02/25/2026
This past weekend, I had the honor of being invited back to lecture for the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy Masters of Health Administration program at University of Southern California. Walking back into that space, this time not as a student, but as someone entrusted to share administrative perspective and lived experience, was both humbling and deeply meaningful.
What made the experience even more special was the opportunity to highlight what value-based healthcare looks like in practice, not just in theory. I was incredibly fortunate to bring with me Dr. Edgar Chavez and CFO Franklin Gonzalez from Universal Community Health Center Clinics, leaders who do the real work of serving underserved communities across Greater Los Angeles every single day, alongside the CSO Jason Vallejos of Syndicated Insurance Agency, LLC. Together, we were able to show students how clinical care, administration, and payer strategy can align when the goal is outcomes over volume.
I left feeling genuinely inspired seeing more clinicians and healthcare professionals choosing to pursue administrative education, leaning into the discomfort of a fragmented system and trying to find common ground where collaboration can exist. That willingness to learn across disciplines is where I believe the true promise of value-based healthcare lives.
I don’t know exactly what higher education will look like in the coming years. But watching healthcare veterans step into classrooms to guide students who are earnestly trying to do the most good for the most people gave me real hope. It reminded me that no matter how complex policy becomes or how strained systems feel, there is still immense value in human connection, mentorship, and the honest sharing of ideas.
I am humbled—and honestly in awe—of the people I continue to meet in this field. That they allowed me to be their guide, even briefly, is something I don’t take lightly.
And above all, no matter what… Fight On. ✌️