March 26, 2025 | Erin Bluvas, bluvase@sc.edu
Martha Selmon’s experiences providing and receiving health care services with the U.S. Army are what led her to pursue a Master of Health Administration at USC. A member of the program’s executive track (due to her health care experience), Selmon is particularly interested in health disparities, provider burnout and the health of military veteran populations.
Originally from Southern California, Selmon’s journey began more than a decade ago when she enlisted as an Army Dental Specialist – working directly with patients in the areas of general dentistry, oral surgery, pediatrics and orthodontics. She also held leadership roles, advocated for patients, and oversaw processes like insurance verification and data management.
This insider look of health care and her own experiences receiving services from VA facilities sparked her interest in the field. After completing more than three years with the Army, Selmon and her husband moved to South Carolina with their two kids to be closer to family. Winthrop University offered a degree in professional studies with a concentration in health services, and it was then that the first-generation Latina student knew she was in the right field.
“I became interested in health care disparities between populations due to participating in a simulation at my undergraduate school and seeing the different factors that affect people,” she says. “During and after the pandemic, which took place during my studies, burnout became a huge topic within health care and that got me interested in researching more about these fields.”
Selmon chose the Arnold School for her graduate program because of its accreditation with the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME) and the welcoming environment she discovered during her campus tour. “I knew that a degree from USC would help me advance in my career,” she says.
Still in year one of her program, Selmon has found mentors in MHA program director Nabil Natafgi and her advisor, Bankole Olatosi. She says that both faculty members have influenced her to put her best effort into everything she does.
And she’s has already had success in her field at the national level. CAHME recently selected her as the recipient of the Nancy Rosenthal Scholarship, which includes travel to the awards ceremony at the Commission’s Annual Congress meeting and $2,000.
“I plan to use these funds to cover the airfare for an international study trip I will take during my second-year capstone course to compare global health systems,” Selmon says. “This scholarship will enable me to fully benefit from these experiences, advancing my career in health care leadership.”
