MHA alumnus credits IPE for recent promotion
For Hamza Kachwala, caring for patients has always been about more than treating a
person. As an experienced dentist, he understood the impact of direct patient care
but wanted to find new ways to serve — including through policy and health care administration.
That desire led him to UNT Health Fort Worth’s Master of Health Administration program, where interprofessional education helped prepare him for a new chapter in
his career and, most recently, a promotion at Parkland Health.
“Giving back means being the person who shares support and motivation,” Kachwala said.
As his passion for service grew, so did his interest in addressing health care needs beyond the exam room. He wanted to better understand how policy changes could improve health care systems and how administrators could consider the needs of the people those systems serve. That led him to pursue additional higher education in the United States, where he found a wide range of programs that could help expand his impact.
He ultimately chose healthcare administration at UNT Health because of its rigorous curriculum, 48-credit-hour structure and cohort format. The cohort model appealed to him because it offered the opportunity to learn alongside professionals from different backgrounds. His program costs were fully funded through UNT Health President’s Scholarship, which he earned based on his test scores, and an in-state tuition waiver.
As an international student, Kachwala valued UNT Health campus’ proximity to nearby
markets. This was especially convenient in the spring of 2020 as the latter half of
his MHA program experienced an unexpected shift online because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kachwala and his cohort would ultimately complete their studies virtually in accordance
with public health guidelines and university protocols in place at the time.
“Our faculty took care of us as best as they could, but it was still a difficult transition,” Kachwala said. “Thankfully, our learning was not disrupted.”
His cohort had already adapted to online learning, so the transition to fully online instruction during the pandemic was relatively smooth. Kachwala earned his MHA May 2020.
“I enjoyed working with Dr. Misty Smethers and Ms. Emily Belew. Dr. Thomas Fairchild was also a great mentor for our case competition.”
Hamza credits his industry exposure at UNT Health with helping him navigate a competitive
job market. While the pandemic has subsided, he knew he still needed to apply the
efforts to achieve the career outcome he wanted. Much of his academic experience was
hands-on, including internships with JPS Health Network’s Acclaim Physicians Group
and Lake Granbury Medical Center, where he worked in the Office of the CEO. His path
to Parkland began with an alumni connection on LinkedIn which opened doors in the
Revenue Cycle/Patient Financial Services department.
“Applying on LinkedIn is not enough to be recognized in the current market,” Hamza said. “It’s important to connect with your program’s alumni. Your network is your net worth.”
The connection turned into a trusted mentorship, aiding in Kachwala's transition into Parkland following his graduation from UNT Health.
Hamza had always enjoyed working on projects and learning new things, making project management a natural fit. In his first position as project coordinator, he gained a deeper understanding of how Parkland delivers care efficiently as well as organizational operations. He also developed a better understanding of the role project managers have in clinical settings.
“Most often, when someone brings an idea to my attention, I try to think proactively rather than reactively,” Hamza said.
After two years with the patient financial services team, Hamza was ready for a new challenge. He transitioned to the Enterprise Project Management Office, where he was given greater structure and opportunities to drive change as a project manager. The move expanded his experience and ultimately led to his recent promotion to senior project manager.
His advice to current and incoming health administration students is to consider what leadership looks like not just for themselves, but for the teams they serve on. While an MHA can help students reach their career and salary goals, Hamza says the program is ultimately about developing the leadership skills needed to serve others and make an impact.
“Take advantage of professional development at UNT Health to develop the skills you may not think you need,” Hamza said. “These very skills may prepare you for what is next in your profession.”
For Hamza, finance was one of those areas. After attending numerous Interprofessional Education sessions focused on finance, he gained confidence in an area outside his primary expertise. He now leads clinical, operational and finance projects in his new role.
“Initially, I was unmotivated to understand budgeting and finance because it was unfamiliar territory,” he said. “The skills I learned in IPE have now become part of my day-to-day responsibilities both at work and at home.”
UNT Health's Department of Interprofessional Education and Practice fosters interprofessional collaboration and coordinates education and practice opportunities for students, faculty and practicing professionals. The department provides foundational, clinical and continuing education to prepare learners for the demands of ever-changing public health and health care systems.
“Entering the health system is overwhelming at best,” said Cynthia Carroll, UNT Health’s interprofessional education director. “The complexity of it all requires efficient and effective teams, and the next generation of professionals need training that adds to their ability to swiftly assimilate and contribute to these dynamic conditions.
“We designed IPE with this question in mind: What would it be like to know the team, know how to communicate with the team, know how to coordinate efforts, and most importantly know that the team values contributions from all members? When our students have this level of confidence, we see value added to the health system and to the people we serve.”