Baylor Healthcare MBA Achieves Back-to-Back Wins in ACHE Essay Competition

Robbins Healthcare MBA student Tanéha Fincher recently won first place in the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Richard J. Stull Student Essay Competition in Healthcare Management. Her essay, titled MEND the Divide: A Pathway to Equitable Maternal Care in the United States, examines disparities in maternal healthcare and proposes solutions for improving equity.

This achievement marks the second consecutive year a Robbins Healthcare MBA student has won the competition, underscoring the strength of the program and its students.

“Having participated in this essay competition for more than 16 years now, I can say that there have been very few instances of a program’s student winning first place in the graduate category two years in a row,” said Forest Kim, PhD, executive director and clinical associate professor at the Robbins Institute for Health Policy and Leadership. “The competition among students in graduate health management programs is fierce. So, winning the award for the second consecutive year is truly an anomaly and speaks to the quality of the students we attract, which is, in part, due to the strength and reputation of the program.”

Fincher’s motivation to explore maternal healthcare disparities stems from her own personal experience when her mother faced life-threatening complications during her pregnancy with Fincher’s younger brother. 

"Despite having three children before him, this pregnancy was incredibly difficult," she said. "My brother was born six weeks premature, and my mother nearly lost her life during the process." 

In her essay, Fincher highlights key aspects of the maternal mortality crisis, focusing on the alarming number of deaths in rural areas and inadequate postpartum care. 

“More than two-thirds of maternal deaths occur during the postpartum period,” Fincher said. “Yet, despite this being one of the most critical times for recovery, 88 percent of mothers feel unprepared to navigate it.” 

Fincher is excited about the opportunity this win provides to bring more attention to maternal mortality in the U.S. and to help drive discussions that lead to tangible improvements in care and policy.

“Winning this competition isn’t just a personal achievement – it’s a chance to amplify a conversation that needs to be happening on a much larger scale,” she said. "I’m looking forward to presenting at the ACHE conference and connecting with others who are passionate about impacting healthcare.”

Fincher received her award at a plenary session of the ACHE Congress in Houston on March 26, along with a $3,000 cash prize. Her essay will also be published in the Journal of Healthcare Management. More details about the competition can be found on the ACHE website.

Fincher credits the support of the Robbins Healthcare MBA program for her success. 

“I wouldn’t have even known about this competition or become a member of ACHE if I weren’t in Baylor’s MBA program,” she said. “The MBA program has given me a completely new perspective by helping me understand this issue through the lens of business and administration. They have helped me view maternal healthcare through a broader scope, equipping me to engage with a wider range of stakeholders. Whether I’m speaking with policymakers, hospital administrators or investors, I now have the tools to communicate in a way that resonates with their roles in healthcare.”

She also acknowledges Kim’s mentorship, which helped her refine her ideas and approach. 

“The faculty has been incredibly supportive, especially Dr. Kim,” Fincher said. “A few days before my essay was due, I realized my original idea wasn’t as inclusive as I wanted it to be and needed a completely different approach. I was worried about making such a major shift so close to the deadline, but instead of discouraging me, Dr. Kim encouraged me to move forward with the new direction. He was my first introduction to the Robbins Institute before I even applied to Baylor, and it’s been incredible to see that same support carry through my time here.”

To learn more about how the Robbins Healthcare MBA program prepares students to tackle complex challenges in healthcare leadership, click here.