Faculty
Sungwon Ahn, Ph.D.
Instructor
MHDA 507: Statistical Analysis for Health Analytics
Sungwon Ahn, Ph.D., is an associate professor of Mathematics and Actuarial Science at Roosevelt University in Chicago, where he has been on faculty since 2016. Dr. Ahn earned his Associate credential from the Society of Actuaries (ASA) in 2018. With a Ph.D. in Mathematics and an M.S. in Computational Finance from Purdue University, Dr. Ahn's academic focus lies in random walks in random environments and interacting particle systems, with an expanding interest in integrating real-world data into actuarial and statistical modeling. Dr. Ahn has led experiential learning programs that prepare undergraduate students for careers in data-driven risk management, instructing data analysis using R and Excel. He also mentors undergraduate students in research projects that connect actuarial methods with contemporary issues, including flood risk, loan-to-value modeling, and carbon risk valuation. Dr. Ahn’s scholarship includes several peer-reviewed articles in journals such as Bernoulli, Electronic Journal of Probability, Markov Processes and Related Fields, and PRIMUS, where his work bridges theoretical probability with applied statistical pedagogy.
Grishma Bhavsar, Ph.D., MPH
Professor
MHDA 508: Quality and Operational Management in Healthcare
Grishma Bhavsar, Ph.D., is a healthcare quality and patient safety expert with over a decade of experience in teaching, research, and leadership in health administration education. She holds certifications as a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ), Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS), and Certified Professional in Human Factors in Health Care (CPHFH), underscoring her commitment to advancing high-reliability care. Dr. Bhavsar’s research and scholarly interests bridge the fields of health information technology, data analytics, and health disparities. She has published studies analyzing patient portal use, emergency preparedness, and adverse drug events using large-scale datasets. Dr. Bhavsar brings a data-informed, systems-thinking lens to improving care delivery and outcomes.
Mike Bruse, MHA
Part time lecturer
MHDA 505: Data Modeling for Healthcare Analytics
Mike Bruse, MHA, is a part-time lecturer in health sciences at California State University, Northridge, and the decision support and reporting senior manager at Kaiser Permanente, where he leads data-driven initiatives focused on continuous improvement and operational insight. With a strong background in healthcare leadership, he has served as department administrator for Rheumatology, Infectious Diseases, and Cardiology, and was the director of Imaging Services at Kaiser Permanente, Woodland Hills. His experience in cardiology and imaging has provided him with deep exposure to the technological complexities and innovations that shape modern healthcare.
A pioneer in health IT, Mike was the first site leader to implement EPIC electronic medical records at Kaiser Woodland Hills. His career has consistently bridged healthcare operations with digital transformation, always to enhance patient care and system efficiency. In the classroom, Bruse shares his extensive practical knowledge drawn from his frontline experience. He earned his Master’s in Health Administration from CSUN in 2012 and holds a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Arizona.
Stephan Chung, Ph.D.
Professor
MHDA 598: Graduate Project
Stephan Chung, Ph.D., is Director of Health Analytics Programs and Professor of Health Administration in the College of Health and Human Development at California State University, Northridge (CSUN), where he has served since 2011. With a BA and Masters degree in Statistics and Computer Science, Dr. Chung brings methodological precision to research aimed at real-world health impact. His scholarship focuses on longitudinal analysis of large, linked secondary datasets—including Medicaid, Medicare, and federal subsidy files—to uncover disparities and inform evidence-based policy. A proficient user of R, SAS, Stata, HLM, Mplus, and QGIS, he leads the MS in Healthcare Data Analytics curriculum, which he founded to prepare students for the demands of a data-driven health workforce. Prior to CSUN, Dr. Chung was Professor and Chair of Health Administration at Governors State University, where he launched the university’s first Health Informatics program and collaborated with the Illinois Department of Public Health to modernize Certificate of Need regulations using migration-adjusted demand models. He has authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications in journals such as Journal of Medical Systems and Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, and has presented more than 60 times at national conferences, including AcademyHealth, APHA, and GSA. His honors include APHA’s Minority Issues Research Award, AcademyHealth’s Most Outstanding Abstract, and selection as a CSUN Research Fellow.
Jennifer Newman, DPA
Associate Professor
MHDA 500: US Healthcare, Digital Health and Technology
"Dr. Jennifer Newman is a faculty member in the Department of Health Sciences at California State University, Northridge, where she brings an interdisciplinary background spanning health administration, environmental and occupational health, and public policy. She holds a Doctor of Public Administration from the University of La Verne and a Master of Science in Environmental and Occupational Health from CSUN, and is a Registered Environmental Health Specialist certified by the California Department of Public Health. Her diverse expertise allows her to explore the complex intersections between healthcare operations, sustainability, and data-informed decision-making.
Dr. Newman’s recent scholarship includes a co-authored study on integrating data literacy in CAHME-accredited programs, emphasizing the importance of analytics in healthcare leadership education. Her research continues to investigate how healthcare organizations incorporate environmental sustainability into strategic planning, an area that increasingly relies on data analysis and evidence-based approaches. As an educator, she is committed to preparing future healthcare professionals to navigate a data-driven, value-based healthcare landscape with critical thinking, compassion, and cross-disciplinary collaboration."
Carrie Pullen, EdD, MSHA
Associate Professor
MHDA 503: Leadership and Ethics in Healthcare Data Analytics
Carrie Pullen, Ph.D., is a tenured associate professor in healthcare administration at the University of California, Northridge, having transitioned from over 20 years in the for-profit sector managing health care facilities for the elderly. That experience included operating three facilities totaling over 500 skilled beds, and the creation, management and ownership of three neighborhood-based residential homes for the elderly. Dr. Pullen’s research interests are related to the best ways to teach cultural humility to future healthcare professionals. She teaches courses in various aspects of healthcare management including organization, leadership, communication, law and ethics. She received a doctorate from Pepperdine University in Organizational Leadership and a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Central Michigan University.
Ning Rui, Ph.D.
Lecturer
MHDA 509: Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
Ning Rui, Ph.D., is the Head of Science and Engineering of the Advertising Measurement Research team within Amazon Ads. He works with cross-functional teams to integrate AI/ML and causal inference methods to conduct customer-relevant industry-leading research that drives the development of measurement products and quantifies the impact of advertisers’ investment on short-term and long-term sales on- and off-Amazon. He has taught AWS Certified ML/AI and LLM training courses to Amazon employees and served as technical reviewer of 50+ science publications by fellow scientists. He is the founding director of the What’s Our Work science talk series, which included 20 invited science presentations by internal and external scientists and attracted over 500 attendees. He led the launch of TexturaAI, an LLM-powered topic modeling and classification tool that was ranked among the top 10 finalists out of 165 submissions at 2024 Global GenAI Hackathon. He has taught machine learning, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, and data mining at Columbia University, George Washington University, and Northeastern University. Prior to Amazon, Dr. Rui served as a Principal Investigator and Senior Study Director on multiple public health research projects, such as the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study, a national longitudinal study of tobacco use and how it affects the health of people in the US. Dr. Rui holds a M.S. in statistics and Ph.D. in quantitative methods from University of Pennsylvania. His research has appeared in Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine.
Carmen T. Saunders-Russell, EdD, CRA-retired, MBA, MAOM, RT (R)(M)
Associate Professor
MHDA 501: Healthcare Data and Analytics
Carmen T. Saunders-Russell, EdD, CRA-retired, MBA, MAOM, RT (R)(M), Ph.D., is a tenured Associate Professor in the Health Sciences Department, where she teaches in the Health Administration degree program. She also has served as the graduate coordinator for the Master’s in Health Administration program. She brings a unique blend of clinical, administrative, and academic expertise to her role, grounded in over two decades of experience in health care.
Dr. Saunders-Russell is a certified radiology administrator (retired) and holds national and state certifications in diagnostic imaging, mammography, and fluoroscopy. While she has previously taught Radiologic Sciences, her current teaching focus is on Health Administration, where she draws on her diverse career experiences to prepare students for leadership roles in health services.
In addition to her academic and clinical work, Dr. Saunders-Russell is a Faculty Success Program Coach with NCFDD.
Her research interests include:
- Creativity and technology in promoting student success
- Ethical AI integration in health professions education and workforce development
- Imposter syndrome in health administration and health professions
- LGBTQ+ health-related services and the role of health administrators
- Professional development for health leaders and professionals
- Interprofessional education, collaboration, and communication
George Srapian, MHA
Adjunct Professor
MHDA 502: Programming for Health Analytics
George Srapian, MHA, is an adjunct professor at the University of California, Northridge, and a healthcare executive and educator with over a decade of transformative experience in strategic planning, financial analytics, and performance improvement within the healthcare sector. As the Director of Integrated Delivery Systems and Strategy at Children's Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), Srapian leads initiatives to integrate care delivery, ensuring a seamless and exceptional patient experience. His role involves close collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, payers, community organizations, and the healthcare system to enhance community health initiatives and improve patient outcomes.
Throughout his career, Srapian has made significant contributions to market share growth, financial performance improvement, and benchmarking. He has led initiatives that resulted in significant market share growth and improved financial performance. He's developed and implemented comprehensive benchmarking standards and reporting systems, driving performance improvement projects.
Tammy C. Young, M.S., PharmD
Part Time Instructor
MHDA 506: Healthcare Data Visualization
Tammy C. Young, MS, Pharm D. is a part-time lecturer at the University of California, Northridge, and an analyst at Kaiser Permanente. She utilizes her clinical background and analytical skills to create automated tools to help with decision-making and improve quality, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness in the healthcare setting.
