Jackie Miller received her MPH degree in May 2001. Prior to attending the Mailman School of Public Health, she earned a BA in psychology from Brandeis University. Jackie's summer practicum was with William M. Mercer's Health and Welfare practice, where she conducted research on defined contribution health plans. As a student, she completed several consulting projects for ColumbiaÕs Health Care Informatics Laboratory and served as Vice President for the Columbia Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives. Jackie also received the Regina Lowenstein Award for Achievement in Health Policy and Management. These experiences prepared her to join Deloitte Consulting's Health Care practice upon graduation, where she has been since. As a Senior Consultant, her work has ranged from growth strategy development to revenue optimization.

"I am consistently impressed with the quality of Mailman graduates that I encounter in my work and through activities with the School. The potential for a solid alumni network is real and available to those who choose to pursue it."

Josh Cohen completed his undergraduate studies at in Biology at Harvard University. Following a chemistry teaching fellowship, he began medical school at New York University. Josh suspended his medical studies for one year to complete an accelerated MPH at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. His studies focused on health policy and management. While here, Josh attended numerous conferences and spoke on topics including interdisciplinary collaboration within healthcare teams. He also remained active in the Medical Student Section of the American Medical Association. Josh expects to complete his Doctor of Medicine in May 2004.

"I came to Columbia's Mailman School of Public Health seeking expert training in American health policy, and that is exactly what I found. The Department of Health Policy and Management is filled with stellar professors who engage you in the policy debate and encourage introspection into the myriad of suggested solutions."

In 1997, Lara Khouri completed her undergraduate studies in Environmental Studies and Geography at George Washington University. After graduation, she joined the Charles A. Dana Foundation in Neuroscience research grants program administration. In 2000, she began the Department of Health Policy and Management's "Columbia on the Job" program in its inaugural class. In the fall of 2001, she began full-time studies at Columbia Business School in the dual degree MPH-MBA program. Lara was involved with a number of extracurricular activities, including the American College of Healthcare Executives' Columbia Chapter and the Columbia Alliance for Healthcare Management. She also was a teaching assistant for several HPM courses. For her summer practicum, Lara worked in the Managed Care group at NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System; she joined the group following graduation.

"The Mailman School of Public Health offers a curriculum with well-rounded offerings in both policy and management. There is a diversity of course offerings and the professors, both full faculty and adjunct instructors, bring expertise and experience to the table. Through the dual degree program, I developed fundamental business skills and a unique understanding of healthcare issues from a variety of perspectives."

Adam Sorensen graduated in February 2003 with the MPH in Health Policy and Management. Upon graduation he joined Deloitte ConsultingÕs Health Care practice as a consultant, where his work has focused on the provider supply chain. While working towards his degree, Adam was active with the Columbia Chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives and was elected to its board as Vice President. He also participated in the Faculty Steering Committee, which sets school policy, as a student member. Prior to attending the Mailman School, Adam was a pre-med student at Princeton University and came to Columbia looking for a deeper understanding of the health care industry as a whole before attending medical school. Instead, his classroom and extracurricular experiences at Columbia helped him determine that his interests were more aligned with the business and policy side of the industry.

"Before I got to the Mailman School, it was hard for me to picture myself doing anything but becoming a physician. My experience at Columbia opened my eyes to the multitude of opportunities available in health care, while versing me in the culture of health care -- a valuable asset that made the transition to working in health care institutions much easier."

Lt. Andrew J. Chen, USPHS holds a BS in Biology and a Certificate in Community Health from Tufts University (1995), a MPH in Health Policy and Management from Columbia University's Joseph L. Mailman School of Public Health (1998), and an Executive MBA from Columbia University's Graduate School of Business (2002). Andy is a commissioned officer in the U.S. Public Health Service, and is currently assigned to the Secretary's Operations Center at the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, DC, where he has been doing public health emergency and disaster management on a full-time basis since October 2005. Andy was previously at the Hospital for Joint Diseases Orthopaedic Institute, where he served as Assistant Vice President (Sept. 1999 to Sept. 2005) and as Program Planning Associate (Jan. 1998 to Sept. 1999). Andy is also a Diplomate of the American College of Healthcare Executives and a New York State-certified Emergency Medical Technician.

"In my past capacity as Assistant Vice President at Hospital for Joint Diseases, I had the opportunity to act as a preceptor for a Mailman student. In addition, I have interacted with current students at practicum presentations and other events. I am consistently impressed with students' professionalism, intellectual curiosity and competency."

Laurie Cancialosi, a New Jersey native, graduated from Rutgers University in 1999 with her BS in Public Health. Laurie worked for Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems, Inc. as a Program Assistant for Pathways to Change, a smoking cessation program. Prior to beginning her studies in health policy and management, she was at Bellevue Hospital Center as a Development Assistant for Children of Bellevue, Inc., an auxiliary to the hospital, fundraising for pediatric programs. Laurie graduated in February 2003 and is currently the Chief of Staff for State Senator Joseph F. Vitale of New Jersey. Senator Vitale is the Democratic Chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.

"Coming into the program with substantial public health experience, I was unsure of the value of a practicum. With great support from department advisors, I found an excellent opportunity to apply the knowledge as well as the analytical and research skills I attained through my studies at the Mailman School. My practicum positioned me perfectly to land my current job."

Efthymios (Themos) Ntasis graduated with a MPH in health policy and management in February 2003. He came to Columbia University as a Fulbright scholar from Greece and received Gerondelis Foundation and AHEPA Grants. He came to the Mailman School of Public Health with a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering. During the second semester of his studies at the Mailman School Public Health, he joined the Operations Department of New York-Presbyterian Hospital as an intern; upon graduation he was hired as a Revenue Manager. In addition, Themos worked as part of a team of Columbia University MSPH Students to plan and carry out a two and a half week service trip to rural El Salvador in May of 2003. In January 2004, he is planning to return to El Salvador to provide consultancy and technical assistance to a local NGO. Through his professional and extracurricular activities, Themos has been able to combine his interests in medical informatics, health policy and health care management, and international health.

"The MPH program in the department of Health Policy and Management opened to me a new world of opportunities. In a period marked by ever increasing global inequalities, the MPH program has provided me with essential tools to work towards increased access to healthcare and higher quality healthcare services. My learning experience was enriched by an outstanding team of professors and an impressive group of students with diverse backgrounds and experiences."

Danielle Holahan completed her undergraduate studies at Franklin and Marshall College, graduating in 1994. She spent several years as a research assistant at AARP, where her work focused on health care issues, particularly Medicaid. As a policy student at the Mailman School, Danielle worked part-time at Mt. Sinai Medical CenterÕs Department of Health Policy, focusing on Medicare. Since graduation, Danielle has been working for the United Hospital Fund in New York City. She has written extensively on health insurance coverage, the uninsured, and the implementation of public insurance programs in New York.

"My interest in health policy was strong when I began my studies at Columbia. The program's coursework, coupled with my part-time work, allowed me to become more well-rounded. Through work both inside and outside the class room, I honed my analytic and writing skills, which allow me to critically analyze policy at the state and national levels."

In May 2001, Jason Rife graduated from Yale University with a B.A. in Political Science. His undergraduate thesis explored public insurance for children in Nebraska, his home state. Having held an internship in biomedical research and a fellowship supporting performance evaluation of cardiovascular surgeons, Jason began his studies at the Mailman School in September 2001. During his time in the Department of Health Policy and Management, Jason was President, Columbia Chapter, American College of Healthcare Executives. In addition, he was active in the Student Government Association and the Black and Latino Student Caucus. For his summer practicum, Jason was awarded an administrative internship through the Institute for Diversity in Health Management and the Greater New York Hospital Association. Currently, Jason is a consultant with Ernst & Young's Human Capital group. His responsibilities center around the development of human resource strategies and cost-effective health and welfare benefit plans.

"MSPH offers a wealth of opportunities for students to express themselves and develop their leadership skills in the field of public health. This is a big part of the Columbia learning experience and really puts our classroom knowledge to use."

In December 1999, Beth Maldin completed her MPH with a concentration in Health Policy and Management. As a student, she began working for the New York City Department of Health in its Health Research Training Program. She has been with the department since, serving in a number of capacities. She was Principal Community Liaison with primary responsibilities in emergency preparedness and West Nile Virus issues. On September 11, 2001, Beth was recruited to coordinate the Health Department response at the Mayor's Office of Emergency Management. As Anthrax Response Project Manager, Beth assisted with implementing bio-terrorism surveillance in New York City hospitals. Since Spring 2002, Beth has been a Project Manager Research Scientist working on the development and implementation of a data management plan for the smallpox pre-event vaccination campaign in New York City.

"Entering Columbia's MPH program immediately after my undergraduate studies facilitated a smooth transition into my work with New York City's Department of Health. Coupled with my degree in Anthropology and Human Biology, the Mailman program positioned me to advance quickly in the department and to assume real responsibility in my areas of interest."