How UIC’s MHA Prepared Patrice Lassa to Lead at the Chicago Department of Public Health

When healthcare professionals pursue advanced degrees, they’re often looking for more than credentials; they’re seeking the tools to transform entire systems. This is one story from our series profiling graduates of UIC’s Online Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) program, designed for professionals who want to lead, innovate, and improve healthcare systems and their impact in their communities.

A UIC MHA alum shares how she applied healthcare administration training to drive quality and safety initiatives across Chicago’s public health system.

From Patient Care to Public Health Administration

For most of my career, I worked in direct services, including starting and owning my own private practice for outpatient physical therapy until about five years ago. As an entrepreneur, I had to learn healthcare operations.

I loved it and was able to do pretty much everything, wear all the different hats, and provide direct services, but I started to notice the gaps, not just in care, but in healthcare overall. I realized I wanted to be part of something that impacted not just one person, but populations. That’s what led me to pursue an advanced degree, and when a colleague introduced me to UIC’s program, I was immediately drawn to it. It felt designed for people like me who come from provider roles or have hands-on experience.

Leading Change in Chicago’s Public Health System

The Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) hired me as the Manager of Quality Assurance in the Office of the Chief Medical Officer. Since CDPH is unique among other health departments, providing direct clinical services, I took on a hybrid role that connects operations and quality across programs.

Since then, I’ve taken on additional responsibilities, and my current title is Safety Administrator, but in practice, I serve as both the safety officer and manager of quality assurance, reporting directly to the Commissioner. My work addresses complex, interconnected issues, including funding, quality assurance, and system improvement, across various departments.

Key Takeaways from UIC’s Master of Healthcare Administration Program

The program’s most immediate impact was earning a credential that opened the door for leadership opportunities that might not have been available otherwise.

Additionally, I gained a framework for system-level thinking and developed a solid foundation in performance measurement and change management. I gravitated toward performance measurement, which inspired me to earn my Lean Six Sigma Black Belt after graduation. The skills I gained were much more than what a textbook could teach. The real value came from the conversations with classmates who shared workplace experiences. We discussed situations where best practices suggested doing something one way, but you had to adjust operationally.

For example, there might be a checklist of 20 things to do in change management, but in reality, you have to prioritize. You assess how to deliver quality care or build a solid framework without overcomplicating it. The program provided me with a toolbox I could draw from, offering a cafeteria-style approach to projects. I don’t follow one strict concept. I pick and choose what works best for each situation, and that flexibility has been critical in my role at CDPH.

UIC’s MHA program also validated my entrepreneurial and clinical practice skills, but it provided me with a new lens through which to discuss them. It helped me communicate my experiences and goals in a way that aligned with leadership and administrative roles.

Courses That Shaped Her Leadership Approach

Dr. J. Noren taught the health policy course that really stood out to me. I realize how politically connected public health work is, especially now that I work for the Chicago Department of Public Health. I didn’t fully understand how much politics influences what we do until I took his class. It focused on legislative processes and policy development, and we spent a lot of time analyzing policy briefs and legislative case studies.

Dr. Noren provided such a comprehensive overview, and that course made me realize how important it is to stay informed, not just about clinical topics, but about the political and legislative factors that drive healthcare decisions. If we make system-level changes, it’s not just about operations or management; it’s about understanding the broader social and political context behind those systems.

I also found Dr. Jodi Joyce’s quality improvement course incredibly valuable. Listening to her discuss quality frameworks made me want to be that kind of leader; someone who can make quality improvement engaging and actionable. Since then, I’ve earned certifications from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and my Lean Six Sigma Black Belt to continue building on that foundation.

Navigating Challenges in Public Health Leadership

The biggest challenges we face right now are securing funding sources and rebuilding trust. People no longer always trust public health agencies, and this was an issue even before COVID-19, but it has become more pronounced in recent years.

At CDPH, we also face limited resources and departmental silos. My role often involves working across different programs and divisions on shared initiatives, which can be difficult when everyone is balancing competing priorities. Convincing people to embrace change is a challenge, but that’s where I draw on what I learned in the MHA program on navigating resistance and leading through transitions. Those lessons taught me that effective leadership often comes down to patience and relationships.

What Sets UIC’s MHA Program Apart

My favorite part of the program was the diversity. You have the opportunity to work with people at various stages of their careers, ranging from those just starting out to those already in leadership roles. That mix made discussions much richer, and I learned just as much from my peers as I did from the instructors.

The flexibility of the online format was also a huge plus. I could continue working while taking classes full-time, making it doable and realistic for someone like me who was already in the workforce.

What really sets UIC apart is the faculty. Many of our instructors worked full-time in healthcare leadership roles while teaching, so when they discussed challenges, they weren’t just teaching theory; they were sharing real, lived experiences. That balance of academic rigor and real-world insight made the learning experience incredibly meaningful.

Advice for Future UIC Online Master of Healthcare Administration Students

I’d tell anyone considering the program to think about the role they want after graduation and use that to guide their learning. The MHA is a versatile degree, but it’s essential to connect your learning to your career goals.

Take advantage of the instructors’ expertise. They’re incredibly knowledgeable and approachable, and use the program to build relationships. The connections you make with faculty and classmates can become valuable professional networks.

Whether you’re early in your career or an experienced healthcare professional looking to pivot, as I did, UIC’s MHA degree provides the flexibility, knowledge, and confidence to grow as a leader and make a meaningful impact.

Patrice Lassa’s journey from direct patient care to public health administration exemplifies how the right educational foundation can transform not only individual careers but also entire healthcare systems. Through the UIC MHA program, she gained more than credentials; she gained the tools to make lasting change in Chicago’s public health landscape.