In the pursuit of enhancing healthcare quality in Morocco
My name is Ayoub, and I am a medical doctor from Morocco, currently residing in Casablanca. My professional journey includes a transition from a career as a general physician to becoming an international consultant and healthcare expert. A pivotal moment in this career change was receiving a Fulbright Foreign Student award in 2012, which enabled me to pursue an MBA in Health Administration at the University of Colorado, Denver’s Business School. At that time, I was working for the Ministry of Health in Morocco. My primary motivation for pursuing an MBA was to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to enhance healthcare delivery in Morocco. I aimed to improve the quality of patient care while also focusing on optimizing working conditions and systems for healthcare professionals.
After my Program, I worked for several international firms, including McKinsey and IQVIA, and gained experience in two local clinics in Rabat. In March 2024, I decided to establish my own consultancy focused on enhancing the delivery of social services, particularly in healthcare. Morocco is at a turning point in its medical history, with a significant reform underway to achieve universal healthcare coverage and strengthen access to quality health services nationwide. Driven by a desire to contribute to this transformation, I dedicate my work to supporting clinics and hospitals in improving their operations and management. A key area of interest to me is enhancing the quality of patient care.
As I embarked on this new venture, another opportunity arose through Fulbright, a chance to secure an Alumni Development Grant (ADG) to attend the American College of Surgeons’ (ACS) Quality and Safety Conference. This event was an ideal match for my professional interests and happened to be held in Denver, the city where I had completed my MBA a decade earlier. Recognizing the alignment with my work, I applied for the grant after learning about it in the Fulbright Morocco newsletter. My objective was to gain insights into the latest quality management practices in the United States from the perspective of surgeons, who are pivotal stakeholders in the quality journey and among my most important clients in Morocco. Receiving the grant not only enabled me to attend the conference but also allowed me to revisit Denver after 10 years.
By attending the ACS’ annual Quality and Safety Conference, I gained valuable insights into the College’s approach to quality of care and the various programs it offers to help hospitals enhance quality and patient safety. I focused on sessions in the Quality Verification Program (QVP) track, learning extensively about its structure and requirements. Although I believe the Moroccan healthcare system may not yet be ready for the ACS’ verification program, the conference provided me with numerous ideas on how to approach quality improvement. I plan to adapt the concepts I learned to fit the Moroccan context, helping my clients enhance their quality and patient safety initiatives.
In addition to the educational benefits, I had the opportunity to network with several conference attendees, exchanging contact information and exploring potential collaborations that could strengthen connections between the United States and Morocco.
Revisiting Denver, where I completed my Fulbright Program, was another highlight of the trip. Ten years after my MBA program, I reconnected with two former classmates and caught up with other friends in the city. Revisiting Denver brought back many wonderful memories and filled me with a joyful sense of nostalgia.
I strongly encourage all eligible Fulbrighters to apply for the Alumni Development Grant and seize opportunities to further their professional and academic growth and build meaningful personal connections.
Ayoub is a 2012 Fulbright Student Alum and 2024 ADG recipient from Morocco. He graduated with an MBA in Health Administration from the University of Colorado — Denver.
