Rula Othman, MS

Associate Principal

Health Management Associates

Los Angeles, CA

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Rula Othman is an innovative healthcare professional, working in data analytics, digital health technology integration, workflow engineering and clinical quality management. She is proficient in Structured Query Language (SQL) query language and tool sets as well as business intelligence (BI) tools, including Tableau and Business Objects. In addition to her technical skillset, she has worked alongside federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and medical centers in practice transformation, population health, social determinants of health (SDOH) and care management across various disease focuses.  

Before joining Health Management Associates, Rula served in senior data engineer positions with MLK Community Healthcare and Torrance Memorial Physician Network. Rula facilitated and streamlined data reporting and analysis needs, developing advanced SQL queries to build standard data sets and creating business intelligence solutions. Leading the challenging transition to Cerners HealtheIntent system, she handled the complex programming necessary, including the extensive data validations required. She was also instrumental in providing information to guide business decisions and conducting data analyses from multiple sources.  

Prior to these positions, Rula worked in clinical informatics with the California Medical Association and Elevation Health Partners. She served as a health information technology (IT) coach for federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) on the Health Care Controlled Network (HCCN), using health IT to improve operational and clinical practices. With the California Medical Association, Rula improved workflows, assisted with training and recruitment, and led the development of quality analytics infrastructure and improvement programs across more than 50 health center sites.  

As a quality coach with Elevation Health Partners, Rula worked on the Los Angeles Practice Transformation Network’s (LAPTN) Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative, helping providers achieve large-scale transformation, moving towards value-based patient-centered services. Rula has also been heavily involved in the integration of SDOHs throughout California’s service delivery system through the Health Homes Program (HHP) and the integration of screening tools like PRAPARE and ACEs.  

Gaining project and program management experience, Rula worked with Kaiser Permanente as a population health management project coordinator and an associate population health consultant. Rula led the organization’s depression care management program, managing the LCSWs, analyzing clinical data to drive treatment approaches and working with lead psychiatrists on treatment protocols trainings. She also managed projects ranging from beta-blocker adherence post cardiac event to metabolic monitoring in children and adolescents on antipsychotics to disease-modifying antirheumatic drug treatment. 

Rula earned her master’s degree in global medicine and management from the University of Southern California. She has a bachelor’s degree in ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of California, Los Angeles.