A Practicum with Purpose: Muhammad Shahid's Experience in El Paso
For Muhammad Shahid, a student at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, a practicum wasn’t just a degree requirement, it was a chance to apply healthcare management concepts in a real-world setting, support a nonprofit’s mission, and grow as a professional.
Shahid, a physician from Pakistan and clinical researcher at Houston Methodist, sought a practicum that would challenge him to work outside his usual environment. “I wanted to experience a new setting, ideally outside Houston and learn how smaller organizations manage operations and community partnerships,” he said.
Through the support and guidance of Laura Uribarri, PhD, MPAff, associate professor and program director for the Healthcare Management Program at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health in El Paso, Muhammad Shahid was connected with Aliviane, a well-established nonprofit providing behavioral health and recovery services throughout West Texas. Uribarri worked closely with the organization to shape a practicum experience that was both educational and impactful, aligning Shahid’s interests with Aliviane’s operational goals.
Aliviane needed a system to manage dozens of memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with its many community partners. Shahid stepped in to develop a centralized, user-friendly solution that would help track deadlines, streamline renewals, and ensure smoother communication.
His final product, a Microsoft Planner-based tracking system customized for Aliviane’s MOU process, automates steps, reduces reliance on email, and improves accountability within the organization. “It wasn’t just functional. It was transformational,” Guzman said.
What stood out to both parties wasn’t just the final product, it was the spirit of collaboration and trust that developed during the project. Shahid described the experience as one of the most engaging and rewarding parts of his graduate education.
The practicum offered Shahid a true sense of professional belonging. Rather than observing from the sidelines, he was fully embedded in the team, contributing ideas, solving problems, and learning from every interaction. The collaborative environment encouraged him to step beyond the traditional student role and take ownership of the project.
Even after completing the academic requirements, he remained engaged, helping develop training materials and preparing the system for implementation. The experience not only deepened his technical and organizational skills but also reinforced his confidence in working across teams, navigating real-world constraints, and contributing to a mission-driven organization.
Faculty members like Uribarri serve as vital connectors across the state, helping ensure that organizations are prepared to host students while promoting meaningful, capacity-building partnerships. As UTHealth Houston continues to expand its statewide engagement, organizations are encouraged to connect through the Office of Public Health Practice and Engagement, or through their local faculty contacts, to develop similar student collaborations.
As Aliviane prepares to officially launch the new MOU system this fall, both the student and the organization reflect on the practicum as more than a success, it was a true partnership.