MHA Ambassadors

MHA Student Ambassador Bios

Robert Bacon III is a first-year progressive Master of Health Administration student originally from Baltimore, Maryland. While completing his undergraduate studies in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention from the University of Southern California’s (USC) Keck School of Medicine, Bacon was confronted with the harsh realities of healthcare disparity, specifically in the African American community. This, combined with his own lived experiences of injustice, pushed Bacon to pursue the Health Administration program at Price with the intention of forging an equitable and inclusive system for all. In the future, Bacon hopes to use the Trojan Family network, skills, and experiences gained at Price to make his family, community, and ancestors proud.

Eryn Burnett is a first-year Master’s in Healthcare Administration (MHA) from Cerritos, California. Burnett graduated from California State University, Long Beach (Go Beach!) with a B.S. in Healthcare Administration and minor in Spanish in December 2020. Burnett first entered college as a Nursing major, but after being denied admission she realized her heart wasn’t in it. Burnett now aspires to work in Healthcare Administration to lead change and healthcare reform on a larger scale. Burnett has a plethora of experiences in working in healthcare settings due to extensive volunteering programs like the COPE Health Scholar program, various remote and in-person internships, and working professionally in a primary care office. Burnett aims to use her skills and experience to promote health equity, accessibility to health care services as well as self-advocacy education for patients. Burnett hopes to one day support a birthing center that works to specifically close the gaps in maternal and neonatal health outcomes for mothers & babies of color.

Andrea Castro is a graduate from California State, Long Beach in 2017 with a B.S. in Health Care Administration and minor in Child Development. While in college, Castro was Secretary General and competed internationally in Model United Nations, where she first obtained her interest in public policy. Castro is currently volunteering in the hematology-oncology department at Miller’s Women and Children’s Hospital in Long Beach to grasp a greater understanding at the intersection of health care and children’s education. In addition, Castro is a substitute teacher for the greater Los Angeles area where she works with underrepresented communities and special education to help empower individuals who often get left behind. Castro aspires to obtain a master’s in Health care Administration in the following years from USC school of Price and hopes to help children with special needs at an international level.

Russell Chang is a first year Master of Health Administration (MHA) student born and raised in Los Angeles, California. During Chang’s time at California Polytechnic State University of San Luis Obispo, he was fortunate enough to participate in research that was recently published this past year. Chang was also fortunate enough to volunteer at the NICU at the hospital in San Luis Obispo, where he was able to learn the day to day tasks that NICU nurses had to do while also cuddling babies. Originally, Chang wanted to go to medical school, but during the pandemic Chang realized that he had more interest in the policy and business aspect of healthcare. These two categories sparked my interest because Chang wanted to be able to use both policy and business to create equity and quality care to the underserved communities. Chang was also fortunate enough to serve as an AmeriCorps member for two years after graduating, where he provided literacy intervention to Title 1 elementary school kids. During this opportunity, Chang was able to really work and understand the underserved communities and hear from parents about their concerns. Chang hopes to learn as much as he can from the current student ambassadors so that he can also be a guiding light for incoming Price MHA students.

Anthony Cumba is a first-year Master of Health Administration student. Cumba received a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Kinesiology and Health Science during the spring of 2021. From being involved in the Mentorship for an Accessible Price (MAP) program and speaking to various admissions staff, Cumba grasped the true meaning of the Trojan Family network and the support system within the MHA program, further solidifying why he wanted to attend the University of Southern California (USC). While completing his undergraduate degree, Cumba volunteered and maintained employment at his local hospital, VCU Health, and recognized that he wanted to pursue a career within this type of environment. Upon graduation from USC, Cumba plans to utilize his degree to help address health inequities within the current healthcare system to improve patient accessibility and the quality of care. During his free time, you can catch him exploring new restaurants, playing his guitar, or enjoying the outdoors.

Oceana Hanner is a first-year Master of Health Administration student. Hanner recently graduated Magna Cum Laude from California State University, Fullerton, with a Bachelor’s degree in Health Science while working full-time and managing extracurriculars. Hanner’s passion for healthcare began at an early age, leading her to join a Health Careers Academy. Hanner is an advocate for giving back to the community through volunteer efforts. Hanner’s volunteer experience is diverse with consistent experiences in school events, hospitals, foundations, convalescent homes, and medical facilities. In 2019, Hanner received Senate and Congressional Recognition awards from the state of California for her volunteer contribution and dedication. Hanner is a current student member/associate of Women in Healthcare Administration of Southern California (WHA), American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), and the Golden Key International Honour Society. In March 2020, Hanner was featured in Nursesbond Newsletter as a pro of the month for students with exceptional abilities or achieving high academic standards. Hanner works as an in-home Care Provider on a flexible schedule. Recently, Hanner completed administrative internships for Sunder Heart Institute and the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA). At Sunder Heart Institute, some of her tasks included handling a multiline telephone while assisting with patient care, scheduling appointments, applying ICD 10 and CPT codes for superbills and lab orders, and creating and updating patient charts, simultaneously interning in the Billing and Front Office department. At CHLA, Hanner participated in a business case competition, attended workshops, and created the framework for a pilot grant program while interning in the Community Affairs department. Hanner is also the Program Development Chair for the Upsilon Phi Delta Organization at USC.

Bijal Luhar is a graduate student pursuing her Master’s in Health Administration (MHA) from Madera, California. Luhar graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2021 with a B.S. in Anthropology and minors in both Gerontology & Global Health. During her undergraduate career, Luhar was heavily involved and was part of a healthcare consulting organization, volunteered at UCLA’s Ronald Reagan Medical Center, and conducted research centered on the importance of effective communication between older adults and nurses in nursing homes. These experiences pushed her to pursue her MHA at Price as she strives to improve the quality of care for older adults in clinics, hospitals, & long-term care facilities. ​​Luhar was drawn to Price because of the unique residency component, location, and extensive Trojan network. Luhar is excited for her new position this upcoming year as Membership Program Chair for Upsilon Phi Delta, USC’s honor society for those studying healthcare management and policy.

Aundrea Martinez is currently a second year Master of Health Administration (MHA) student at the University of Southern California (USC) who has a Bachelor of Science degree from California State University, Fullerton majoring in Health Science with a minor in Gerontology. Working in the healthcare field for about ten years in Ambulatory Care such as physical therapy and hematology/oncology has amplified her interest in Management and goal of becoming a future leader in healthcare. Currently, she works for PIH Health at Good Samaritan Hospital in the Group Operations department. Martinez is passionate about making a positive difference in the healthcare system and her local community through effective leadership, quality care, compassion and following a motto of “patients first.” It is a dream come true to be a part of the Trojan family and she would love to serve as a point of contact and provide support to prospective and admitted students as she understands how stressful the application and admissions process can be. Martinrez is confident that the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy will support her in accomplishing her goals in healthcare because of the robust curriculum, distinguished faculty and the lifelong networking community it offers. When she is not working or in class, you can find her making flower arrangements, pressed flower jewelry, traveling, hiking, vintage shopping or sipping coffee at her favorite local café.

Juliane Ong is a first-year Master of Health Administration student intent on raising awareness and finding solutions for health care inequities. Ong, originally from South Pasadena, California, graduated from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biotechnology and a minor in Chemistry. This past year, Ong worked as a pharmacy technician with the CVS COVID-19 team to bring vaccines to long-term care facilities and subsequently led one of the first Vaccine Community Clinics in Panorama City. Ong also volunteered in Huntington Hospital’s Emergency Department, liaising between hospital staff and performing administrative tasks in the Cancer Data Center. After witnessing the need for more accessible health care amongst vulnerable populations as well as observing the divide between providers and corporate management, Ong became passionate about hospital emergency systems and management improvement. Ong’s background includes researching with NASA to create a biosensor for home health care and leadership within both academic and cultural clubs during her undergraduate years. Ong is excited to be a part of the Trojan Family at the University of Southern California (USC) and looks forward to working with peers to overcome current health barriers. In her free time, Ong likes to run, spend time outdoors, and bake!

Evangalia Tedesco is a second year Master of Health Administration (MHA) student. Tedesco is passionate about improving health care as an administrator. Currently, she uses the skill sets she has learned from her Price classes to succeed in her complex intern projects at Keck Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC). As a registered nurse, Tedesco also loves to give back to the community when she can and partakes in numerous leadership roles at USC.

Cristina Tom is a first-year progressive Master of Health Administration (MHA) student from Atherton, California. She graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) in Spring 2021 with a B.S. in Human Biology and a minor in Dance. During her undergraduate experience, Tom gained direct patient care experience as an aide at a few outpatient physical therapy clinics. There, she learned what it means to work on the frontline during a pandemic and the importance of giving patients the best quality care. Tom has extensive experience volunteering to instruct her local, underserved neighbors about fitness and nutrition, teaching anatomy to special education elementary students, and holding leadership positions such as President of the Pre-Physical Therapy Club and head administrative recruitment chair of her sorority. Currently, Tom serves as Vice President of Operations for the Student Association for Addiction Science and Events Chair in Price’s Student Health Council. Tom looks forward to continuing her education at USC and supporting prospective and admitted students. Fight On!

Bryan Toral is a first year Master of Health Administration (MHA) student originally from the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles. Toral graduated with a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California (USC) in Health and Humanity, focusing on Bioethics, and worked under a postdoctoral researcher in a biology lab on campus his senior year. Toral’s most recent work experience is in an industry-leading outpatient physical therapy clinic, assisting licensed therapists as a full-time rehabilitation aide. Toral hopes to use his experiences working alongside clinicians to inform decisions in the future as a health administration professional. At Price,Toral is most excited to learn from renowned faculty, connect with his peers, and apply the MHA curriculum during his residency. Toral is particularly interested in addressing inequalities in health and barriers to access, better oversight of opioids, and tackling unnecessary treatments. During his free time, Toral enjoys going to the gym, golfing, and playing the guitar.