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Health Services Policy and Management (HSPM) is an interdisciplinary field concerned with the promotion of personal and public health through planning, organizing, directing, controlling, coordinating and evaluating health services.
April 1, 2025 | Erin Bluvas, bluvase@sc.edu
When Maushmi Patel made the move join her husband in the United States, she initially planned to pursue a dental residency to build on her 13 years of clinical dental experience in India. However, the pandemic disrupted her original plan, so she began looking at other programs. Residing in Florence, South Carolina, Patel decided to enroll in Francis Marion University’s MBA program, ultimately earning two degrees: one in General Business and a second in Healthcare Executive Management.
“I got interested in health services and health policy research, particularly in how health care decisions impact patient outcomes,” says Patel, who learned about USC from the multiple MBA faculty who were alumni.
They connected her with faculty in the Arnold School’s Department of Health Services Policy and Management (HSPM), and she enrolled in the doctoral program in 2023. Since then, Patel has developed research interests in patient engagement and evaluation, particularly the assessment of digital health technologies. It’s the perfect fit for her graduate assistantship, which involves working with HSPM assistant professor Nabil Natafgi in the Patient Engagement Studio.
“Dr. Natafgi has played a crucial role in shaping my research interests and professional growth,” Patel says of her mentor. “His encouragement to learn new research methodologies and strengthen my analytical skills has helped me grow as a researcher.”
Natafgi has also encouraged Patel to pursue leadership positions and professional development opportunities. Subsequently, she joined the Dean’s Student Advisory Council as the HSPM representative and established an AcademyHealth Student Chapter at USC, which she leads as founding president.
After graduating, Patel will pursue a career dedicated to patient-centered outcomes research and teaching. Meanwhile, she continues to enjoy her experience at USC. Patel loves the support and opportunities students receive from faculty, the chance to take classes in other departments, and the diverse community experience at the university.
“Engage with the faculty members and students from your department as well as others, which will enhance your learning experience,” Patel advises students considering a similar path. “It’s also important to take advantage of multiple student resources that the school and the university provides. Staying proactive on research projects and keeping an open mind to new learning opportunities go a long way in improving the doctoral program journey.”