2025 Student Spotlights - Gennesis Amador Villanueva - Health Care Management
Even before enrolling in the Master of Science in Health Care Administration Accelerated Program (MSHCA-AP), the goal for Gennesis Amador Villanueva was to focus on building her professional skills, and giving back to her community.
Gennesis really soaked up her college experience, getting involved in two student organizations – Health Care Administration Student Forum (HCASF) and Upsilon Phi Delta (UPD) Honor Society. She also joined the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Student Committee, where she helped with membership outreach, and had the opportunity to connect with other healthcare leaders. One of Gennesis’ proudest moments, however, was taking part in the USC 4th Annual Case Competition during her second year.
“It was a great experience, where I worked closely with my cohort classmates and helped present a hospital development plan in front of judges,” Gennesis said.
Gennesis also co-authored a research paper called The Burden and Cost of Diabetes Among Latin Minorities in California, which was published in the British Journal of Healthcare and Medical Research, with the help of Drs. O’Lawrence and Martinez. The paper addresses health issues and pushes for fair policy changes.
Though Gennesis has garnered numerous accolades throughout her time spent at CSULB, and was involved in many activities, she admits that, at first, one of her biggest concerns was knowing how to balance school, work, and her other responsibilities.
“The first quarter was overwhelming because I was trying to figure out time management and how to handle everything, but then I quickly adjusted and found support from my cohort, friends, and family.”
As a first-generation college student, and seeing her family struggle to navigate the healthcare system since she was young, Gennesis says that she was motivated throughout her schooling to create change for underrepresented populations in healthcare.
“I’ve always wanted to give back to the community,” Gennesis said. “Originally, I thought I wanted to pursue nursing, but through my Health Care Management studies, work experience, and internship at CSULB, I realized that I could make an impactful difference with the degree I chose. This master’s program has helped me to apply real-world problems and also understand the business side of healthcare. I am passionate about improving healthcare access for underserved communities and reducing health disparities. My goal is to become a manager or director in the healthcare industry someday.”
