Health Policy and Management

Alumni

Alumni Profiles

  • Chinenye Ezeh, MPH '22

    • Project Manager, The Beacon (NewYork-Presbyterian)

    "I entered the HPM program with a clear understanding of the health issues I wanted to address, but uncertainty about the career path that would allow me to make the greatest impact. The department provided the structure, support, and experiential learning I needed to find my way. Through APEX, health simulations, and steadfast guidance from advisors who encouraged me to explore beyond my comfort zone, I discovered my career path in hospital administration. Now, as an alum, I remain deeply committed to the program, mentoring students, speaking on panels, conducting mock interviews, and serving on the HPM Alumni Board. HPM shaped not only my career trajectory, but also my confidence and commitment to leading meaningful change in healthcare."

  • Tarik Kitson, MPH '11

    • Healthcare Administrator, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Co-Founder and President, Active Plus

    “The Mailman School of Public Health gave me the tools to turn passion into purpose. It helped me bridge public health with youth development, shaping my path as a nonprofit leader and grounding my work in evidence-based impact. I’m proud to stay connected as an alum and continue building healthier, more empowered communities."

    Tarik Kitson is a healthcare administrator at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and the Co-Founder and President of Active Plus, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the physical, mental, and emotional health of youth in underserved communities. With over 17 years of experience in healthcare and public health, Tarik has led patient-focused innovations and youth wellness initiatives across New York City. A former collegiate athlete, he holds a Master of Public Health from Columbia University and is a recognized leader in youth development, having received multiple awards for community impact. His work bridges clinical systems and grassroots health education to build stronger, healthier communities.

  • Michelle AU, MPH '19

    • Georgia State Senator, Physician, Writer, Speaker, Public Health Advocate

    "My public health background has been invaluable, not just to me as a practicing physician, but now as a state Senator. Social determinants of health lie at the core of every piece of legislation that crosses my desk, and having a deeper understanding of how to apply a public health lens to policy has made a more effective lawmaker."

    Dr. Michelle Au is an anesthesiologist at Emory-St. Joseph’s Hospital and a State Senator representing Georgia’ 48th District. GA. Senator Au received her MD at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and stayed on for residency training in both pediatrics and anesthesiology. A decade later Dr. Au returned to Columbia to study at the Mailman School of Public Health, focusing on healthcare management and policy, and graduated with a Masters of Public Health in 2019. Dr. Au is involved in physician advocacy with the Medical Association of Georgia and is an alumna of the Georgia Physician Leadership Academy. She has helped advocate on issues around public health and policy at the state and federal level. In November 2020, she was elected to the Georgia State Senate for District 48, running on a platform on improving access to care and health outcomes in Georgia. Her interests include enhancing quality healthcare access, improving public health communication, and focusing on social equity as a key determinant of community health.

  • Richard Beaton, MHA '20

    • Manager, ECG

    "The MHA program in HPM prepared me with the academic training I needed to successfully pivot into healthcare administration and consulting. The professors, career center, and alumni network helped me identify and pursue the best path for me, which eventually led to my work on the internal strategy team of a health system before pursuing a role in provider consulting at ECG."

    Richard Beaton works as a Manager at ECG and has an established track record in operations, strategy, and health economics. He has spent his entire career focusing on healthcare and is well-versed in working with hospitals, health systems, and life sciences organizations. Before ECG, Richard was a manager in strategy and operations for Boston Medical Center Health System. There, among other responsibilities, he was on the COO’s strategy implementation team that developed critical performance improvement analyses and strategic system-wide change for a 514‑bed AMC. Additionally, Richard worked with the CEO and senior VP of ambulatory services to draft a business case demonstrating the clinical and economic value of a $1 million violence intervention program. 

  • Tatiana Blue Dixon, MHA ‘19

    • Chief of Staff, Deloitte

    "The Part Time MHA program gave me life long friends and professors who I can tap for career advice and guidance, who continue to help expand my understanding and love of public health, and who find true pleasure in lifting as they climb."

    Tatiana Blue Dixon is a Chief of Staff at Deloitte. Prior to Deloitte, Tatiana held roles at Google, Peloton, and New York-Presbyterian Hospital. Tatiana graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in Health and Societies with a concentration in Public Health and Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health with an MHA. 

  • Samuel Meyer, MPH ‘20

    • Executive Office Coordinator, AIDS Institute, NYSDOH

    "My favorite part about the HPM experience was getting to learn from such experienced and dedicated faculty members, as well as my classmates who all brought their own unique expertise and backgrounds to the table. I’m grateful for the chance to know and work with so many talented, committed present and future public health professionals."

    Samuel Meyer serves as the executive office coordinator for the AIDS Institute at the New York State Department of Health. Prior to Mailman, Sam served as a legislative assistant for the Iowa State Senate and as a legislative communications intern at the Iowa Department of Public Health in Des Moines, Iowa. He graduated from HPM with a certificate in Health Policy Analysis and holds a BS in Biology from Drake University.

  • Atef Rafiuddin, MHA '18

    • Director of Business Operations, NYC Health + Hospitals

    "After graduating from the Mailman School of Public Health, I felt prepared with an understanding of health system fundamentals as well as the framework of evaluating and developing approaches to the challenges that affect our systems. My time in HPM gave me the foundational knowledge for my career."

    Atef Rafiuddin is a public health professional working in hospital operations. As a Director of Business Operations at NYC Health + Hospitals, Atef drives operational improvement and efficiency by leading enterprise wide initiatives. Prior to joining NYC Health + Hospitals, he served as a Project Manager and Administrative Fellow at Mount Sinai Morningside. Often wearing many hats, he was responsible for managing the Cardiac service line budget and nursing initiatives. As an Administrative Fellow, he was involved in various patient experience, ambulatory, and hospital operations improvement efforts. Most notably, Atef was a member of the hospital’s Incident Management Team where he played an integral role in COVID surge planning and managing the daily operations of the COVID Vaccine POD. Atef remains active as an alum in HPM, participating in mock interviews, acting as a facilitor on Practicum Day and serving as a mentor to HPM students.