The Student Association for Health Management and Policy (SAHMP) offers graduate students
at Saint Louis University (SLU) opportunities to grow both personally and professionally.
SAHMP, an organization led by a diverse group of Masters of Health Administration
students, aims to support its members in navigating the graduate-school experience.
SAHMP E-Board, 2023-2024.
Students are provided with resources, support in facilitating connections, community
service opportunities, and a social atmosphere that fosters professional development,
academic accountability, and community.
Their mission is simple: create an inclusive community within the College for Public
Health and Social Justice (CPHSJ) for MHA/MPH-HMP students, support members in professional
development, facilitate communication between students and faculty, promote the Jesuit
values by participating in community service around the St. Louis area, and encourage
students to get involved in events around the college, the campus, and the greater
St. Louis area.
“During my ‘closer look’ visit at SLU, members of SAHMP were there to talk to me about
their experience in the MHA program, which was what really sold me on coming to SLU.
I knew I wanted to join an organization that was welcoming and also provided opportunities
to grow professionally, and it was clear from the beginning that SAHMP was the perfect
fit,” said first year MHA student, Hannah Lewis.
This year, SAHMP is emphasizing their commitment to professional development by offering
members the opportunity to attend the 2024 American College of Healthcare Executive
(ACHE) Congress in Chicago this upcoming March. This conference is one of the largest
for healthcare leadership, and welcomes thousands of professionals across the country
each year.
Members are also encouraged to engage in several service events hosted by the organization
this year including an American Red Cross Blood Drive, LifeWiseSTL, which promotes
the economic well-being of families in the community, and Med “U” Cation, an event
that exposes local minority youth to careers in the field of healthcare.
The highlight of the organization for members, however, is the community that SAHMP
fosters among students in the program. First and second year members get paired up
based on their interests and professional goals in the student mentorship program
to offer personalized guidance in navigating graduate school and fostering friendship
within the program. To celebrate the end of the academic year, SAHMP also hosts an
annual spring formal to gather members together and provide food and music that many
members look forward to being a part of.
“My favorite thing about being in SAHMP is the relationships and community we are
able to build, both professionally and personally. We can count on each other for
support as we celebrate achievements, and advice when we encounter challenges. The
connections we make last beyond our graduate programs and continue as SLU alumni,”
said this year’s President, Neira Dzananovic, an accelerated MHA student.
For students looking to join SAHMP, contact current President, Neira Dzananovic, at
[email protected], or current Executive Vice President, Alex Peftoulidis, at
[email protected] to get information on the next General Body Meeting that
takes place every month.
E-board members:
- Neira Dzananovic – President, Accelerated MHA
- Alex Peftoulidis – Executive Vice President, MHA
- Sonny Osowski – VP of Finance, Accelerated MHA
- Catlin Clemmons – VP of Communications, MHA
- Gauri Kaushal – President of Rotaract (functional VP of Service & Community Engagement),
MBA-MHA - Anisha Katyayan – VP of Alumni Engagement, MHA
- Erika Collins – VP of Master of Health Administration Advocacy, MHA
- Ashwin Siddaraju – VP of Health Management & Policy Advocacy, MPH-HMP
College for Public Health and Social Justice
The Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice is the only
academic unit of its kind, studying social, environmental and physical influences
that together determine the health and well-being of people and communities. It also
is the only accredited school or college of public health among nearly 250 Catholic
institutions of higher education in the United States. Guided by a mission of social
justice and focus on finding innovative and collaborative solutions for complex health
problems, the college offers nationally recognized programs in public health and health
administration.
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