods classes, and an apprenticeship philosophy where we work closely with faculty practicing our skill sets on timely research questions. Through class work, research, and the dissertation process, candidates have mentors from a variety of disciplines, which added depth and breadth to my experience in the program.

Since graduating in May 2014 I have worked as a research associate in the Department of Health Management and Policy in the University of Iowa’s College of Public Health. My research has focused on issues relevant to rural health care delivery, including how policy changes affect rural people, providers, and places. I have contributed to or authored several policy briefs, peer-reviewed publications, and white papers. My experiences in data collection and management, data analysis, study design and execution have enabled me to look at a broad range of health services issues, including how people use health care, how health care access and quality impacts outcomes, and how policy translates to changes in service delivery, access, and costs.

Adaeze Enekwechi, PhD, ’07

Associate Director, Health Programs, Office of Management and Budget

The Health Services and Policy program at the University of Iowa prepared me for a career where I now work on issues around delivery system reform particularly under Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial plans. I was supported by the National Institute on Aging through a four-year NRSA competitive grant, as well as through a Dean’s Graduate Fellowship from the Graduate College. What I appreciate most about my doctoral training at Iowa is that it focused on developing independent researchers who could also work in other policy settings and apply their knowledge more broadly.