Early career programs in healthcare administration—like administrative fellowships—can serve as pivotal stepping stones for students transitioning from academia to dynamic, real-world hospital environments. These healthcare fellowships offer a chance to explore various avenues in health administration operations, build meaningful professional relationships, and develop robust skill sets. In this interview turned reflective narrative, we spotlight Jessi Tran, MHA, a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) MHA program who found her calling at Wellstar Health System. Jessi's story exemplifies how authenticity, mentorship, and adaptability can shape an emerging leader's trajectory in healthcare administration.
A Leap of Faith: From Kentucky to Carolina
Originally from Kentucky, Jessi pursued her undergraduate degree in Clinical Leadership and Management at the University of Kentucky. The decision to leave her home state for graduate school at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was driven by a desire for change and new perspectives in the field of health administration. Without fully knowing what to expect, Jessi jumped into the UNC MHA program—her only application outside of Kentucky.
"I felt like I needed a change—something new. And as soon as I spoke with the faculty and students at UNC, I just knew it was the place for me,"
That leap of faith paid off. Jessi not only honed her academic knowledge in healthcare administration but also stretched her capacity for adaptability, forging relationships and learning how to navigate unfamiliar settings—skills that would soon prove essential in her professional life.
Discovering Wellstar: An Internship That Felt Like Home
During her MHA program, Jessi secured a summer internship with Wellstar Health System, one of Georgia's largest and most integrated health systems. Though initially casting a wide net, she found her match in Wellstar's burgeoning administrative internship program, which would later pave the way for her Wellstar administrative fellowship.
"From the very beginning, it felt right. I had an interview with one of the fellows, and it didn't feel like an interrogation—it was a conversation, a chance to be my authentic self,"
That authenticity blossomed into a 10-week Wellstar internship during which Jessi contributed to operational projects, learned about the system's culture, and formed critical connections in hospital administration. A defining moment came on the final day of her internship: she had poured long hours into a comprehensive Excel-based scorecard project focused on operational efficiency, only to discover a technical glitch had erased her final updates. Instead of reprimand, Jessi found compassion.
I was met with so much grace. My director assured me we'd figure it out, that these things happen. I'll never forget that empathy,"
This supportive environment and the people she met solidified her interest in continuing her journey at Wellstar and pursuing a career in healthcare administration.
Returning for a Fellowship: "It Felt Like Coming Home"
Upon completing her MHA at UNC Chapel Hill, Jessi entered the competitive healthcare administration fellowship recruitment cycle. Determined to explore a variety of options, she applied to numerous administrative fellowship programs nationwide. Yet, the Wellstar administrative fellowship remained a top choice.
Wellstar offers multiple fellowship tracks—hospital operations, corporate administration, physician group practice, and service line administration—allowing emerging professionals to tailor their experience. Jessi ultimately chose a hospital administration fellowship at Wellstar North Fulton. She was thrilled to discover that the welcoming culture she experienced as an intern was just as vibrant during her fellowship recruitment process.
"When I went onsite for my fellowship interview, it was like coming home. I wasn't nervous—I was excited to see people I'd worked with. I realized how much the culture and mentorship at Wellstar mattered to me,"
A Year of Hands-On Experience in Healthcare Administration
Wellstar's admin fellowship program is project-based with the flexibility to rotate through different departments if fellows choose. Jessi spent the initial months rounding in all aspects of hospital operations—from patient flow to staff training—then dedicated the latter half of her fellowship to deeper project work in healthcare delivery and quality improvement.
She also had opportunities to collaborate with other administrative residents on system-level strategies and initiatives, though the cohort project sometimes gets handed off between fellowship classes due to the fast pace and changing needs of the health system.
Throughout the year, Jessi immersed herself in:
- Facilities and Construction: Learning about hospital expansions, design projects, and the complexities of optimizing physical space for growing patient volumes and improving capacity management.
- Operations Management: Analyzing data to help leadership teams streamline workflow, improve clinical efficiency, and support frontline staff in delivering high-quality patient care.
- Leadership Development: Benefiting from executive mentorship and learning how to inspire teams, foster empathy, and drive positive change in healthcare administration.
Life After the Fellowship: Managerial Role at North Fulton
Today, Jessi is an Operations Manager at Wellstar North Fulton, continuing to build on her fellowship experiences in hospital administration. In this role, she collaborates closely with the facilities director on everything from minor renovations to grand plans for potential hospital expansions, always keeping an eye on operational efficiency and healthcare innovation.
She also taps into the strong professional network she developed during her fellowship, staying connected with fellow alumni and current administrative residents alike. This networking has proven invaluable in her journey through healthcare administration.
"I'm still learning every day. Right now, I'm the 'catch all,' helping with construction projects, space planning, analyzing data, and supporting frontline staff so that nurses can be nurses and doctors can be doctors"
Staying Connected: The Value of Peer Networks in Healthcare Administration
Jessi remains active in the healthcare leadership community through organizations like the National Administrative Fellowship Network (NAFN). NAFN unites current and former administrative fellows nationwide, creating a space to share experiences, mentor incoming fellows, and discuss emerging trends in healthcare management, including digital health and healthcare technology.
"Fellowships are increasingly seen as a great way to start your career if you're not entirely sure where you want to focus in healthcare administration. It's a chance to explore, discover, and really see how you can make the best impact"
Reflecting on her own fellowship cycle, Jessi believes one of her biggest lessons was to be kinder to herself during the stressful recruitment season for healthcare administration fellowships.
"With every rejection, I was so hard on myself. I wish I had celebrated my small wins—like making it to an interview round. Everything is practice and exposure that clarifies what you really want in an organization. Ultimately, you will end up where you belong"
Conclusion
In an industry as multifaceted as healthcare, early career opportunities like administrative fellowships offer invaluable room to grow, learn, and refine leadership skills in health administration. Jessi Tran's path—from Kentucky to Chapel Hill and ultimately to a managerial role at Wellstar Health System—illustrates how authenticity, resilience, and a nurturing organizational culture can illuminate the way forward in healthcare administration.
For those considering a healthcare administration fellowship, Jessi's journey serves as an encouraging reminder to step outside comfort zones, embrace each learning opportunity, and, most importantly, trust that the right place will feel like home—even if it's hundreds of miles away. As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, with increasing focus on areas like ambulatory care, diversity and inclusion, and healthcare policy, these post-graduate opportunities in healthcare administration become even more crucial in shaping the future leaders of our health systems.
Vrushangi Shah, MHA is a senior contributor to the American Journal of Healthcare Strategy. She focuses on interviewing emerging leaders in healthcare administration, spotlighting their journeys, insights, and the evolving landscapes of hospital operations and healthcare delivery.