07 Jan UCLA Fielding ExecHPM Welcomes Winter 2026 MHA Scholarship Recipient Mahenaz Mahida
As the Winter 2026 quarter kicked off on January 5th, the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health is proud to announce Mahenaz Mahida as the recipient of the $10,000 UCLA MHA New Student Scholarship.
Mahenaz joins the Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) program with a diverse background in healthcare operations and human resources. Currently serving as a TMIP Operations Support Specialist at Torrance Memorial Physician Network, Mahenaz has previously held roles at Radiology Partners and Los Alamitos Medical Center. Her journey is fueled by a deep-seated belief in lifelong learning and a personal mission to improve the patient experience.
We sat down with Mahenaz to discuss her inspirations and what this scholarship means for her journey at UCLA.
With your healthcare background, what inspired you to pursue your MHA at UCLA, and how will the online format allow you to integrate leadership lessons into your current work in real-time?
“I have always wanted to pursue my master’s degree because I am a firm believer in lifelong learning. At the same time, I recognize that higher education is a significant investment, so I wanted to be certain this was the right path for me before moving forward.
During my bachelor’s studies, I changed my major once as I clarified my interests, ultimately choosing to pursue a career in healthcare. My motivation stems in part from personal experience: I come from a family with multiple hereditary health challenges, which led me to spend a great deal of time in hospitals supporting loved ones, including my parents. Through those experiences, I witnessed both care environments that were deeply patient‑centered and others that were more focused on financial considerations. Early on, I became aware of the many challenges within our healthcare system and developed a desire to be part of meaningful improvements that make healthy living in America easier, more affordable, and more comfortable.
I am still in the early stages of my career, and I currently work for an ACO in Torrance that truly understands the importance of collaboration between specialists and primary care providers. Together, we work to strengthen those relationships and improve quality outcomes for patients. I am also becoming increasingly aware of the financial and technological complexities that impact care delivery — including how investments in technology, while valuable, also increase costs for facilities.
Through a master’s program, I hope to deepen my understanding of healthcare finance and other key areas so that I can contribute more effectively to solutions that advance both quality and value in our healthcare system. I am particularly excited to pursue my master’s at UCLA, as the curriculum is well‑aligned with my long‑term goals in the industry and offers the academic rigor and resources I seek.
I would also like to express my appreciation for the UCLA enrollment and admissions teams. From the outset, they were responsive, thorough, and supportive, promptly addressing all of my inquiries and guiding me through each step of the application process. Even after acceptance, they connected me with the appropriate teams to ensure I received assistance with all necessary steps, making the transition into the program seamless and reassuring.”
This $10,000 scholarship recognizes both your academic excellence and your dedication to the health sector. How does this support help you, and what does it mean to you to be backed by the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health community?
“It truly means the world to me, and I am deeply grateful for this support. As I mentioned earlier, pursuing higher education is not always financially easy, so receiving this scholarship is an incredible gift. I am especially proud to be pursuing my master’s at UCLA, an institution that recognizes and rewards students in this way.
I am truly appreciative. As an independent student working two jobs to support myself, this award will significantly reduce the financial burden I carry.
I hope that one day I will be in a position to give back to a student like myself. It has long been one of my dreams to support future scholars in this way. For now, I am focused on one dream at a time — and that dream is attending UCLA for my master’s degree.”
Learn more about the UCLA MHA New Student Scholarship.