By Sara A. Mayo
Sixty years ago, the University of Florida Master of Health Administration program began with the vision to develop leaders in healthcare management, particularly those who contribute their skilled expertise to service of their peers, their organizations and their communities.
That legacy continues today in students such as Nabila Kabir (’26), a second-year M.H.A. student and president of the UF Health Administration Student Association (HASA).
Kabir’s experience is one which offers a well-rounded snapshot of the program, one shaped by collaboration, applied learning and strong connections between generations of Gator alumni and her current cohort.
When Kabir joined the M.H.A. program in 2024, she noticed the program’s defining culture immediately.
“What really stands out to me is how intentionally collaborative the program is,” Kabir said. “Our cohort model creates a culture where first- and second-year students learn together, support each other and grow side by side.”
At the center of the UF M.H.A. experience is a cohort model designed to mirror the realities of healthcare leadership. First- and second-year students move through the program together, learning not only from faculty, but from one another.
That collaboration is infused into group projects and case-based coursework, where students are asked to think like administrators and justify decisions that affect patients, providers and health systems.
This connection, among students, faculty, alumni and health system partners, remains one of the reasons UF M.H.A. consistently ranks among the nation’s top programs, and as the No. 1 residential M.H.A. program in Florida, according to the 2025 U.S. News and World Report Rankings.
Kabir shares that the community forms a network that feels both supportive and invested in student success.
“That network feels like a true extension of the program’s strength,” she said.
Applied learning is a defining feature of the curriculum. Weekly case studies challenge students to address patient flow issues, operational bottlenecks, quality improvement initiatives and strategic planning decisions facing healthcare organizations today.
One experience that stood out for Kabir came during a strategy case competition, when students presented recommendations directly to UF Health leaders.
“We presented our recommendations to leaders from UF Health, and they listened to us the way they would to any team bringing forward a solution,” Kabir said. “Knowing that our ideas could be used in their departments made the whole experience feel very real.”
Outside the classroom, Kabir’s involvement with HASA reinforces the program’s long-standing emphasis on professionalism, leadership and service.
As president, she helps guide workshops, guest speaker events and community initiatives, while supporting a mentor–mentee program that connects first- and second-year students.
“It creates a stronger sense of community and gives first-years someone they can go to for real advice, support and guidance,” Kabir said. “It also lets second-years grow as leaders by supporting the people coming behind them.”
Alumni engagement plays a central role in that experience.
Whether through formal settings such as guest lectures in M.H.A. seminar, listening to a panel of alumni during the Women in Healthcare Leadership Symposium, or through and informal conversations over coffee, Kabir has connected with alumni across hospitals, consulting, ambulatory care and payer organizations. Their willingness to share insight and perspective strengthens the bridge between current students and those already leading in the field.
“Alumni have been incredibly supportive,” she said. “They’re always willing to talk through their own experiences and share honest advice.”
With her final semester approaching, Kabir is preparing to continue her journey in healthcare management beyond the classroom. She reflects on what has defined her UF M.H.A. experience: a cohort-driven program that cultivates collaboration, encourages professional growth and connects students across generations.
“Being part of this program during its 60-year milestone feels incredibly meaningful,” Kabir said. “It’s a reminder that I’m contributing to a legacy of leaders who have shaped healthcare over decades.”
Learn more about our M.H.A. 60th celebration here.