MBA Health Student Spotlight: Mateen Ellahi

Tell me more about your background – it would be great to find out more about your education and career so far.

I have always wanted to make a difference in people’s lives through healthcare. I completed an MBBS degree to become a doctor so that I could fulfil this passion. Throughout this journey, I embarked on the completion of a Membership with the Royal College of General Practitioners MRCGP. Working as a General Practitioner, and GP Partner, I was able to enhance the healthcare of my local community. Over the years, I have gained diverse experience in the NHS, private healthcare sectors, and various healthcare settings such as; primary, secondary and tertiary centres and have contributed towards duties of both clinical and administrative nature.  

Why did you choose to apply for the UCL MBA Health?

I feel as though the UCL MBA Health will enable me to not only help my practice community which stretches to approximately 20,000 but also extend support to other areas, thereby helping to eradicate health inequalities. 

Through this programme, I am aiming to support the NHS given the challenges it has faced during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. I feel this programme will equip me with the skills to effectively address administrative competencies, and undertake practical training and management, academic learning, and business management aspects to run an efficient healthcare system.

Lastly, I feel this programme will be a great base for me to not only gain academic knowledge but also achieve practical experience by networking with healthcare professionals and managers to accelerate me towards my goal. 

What aspect of the UCL MBA Health programme are you most excited by?

I am most excited about learning at one of the best universities in the world along with being taught by leading experts. On top of this, I feel the placement in countries across the globe will help me gain knowledge and awareness regarding healthcare business management on a global level.

Is healthcare management an area more business schools should be exploring? If so, why?

I agree that this subject should be more commonly explored and taught. As a doctor, focusing on enhancing clinical abilities to equip clinicians with excellent skills in providing patient care is crucial. However, the administrative side of healthcare management is as significant since an efficient administrative system will allow a smoother application of clinical skills and yield an overall enhanced healthcare experience for all patients and staff members alike. The challenges that modern healthcare faces must be mitigated and therefore I feel this programme offers a clear solution to address the current trials in healthcare. 

Is there a particular area of global healthcare management that you are interested in? If so, why?

I feel generally healthcare management is not as explored as the rest of the healthcare specialities, and that all healthcare sectors at present can help by getting professional input from an administrative management perspective. Therefore, I would be keen and flexible to offer help and support to healthcare sectors that are most in need. Alongside this, I would like to continue my clinical work not only to offer clinical support across healthcare but so that I can personally experience, understand, and review the impact bought by the changes that I introduce.

What value do you feel a UCL MBA Health will add to your career moving forward?

The UCL MBA Health will elevate me to becoming a physician who not only understands frontline healthcare but also the behind-the-scenes structures and management of healthcare systems. My intention after the MBA Health is to use this edge to excel in a career in health management and I aim to use these skills to improve the structure of healthcare administration so that better facilities can be provided across my community.   

What advice would you give to prospective students thinking about applying for the UCL MBA Health?

This is a great programme which will enable students to accelerate their learning and knowledge specifically in healthcare management. I would encourage all interested in healthcare management to apply for this course!

Learn more about the UCL MBA Health