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Residency and Fellowship Programs
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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:

System Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Doug Gaston.

Doug Gaston

Senior vice president and chief financial officer

Tammy Peterman, President of Kansas City Operations and System Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Nursing Officer.

Tammy Peterman

President, Kansas City Division, executive vice president, chief operating officer and chief nursing officer

Learn more about Tammy

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.

Apply Now

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.

Sign-Up

  • 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
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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

Megan Berst, MHA

The University of Iowa

Justin Harley, MBA

Emporia State University

Zachary S. Hilbig, MHSA

University of Kansas Medical Center

Sohil Swaminathan, MHA

Saint Louis University

Senior Administrative Fellows

Jamie Kendrick, MBA

Fellowship year: 2021-2022

Baker University

Kelsey O’Sullivan, MHSA, MBA

Fellowship year: 2021-2022

Xavier University

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.

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