UCL GBSH Student Of The Week: Mohammed Alassaf

The Foundation: Impact at Scale 
My career has always been driven by the “how” of healthcare delivery. Before joining the MBA Health at UCL, I served as the Head of Clinical Operations for one of the largest medical holding companies in the Middle East. Managing 30+ health centres taught me that while operational efficiency is the engine of healthcare, it is the overarching strategy and governance that determine its ultimate success. Navigating the complexities of such a large network gave me a front-row seat to the systemic challenges that can only be solved through better frameworks.

The “Pioneer” Path 
I am incredibly honoured to be a recipient of the Saudi Ministry of Education’s “Pioneer” full-ride scholarship. This distinction is reserved for those tasked with leading national transformation, and it was the primary catalyst for me to seek an education that matched the scale and ambition of my career goals in the Kingdom.

Why UCL GBSH? 
When it came to choosing an MBA, a traditional business school didn’t feel like the right fit. I needed an institution that spoke the language of healthcare fluently. UCL GBSH—the world’s first business school dedicated entirely to health—offered exactly that: a unique intersection of world-class business strategy and deep health-sector specialisation. It was the only place where I felt my operational background would be truly understood and built upon.

Leadership in Practice 
Beyond my studies, serving as the MBA Health student representative has been a highlight of my time here. It has allowed me to act as a bridge between my cohort and the school’s leadership. A particularly rewarding moment was supporting GBSH during the AMBA accreditation process, where I had the opportunity to meet with the panel and answer their questions to help showcase the impact and academic rigour of our inaugural year.

The Vision Ahead: The “Rules of the Game” 
While my past was defined by managing operations, my future is focused on the frameworks that govern them. I am pivoting toward policy and legislation, with the goal of crafting the standards that will define the next generation of global health. My time at UCL is giving me the tools to ensure that when we transform healthcare, we do so with the legislative strength to make it sustainable for all.