AUPHA: What's your educational background and why did you choose the area(s) of study that you did?
Ferdaus: I received my Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from Dhaka Medical College in Bangladesh in 1997. In 1998 I completed the internship requirements and became a practicing physician in Bangladesh. I continued my studies at the Institute of Health Economics, Dhaka, Bangladesh. I was awarded Post-Graduate Diploma in Health Economics in 1999. I earned my Ph.D. in Health Policy from Nelson Mandela School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs, Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge, LA in 2008.
During my medical studies, I started to realize the importance of the physician executives in the area of health policy and management. After I became a physician, I made the conscious decision to further my education in the area of economics, policy studies, and management. I have dedicated my academic career to understanding and analyzing the political economy of healthcare. My research is centered around the quantitative analysis of 'what is' and 'what is ought to be'. I am concerned about social justice in healthcare in the United States and in the international community. Social justice theories and their applications govern my research ideology.
AUPHA: Tell us about the jobs you held before you got into academe.
Ferdaus: Before I got into academe, I worked as a Research Associate at the Louisiana Tumor Registry. This job opened the doors for me to work with nationally recognized cancer epidemiologists, oncologists, dermatologists, surgeons, and experts in other medical specialties. During my tenure at the Louisiana Tumor Registry as a Research Associate, I helped coordinate the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI's) Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Pattern of Care Study and other SEER Rapid Response Surveillance Studies in Louisiana. I truly value the experience and make every attempt to reflect my learning in my academic responsibilities.
Before joining Louisiana Tumor Registry, I worked at the Office of Public Health of the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. There I performed and coordinated various research and administrative activities. I worked in several wings of public health including family planning and sexually transmitted disease control and prevention.
AUPHA: Where have you held faculty appointments during your career?
Ferdaus: In addition to my current positions at Our Lady of the Lake College, I hold a gratis faculty appointment at the Health Policy and System Management Program, School of Public Health, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center where I served as an Assistant Professor until December 2008.
AUPHA: What is your current position and what made you choose the program you are currently appointed to?
Ferdaus: Currently I am serving as an Associate Professor in the Health Service Administration Program, Our Lady of the Lake College, Baton Rouge, LA. I also hold the position of research faculty at the Our Lady of the Lake Graduate Medical Education.
I value the people I work with, and work environment is my priority. Our Lady of the Lake College offers the best of that. Also, as at the beginning phase of my career in academia, I was searching for workplace with extraordinary growth potential where my research, teaching, and administrative experiences would be valued. I am enjoying my work at the Our Lady of the Lake College and Regional Medical Center.
AUPHA: Tell us what's unique about your program, faculty, students.
Ferdaus: If I have to mention one unique aspect of my program, I must mention the environment of shared governance. The Program Director, Dr. Elizabeth Berzas, has created and maintains this culture where all faculty, students, staff, and the College administration work seamlessly on routine and exclusive businesses. Another unique aspect of my program is the responsiveness to change. The change management is highly efficient in my program.
AUPHA: What's the greatest challenge you face in your role at your current program?
Ferdaus: There is no significant challenge as I write this answer which is not in the pipeline for solution. Because of shared governance, I am able to voice my concerns to the administration in real time. We work closely to face the challenges we have.
AUPHA: What do you consider your greatest accomplishment during your tenure at your current program?
Ferdaus: My greatest accomplishment? I think my co-author role in developing the new MHA program is my greatest accomplishment here at the Our Lady of the Lake College.
AUPHA: What keeps you in this field, despite the challenges mentioned above?
Ferdaus: I made a conscious choice to serve this field. I believe I would be able to make the highest contribution to humanity through this field. I believe I can significantly impact human lives through my work in this field by offering the best of my ability.
AUPHA: If making a living/money were not a consideration, what would you be doing instead or what would you do in retirement?
Ferdaus: Interesting question! I never thought about it before. The reason is that I do not plan to retire. I would continue teaching part-time, and I would dedicate my time to improve patient care through the research and development of health service systems internationally.