Maitri Bhupatkar

Health Administration Class of 2026

• Minor: Public Health
• Hometown: Iselin, NJ
• Activities at Rutgers: Future Health Administrators, Vice President; Rutgers Raas and Garba Association (RU RAGA); Rutgers Desi Intercultural Youth Association (DIYA)

Maitri Bhupatkar always knew she wanted to work in healthcare—but not in the way most people imagine.

As she observed her family’s experiences in the healthcare system and coupled them with her own volunteer experiences, she knew she wanted to work in healthcare–but didn’t see herself in scrubs or at a patient’s bedside. She envisioned herself managing systems and driving improvements from behind the scenes.

This realization led her to the field of health administration and instinctively, she began taking on leadership roles. “Whether school projects or extracurricular activities, I loved organizing and guiding others. I realized leadership was something I wanted to pursue in the future,” she said. “Health administration combines my leadership abilities with my desire to improve healthcare systems and have a positive influence on the larger organization.”

Originally not planning to apply to Rutgers, it has been more than anything that she hoped it could be. “Rutgers has given me lifelong friends. It is where I found my passion and most importantly, it has given me a community that has supported me in ways I never imagined,” she said. Looking for more information about how to enter the healthcare field, Maitri discovered the Future Health Administrators (FHA) organization. It turned out to be a turning point.

“FHA provided me with numerous opportunities to network with field professionals, meet peers on the same career path, and attend events to improve my healthcare knowledge,” she explained. It also introduced her to the Bloustein School and the health administration major. “After discovering how well it matched my hobbies and career aspirations, I decided to make the change and haven’t looked back since.”

At Bloustein, she has embraced many opportunities to learn and grow. Through her coursework, she found inspiration from several professors. “Every single one of my professors has been fantastic and always goes above and beyond,” she said. But she highlights professors Aakanksha Deoli and Ceu Cirne-Neves, and instructor Dabir Khan as particularly influential.

“I enjoyed the classes I took with these three professors—Leadership Seminar, Population Health, and Health Systems Operations. I’m grateful for how they teach with such enthusiasm and real-world understanding, which has encouraged my desire to pursue a career in the field.”

Maitri’s passion for health administration became even more concrete through her hands-on experiences. She has worked as an administrative assistant in the Oncology Unit at Saint Peter’s Healthcare System, where she supported hospital staff and gained first hand insight into how high-pressure decisions are made and conducted behind the scenes. “This experience has solidified my interest in health administration and confirmed that I want to pursue a leadership role in this field.”

Her summer internship is in field operations and commercial communications at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. “I’m excited to expand my experience beyond the hospital setting and gain insight into the pharmaceutical side of healthcare,” she said. “These opportunities have shaped my aspiration to become a healthcare leader who understands the system from multiple angles—clinical, administrative, and corporate.”

After graduation, Maitri plans to pursue a Master of Health Administration and eventually work in hospital operations or within a pharmaceutical company. Her long-term goal is to improve healthcare systems and patient outcomes and have a significant impact on healthcare delivery.

She offers this advice to prospective health administration students: “I’ve made wonderful connections with Bloustein School professors who have helped me in various ways, from suggesting internships to interacting with people in healthcare systems. Network at every opportunity and form meaningful relationships, and spend time interacting with your community here. Those connections have the power to significantly influence your academic and career path.”

Outside the classroom, Maitri finds creative release through dance to keep her grounded and energized. She also enjoys hiking, walking or trying something new outdoors, to stay active and keep her adrenaline moving. “These experiences have taught me discipline, teamwork, and the ability to stay present—values that have undoubtedly affected who I am now, both personally and professionally.”