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Administrative Fellowship Program
As one of the nation's leading academic medical centers, teaching is core to The University of Kansas Health System’s mission and vision. We offer an Administrative Fellowship Program that provides emerging leaders with practical skills and experience to prepare you for the challenges of healthcare leadership.
The 18-month curriculum offers system-level learning with projects focused on the health system's strategic initiatives. Additionally, you will gain understanding in daily operations during rotations and immersive experiences, with mentoring by our senior leaders.
Program overview
The Administrative Fellowship Program is an 18-month leadership training course that:
- Develops strong leaders for The University of Kansas Health System
- Prepares individuals to contribute to healthcare overall, our health system and the pool of healthcare management talent
- Introduces individuals to the philosophy, mission and vision of the health system
- Provides an opportunity for executives and managers to develop and apply coaching, learning and mentoring skills
- Increases the health system’s exposure to current management concepts and ideas from other major academic institutions
Program structure
During the first 12 months administrative fellows rotate through various functional areas and participate in projects based on the health system’s needs and the fellow’s knowledge, abilities and interests. To ensure broad exposure, fellows will spend roughly 3 months in each of the following rotations: Strategy and Finance, Hospital Operations, Health Professions, and Ambulatory Operations. During rotations, fellows participate in committee meetings, administrator on-call coverage, clinical rotations, lean training and attend leadership meetings.
During the final 6 months, administrative fellows transition to a senior administrative fellow role, where they specialize in a department/division level management and/or project ownership roles in anticipation of a permanent position.
Throughout the program, you will be expected to:
- Take part in active, hands-on, substantive projects that foster development of verbal, interpersonal and analytical skills – and allow for an opportunity to translate academic theory into practice
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the healthcare industry and the components of the organization
- Communicate information effectively, using the appropriate level of judgment, accuracy and courtesy with internal and external constituents
- Exhibit accuracy, attention to detail, consistency and an ability to meet multiple deadlines in all work efforts
- Show the ability to synthesize information and complete components of preliminary and final reports, including spreadsheets and financial analyses (as applicable)
- Exhibit a willingness to take on leadership and other roles and responsibilities
- Possess effective management skills
- Receive assessments like any other employee of the health system per their scope of practice
Senior executive sponsors
Senior executive sponsors champion our program, providing mentoring and ensuring your participation in senior level meetings and exposure to system-level operations.
Our senior executive sponsors are:

Doug Gaston
Senior vice president and chief financial officer

Tammy Peterman
President, Kansas City Division, executive vice president, chief operating officer and chief nursing officer
Preceptors
Preceptors direct the program, meeting with you regularly and providing feedback and guidance. Preceptors create and manage our program’s structure, assign rotations and project work, and serve as a liaison between fellows and senior leaders.
Our preceptors are:
- Collin Cooper, director, strategic business planning
- Jeff Novorr, vice president, hospitality services
Salary and benefits
We offer a salary competitive with other national administrative fellowship programs and you will also be eligible for all health system employee benefits. This includes, but is not limited to, paid time off, medical, dental and vision insurance and retirement.
Application and selection
If you have completed the degree requirements for MHA, MHSA, MBA or equivalent graduate program(s) prior to July 1, 2023, you may apply to the program.
Interested applicants may apply directly with The University of Kansas Health System or submit an application through National Administrative Fellowship Centralized Application Service by September 20, 2022. We will only consider completed applications.
Applications must include:
- Cover letter
- Resume/CV
- Personal statement and essay response
- Official graduate school academic records
- 3 letters of recommendation
Informational webinar dates and times
Webinars will be hosted by current administrative fellows via Microsoft Teams on the dates indicated below. Please sign up using the following link, and you will receive an invite to the event.
- Friday July 22, 2022, noon CDT
- Friday August 19, 2022, noon CDT
- Wednesday August 31, 2022, 4:30 p.m. CDT
- Wednesday September 7, 2022, 11 a.m. CDT
Timeline for the 2023 class selection includes:
- Application opens: June 9, 2022
- Application deadline: September 30, 2022 at 11:59 p.m.
- Telephone interviews: October 4-7, 2022
- On-site interviews: October 17-18, 2022
- Offers extended: Following NAFCAS timeline
- Employment begins: Summer 2023

National Council on Administrative Fellowship
The Administrative Fellowship Program is provided in collaboration with the National Council on Administrative Fellowship. NCAF is a not-for-profit organization that works with programs around the country to ensure high-quality healthcare leadership and improved health for all. NCAF members include some of the nation's most respected hospitals and health systems.
Contact us
To learn more about The University of Kansas Health System’s Administrative Fellowship Program or application process, contact one of our current fellows:
Administrative Fellows
Senior Administrative Fellows
Mackenzie Parker, MHA, MBA
Fellowship year: 2021-2022
University of Missouri
Claire Poague, MHSA, MSN, RN
Fellowship year: 2020-2021
University of Kansas Medical Center
Quality Outcomes coordinator II – The University of Kansas Health System
Shailee Smith, MHA
Fellowship year: 2020-2021
Office of Access Management manager – The University of Kansas Health System
Tony Torres, MHA, MBA
Fellowship year: 2020-2021
Idaho State University
Assistant hospital administrator – Community Health Systems
Halle Ponick, MHSA
Fellowship year: 2019-2020
Director of joint venture operations – Baylor Scott & White Health
Mackenzie Clyburn, MHA
Fellowship year: 2018-2019
Associate vice president, hospital operations – Baptist Health
Joe Muiller, MHSA
Fellowship year: 2018-2019
Program manager, Enterprise Initiatives – The University of Kansas Health System
Aaron Mulgrue, JD, MHA
Fellowship year: 2018-2019
Assistant director, Business Operations – The University of Kansas Health System
We are an equal employment opportunity employer without regard to a person’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), national origin, ancestry, age (40 or older), disability, veteran status or genetic information.