Matthew Strohhacker had an early introduction to public health.

“When I was 16, “ Strohhacker said, “I was an intern at University Hospital in Cleveland working closely with their head of colorectal surgery.”

While midway through his undergraduate degree at the University of Cincinnati, Strohhacker reconnected with a mentor through his time at University Hospital who pointed him in the direction of public health.

“I was at a crossroads since the Affordable Care Act had just passed and I had some concerns about what that would mean if I pursued my original goal of becoming a medical doctor. I was given great advice that I pursue public health because the ACA would undoubtedly shift the focus of the American healthcare system from an individualistic approach to a population health approach. This advice has proven to be incredibly insightful over the years as population health has certainly grown leaps and bounds over the past decade.” 

During his final year of undergrad, Strohhacker worked on research projects in adolescent bariatric surgery at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.  

“The epidemiologist I was working with recommended the USF College of Public Health (COPH) program, so I flew to Tampa to check out the school and city. I fell in love with both and never looked back. I knew as soon as I stepped foot on campus that I wanted to get my degree at the COPH.” 

In 2014, Strohhacker earned his MPH with a concentration in epidemiology from the COPH and a graduate certificate in applied biostatistics. 

“I am honored to have been a part of the USF Health in The Villages study. It was a great challenge for me as I got to work on mixed methods research, which was a new approach for me at the time.”

USF Health, in partnership with The Villages, a 55 and older active adult retirement community, completed a formative health assessment to understand barriers and facilitators to successful, healthy aging to achieve longer, healthier and more productive lives.

“I learned so much from my mentors and my peers throughout that project and ultimately wrote my master’s thesis from the research I conducted as a part of that work.”

After graduating, Strohhacker held many roles, but it was his time at a health insurance company that he said was most eye-opening.

“My role was a senior clinical strategy specialist at Medical Mutual, a large payer in Cleveland, where I grew up,” he explained. “It was during this time I learned something life-changing that drastically changed my view of the health care system. In the traditional fee-for-service health care system in the U.S., the health insurer is incented to keep the population healthy and out of the hospital, while the hospital is incented to keep people chronically ill and seeking services since the hospital is getting paid off of volume. This felt so incredibly backward to me. Since that time, I knew that being a part of tangible change in the healthcare system was something I wanted to be a part of.”

In December of 2022, Strohhacker started his current role as vice president of systems of CareNu, located in Tampa.

“In my current role, I oversee population health analytics, health care finance analytics and information systems,” Strohhacker said. “We are cutting through the traditional finance systems and creating an innovative model of care delivery focused on delivering the right care to the right patient at the right time in a way that is equitable and affordable.”

In doing so, Strohhacker has had a part in changing the way health care is delivered in our community.

“I get to use a combination of all my degrees [Strohhacker also has an MBA], but, admittedly, my COPH degree is the most valuable. I can genuinely say that I use my COPH degree every single day in my job.”

It was a fellow COPH graduate who attracted him to his current role.

 “I was truly impressed by Paola Delp, our president at CareNu. She is a pioneer in the health care space, particularly with innovative models of care. She has immense knowledge of the health care industry.”

And those aren’t the only Bulls at CareNu.

“Earlier this year I hired Tiantian Pang, who just received her PhD with a concentration in epidemiology from the COPH, to join my health analytics team—and she has been AMAZING! I knew the second I saw her resume that she was going to knock it out of the park, and she has.”

Strohhacker said that what he’s always loved about the COPH is its sense of family.

“When I would periodically travel back to Tampa, I would stop by the COPH to walk around and reminisce,” he said. “I observe students collaborating and professors interacting with students and I can tell that family feel is still strong. Throughout the years, I’ve kept in touch with some of my mentors and peers during my time at the COPH and it feels like I’m reconnecting with family when we have a chance to meet or chat again.”

Fast Five: 

What did you dream of becoming when you were young? 

The first thing I remember wanting to be was an architect, but I also played baseball at the time and decided my dream was to become the first baseball player to play a game in a stadium I designed.

Where would we find you on the weekend? 

My wife, Karena, and I are big foodies and love wine. You’d find us at a restaurant or wine bar around Tampa trying new and exciting food and sipping on a glass of wine (my research while on the USF Health in The Villages study showed that four drinks a week was protective for dementia). I’m also fully enjoying living in Florida again and taking advantage of the pool and beach, especially with my 3-year- old daughter, Elle, and 2-year-old son, Carter. 

What is the last book you read? 

The most recent was “What Got You Here Won’t Get You There,” by Marshall Goldsmith. Which lends itself well to some of my biggest beliefs in our healthcare system. If we keep approaching healthcare in the same way we always have, it can never reach its full potential. We have to think differently, challenge ourselves to be innovators, to take risks in order to be a part of the change we want to see. 

What superpower would you like to have? 

It would be so nice to be able to fly or teleport anywhere in the world instantly. 

What’s your all-time favorite movie?

I love most any comedy from the late ‘80s to late ‘90s. Movies like “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” “Uncle Buck” and “Weekend at Bernie’s.”

Story by: Liz Bannon, USF College of Public Health

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