September 2025: Master of Education in the Health Professions Fall Newsletter

LEADERSHIP IN MATERNAL HEALTH

Kara Beth Thompson, MEHP ’24, has spent over a decade working to expand postgraduate medical education in sub-Saharan Africa, earning the 2025 Johns Hopkins MEHP Excellence Award for her transformative contributions to family medicine and maternal health education. Her work stands as a model of how education can drive sustainable health equity.

After earning her M.D. from the University of Louisville and completing residency and fellowship training in family medicine and obstetrics, Thompson began her international work in Cameroon in 2007, supporting the launch of an internal medicine residency. From 2013 to 2024, she served on the faculty of Amoud University’s Hope Family Medicine Residency, helping start the first postgraduate training program in Somaliland.

During her time in the MEHP program, Thompson was co-investigator of Saving Lives in Sierra Leone, a health equity initiative funded by the Johns Hopkins Alliance for a Healthier World. She designed and implemented a faculty development and obstetric simulation curriculum at Princess Christian Maternity Hospital and Ola During Children’s Hospital—two facilities with some of Sierra Leone’s highest maternal mortality rates.

“Dr. Thompson has worked to develop and lead a pilot curriculum in surgical obstetric procedures for frontline clinicians,” said Toni Ungaretti, who nominated her for the award. “Her work is already improving access to safe and timely maternal care.”

Her contributions have also been recognized by the Johns Hopkins Global Surgical Initiative, supporting her scholarly work to reduce postpartum hemorrhage and surgical complications.

Thompson credits the MEHP program with providing the educational framework to sustain impactful global programs.

“MEHP gave me the tools to deepen my impact as a teacher, mentor, and program builder,” she says. “It’s been a joy to help residents grow as clinicians while serving their communities.”

Now stateside, she continues to support global medical education initiatives and mentor future educators. Her work exemplifies the MEHP mission: equipping health professionals to lead, teach, and innovate in ways that improve care around the world.

A FOUNDATION FOR TRANSFORMATION

Michael Malinowski, a practicing vascular surgeon and 2021 graduate of the MEHP program, describes the experience as transformative—not just a credential, but a foundation for reshaping how he teaches, leads, and innovates in healthcare education.

“I knew where I wanted to go,” Malinowski says. “But MEHP gave me the tools—the rocket and the trajectory—to get there.”

Balancing his demanding surgical career with graduate studies was no small feat—especially during a time of increased call duties due to staffing changes. Malinowski credits the MEHP program’s flexible, thoughtfully designed structure and responsive faculty for helping him stay on track without compromising academic rigor.

“This isn’t a passive online course,” Malinowski explains. “It’s a deeply engaging, academically rigorous program made for professionals in practice. MEHP finds a way to support your growth while respecting your real-world responsibilities—that’s rare.”

He also praises the MEHP program team—especially Toni Ungaretti, Maggie Shamer, and the faculty—for building a vibrant, inclusive global community. “These programs don’t happen in a vacuum,” he adds. “Their dedication created not just a curriculum but a community. Collaborating with colleagues from Beirut to Ireland to the UAE expanded my perspective and enriched my approach to healthcare education.”

Since graduating, Malinowski has integrated MEHP principles into clinical teaching, mentoring, and global partnerships, embodying the program’s mission to empower health professionals as leaders and innovators.

“MEHP didn’t just give me a mission—it gave me the ability and confidence to pursue it,” Malinowski reflects.

EMPOWERING INTERNATIONAL IMPACT

As a clinician-educator in Ireland, Natasha Khursigara-Slattery, MEHP ’20, joined the Johns Hopkins MEHP program seeking tools for assessment reform. What she found was a professional transformation.

Through the program’s research track, Khursigara-Slattery gained far more than technical skills. A single exchange with faculty mentor John Shatzer—who responded with encouragement and connection—sparked international collaborations and redefined her professional trajectory.

“It was the first time I felt part of a global conversation,” she explains. “MEHP taught me to see education not just as tasks, but as systems—systems I could help shape.”

She credits MEHP’s feedback culture, reflective practice, and global peer network for helping her step confidently into leadership roles. Today, she designs national curricula, mentors faculty, and advances assessment frameworks across Europe.

“MEHP gave me language, confidence, and the mindset to lead through contribution,” Khursigara-Slattery says. “It shifted how I saw my role—as someone who builds, guides, and moves conversations forward.”

Welcome to the Incoming MEHP Class
We’re excited to welcome the newest MEHP class, a dynamic group of professionals from across the globe who bring deep clinical expertise and a shared passion for advancing health education.

Here’s a snapshot of the class of 26 students:

• 65% domestic
• 35% international
  • Canada, India, Pakistan, Russia, Singapore, and Sudan

Clinical and professional backgrounds include:

• 7 in emergency medicine
• 4 in pediatrics (including specialties in critical care and oncology)
• 2 each in anesthesiology, cardiology, ob/gyn, and surgery
• 1 each in family medicine, general internal medicine, nursing, microbiology, plastic & reconstructive surgery, psychotherapy, and radiology

This diverse and accomplished class embodies the global, interdisciplinary spirit of MEHP—and we look forward to the impact they’ll make in the years to come.

Stay Connected, Share Your Story

We want to hear from you! The MEHP community is full of educators making an impact. Whether you’d like to share a quick update, connect with our team, or be featured in a future StoryBank interview like the alumni in this issue, we welcome your voice.

Reply here to share what you’re working on or to schedule a virtual conversation with the Development and Alumni Relations team. Your story could inspire the next generation of MEHP leaders.