School of Public Health Appoints New Leadership For The Master of Healthcare Administration Program
By Office of Communications & Marketing | Feb 9, 2026
The School of Public Health is pleased to announce new leadership appointments for the Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) Program, strengthening the program’s academic direction and operational leadership at a time when healthcare systems nationwide face growing complexity and demand for skilled administrative leaders.
Across the country, MHA programs prepare professionals to lead hospitals, academic medical centers, public health organizations, and health systems. As healthcare grows more complex, organizations need leaders with formal training in finance, operations, quality improvement, policy, ethics, and workforce management. The MHA degree has become an essential credential for leaders who must manage regulatory requirements, improve organizational performance, advance health equity, and support better patient outcomes.
Mohamed Rami Nakeshbandi, M.D., MHA, FACP, was appointed Executive Director of the MHA Program. He currently serves as Vice
President and Chief Medical Officer at University Hospital at Downstate (UHD), where
he provides clinical and strategic leadership across the clinical enterprise. In his
executive role, Dr. Nakeshbandi oversees physician engagement, quality, patient safety,
regulatory readiness, and clinical operations. He leads the institution’s High Reliability
Organization journey and health equity initiatives, advancing a culture focused on
safety, accountability, and equity in care delivery.
Dr. Nakeshbandi has significant experience in healthcare administration, quality improvement, and systems leadership. He holds a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Columbia University and an M.D. from Aleppo University School of Medicine in Syria. He completed residency training at West Virginia University and a fellowship in infectious diseases at Downstate. His background as a clinician and healthcare executive positions him to guide the MHA Program in preparing future leaders for complex and rapidly changing health systems.
Ludmila Ferruzzi, DrPH, LMSW, PMP, was appointed Director of the Master of Healthcare Administration Program. Dr. Ferruzzi
is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management
at the School of Public Health. She earned a Doctor of Public Health degree from Downstate,
with a concentration in Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, and holds
a Master of Social Work and a Bachelor of Science in Health Science from Stony Brook
University.
Before her appointment, Dr. Ferruzzi had more than a decade of experience in healthcare settings, beginning her career as a Medical Social Worker in an acute care hospital before transitioning into healthcare administration as a Senior Project Manager within the corporate care coordination department of a large health system. She has extensive expertise in healthcare quality improvement, project management, workforce development, and graduate-level instruction, including teaching healthcare quality improvement, healthcare law, and healthcare ethics. As Director, Dr. Ferruzzi will oversee day-to-day program operations, curriculum implementation, and student engagement.
Dr. Nakeshbandi and Dr. Ferruzzi will provide strategic, academic, and operational leadership for the MHA Program, ensuring that Downstate continues to prepare healthcare administrators with the skills, judgment, and commitment needed to lead modern health systems and advance health equity.
About the MHA Program at SUNY Downstate
The Master of Healthcare Administration Program prepares future healthcare leaders to meet the demands of an increasingly complex healthcare system. Launched in Fall 2023 within the School of Public Health, the program focuses on healthcare management, finance, quality improvement, policy, and systems leadership, with a strong emphasis on advancing health equity and serving diverse urban communities. Through a flexible, applied curriculum grounded in real-world practice, the MHA Program supports Downstate’s mission to improve health outcomes and reduce disparities.