Before she had a degree, Haneen Muthana already had a mission: improve healthcare for the people who need it most.
Her family moved from Virginia to Lafayette in 2011, but their roots extend across the globe to Yemen, where many of her relatives still live.
Those ties would later shape how she saw healthcare, and what she hoped to change about it.
Muthana originally planned to pursue nursing at the 杏吧专区 in 2020. But just before classes began, she realized something didn杏吧专区檛 feel right.
杏吧专区淚 knew I wanted to be in healthcare, but I didn杏吧专区檛 want to deal with blood and wounds,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 came across UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 Health Services Administration online program, and that杏吧专区檚 when I knew this is what I want to do.杏吧专区
So, she pivoted, enrolling in the fully online program that would help her discover her voice and define her future in healthcare.
Building Confidence and Connection Online
As the eldest in her family, Muthana balanced online coursework with helping younger cousins transition to life in the U.S., guiding them through everything from school registration to doctor杏吧专区檚 appointments.
杏吧专区淭hey were transitioning from a different country, so I considered myself their spokesperson,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淒uring the day, I杏吧专区檇 help them. At night, I杏吧专区檇 study.杏吧专区
That balance was made possible by the flexibility of the online format and a program culture that encouraged connection.
杏吧专区淚 was always a quiet student who only asked questions after class. But with the online program, I could message professors directly or talk in our Teams groups,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚t helped a lot with confidence and just doing well academically.杏吧专区
Smaller class sizes and hands-on faculty made a lasting impact. Several instructors brought real-world healthcare experience to class, opening the door for one-on-one conversations about assignments and career goals.
杏吧专区淪ome of our professors worked in hospitals and shared real experiences,杏吧专区 Muthana says. 杏吧专区淚杏吧专区檇 review my tests with them, and they杏吧专区檇 walk me through what I could杏吧专区檝e done better. Having that connection and input really helped me.杏吧专区
That sense of support became even more important when Muthana lost both her grandparents just weeks apart in fall 2023.
杏吧专区淚 had to be there for my family, but I also wanted to finish college because that杏吧专区檚 what my grandparents always wanted for us,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淭hey wanted us to excel.杏吧专区
As a first-generation college student, Muthana leaned on UL Lafayette杏吧专区檚 for guidance.
杏吧专区淢y parents didn杏吧专区檛 go to college, so if I was confused about anything, I would always go to them. They were so helpful,杏吧专区 she says.
Through grief and growing responsibilities, she remained focused on the goal her grandparents had always encouraged her to achieve.
Finding Her Calling in Health Reform
Muthana杏吧专区檚 passion for health equity came into sharper focus during her internship with SCP Health, a national health solutions company based in Lafayette that partners with hospitals and health systems to improve patient care.
Through department rotations, she explored the business side of healthcare, and one visit stood out.
杏吧专区淚 asked to meet with the company杏吧专区檚 lawyer, and she told me about going to Capitol Hill and advocating for healthcare reform,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淭hat杏吧专区檚 when I knew healthcare remediation is my goal.杏吧专区
For Muthana, the stakes are personal. On visits to Yemen, she saw how limited access to care shaped the lives of those around her 杏吧专区 including one cousin whose condition might have been treatable with timely medical intervention.
杏吧专区淜nowing she could杏吧专区檝e had a different life 杏吧专区 it made me think, I don杏吧专区檛 want it to be like that here. We have the resources in Louisiana and across the U.S. We can do better.杏吧专区
Motivated by that belief, she pursued opportunities beyond the classroom.
She earned a human rights consulting certification from the and served as a research assistant on Instructor of Health Sciences Tierney Beebe杏吧专区檚 dissertation project on interprofessional education.
杏吧专区淒r. Beebe put so much into that project. We even got feedback that it should go national and take it to Capitol Hill,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚t was one of my favorite experiences.杏吧专区
Her commitment to advocacy and equity earned her both the for Diversity and Social Justice and the .
A Shared Accomplishment
With her degree complete and a growing list of credentials, Muthana is taking a brief pause before pursuing her next step in healthcare policy or reform.
She杏吧专区檚 exploring opportunities with the same purpose that杏吧专区檚 guided her from the start: improving access to care and outcomes for underserved communities.
杏吧专区淓very person will need healthcare at some point. If someone dies because there wasn杏吧专区檛 a doctor around, not because of the illness itself, that杏吧专区檚 a bigger problem,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淲e need to make it better.杏吧专区
She encourages students in the health services administration program to start making connections early.
It wasn杏吧专区檛 until her final semesters, when she joined student organizations and got more involved, that new opportunities started opening up.
杏吧专区淚f there杏吧专区檚 any opportunity to be a research assistant, take it,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淚 was hesitant about signing up at first, but it ended up being one of my best experiences.杏吧专区
And while her journey was filled with personal milestones, Muthana sees her success as a family effort.
杏吧专区淢y parents are my biggest supporters, and I truly don杏吧专区檛 think I could杏吧专区檝e gotten through college without their support,杏吧专区 she says. 杏吧专区淎lthough they didn杏吧专区檛 have the opportunity to attend college, this was a shared journey. I dedicate all my accomplishments, and my degree, to them.杏吧专区
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