Why did Myrna Brignol choose healthcare administration over medicine? In the first few minutes, Myrna is upfront: she started college as a premed major, driven by a childhood vision but gradually realized her true strengths lay elsewhere. “I definitely was first on the premed track... but it wasn't until my junior year of college I was like, is this really what I want to do?” She discovered her passion wasn’t in “hardcore science classes” but rather in leading organizations and working with people.
Key drivers of her pivot included:
Enjoyment of leadership roles: “I loved leading organizations. I was president of my sorority my senior year.”
A desire for broad impact: “I always knew I wanted to be in healthcare… but how do I marry my interest with wanting to work with people?”
Exposure to health administration through mentors and connections, including a sorority sister who was a fellow at Cleveland Clinic.
Takeaway: If you’re drawn to healthcare but find yourself craving systems-level impact and human-centered leadership, the administrative path offers a compelling alternative to clinical practice.
How did Pitt’s program set Myrna up for success? Myrna’s academic path at the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) started in biology but culminated in a Master of Health Administration (MHA), chosen for its blend of rigorous academics and direct health system connections.
What made Pitt stand out:
Strong clinical ties: “The main reason why I went to the University of Pittsburgh… is because Pitt is a very strong premed school because of their connections with UPMC.”
Built-in residency requirement: “They have an internal residency matching program… you’re guaranteed to get a residency because it’s a graduation requirement.”
Practical exposure: Myrna deliberately sought a program with required field experience, believing, “I just really wanted to make sure that I was getting as much experience in the field as I could in grad school so that I could pursue my career moving forward.”
Advice for future applicants: Look for programs that provide direct access to health systems and real-world management challenges. Residency requirements can accelerate learning and build confidence before entering fellowships.
Why did Myrna prioritize financial operations during her residency? In a field where “follow the money” often leads to the biggest operational insights, Myrna sought out a residency at Temple specifically because it offered a financial operations focus.
“Temple… was the only residency that had a financial operations experience. I told myself, I have no idea what financial operations looks like in a health system so this is going to be my time to learn.”
Key experiences included:
Working directly with the CFO, Nick Barcelona, and his team on revenue cycle and business intelligence projects.
Exposure to the full lifecycle of health system finances—not just “crunching numbers,” but understanding how money moves and supports organizational mission.
She candidly notes, “Revenue cycle… is a major part of health care systems that I feel like people sometimes neglect… but it really is the flow of how money comes through the system, how it goes through and how you know we use it to advance our mission in each organization.”
Takeaway: Seek residency and internship experiences that force you out of your comfort zone—especially in “hard skills” like finance and operations. They’re critical for future leadership, and you’ll rarely learn them from a textbook.
How and when did Myrna apply for administrative fellowships? If you’re overwhelmed by the application grind, Myrna’s approach may surprise you. She started applying in October of her final MHA year, targeting just two fellowships: “I only applied to two… These are the ones I want to go to and I see myself in, so if it’s meant to be, it’ll be. If not, I’ll figure it out.” Both programs offered interviews.
Key tips for future applicants:
Quality over quantity: Focus on programs where you can truly see yourself.
Start early: Most fellowships open applications in the fall.
Be intentional: Research culture, retention, and leadership styles.
Myrna’s directness—choosing only the programs that felt right—illustrates the value of self-awareness and strategic focus.
What drew Myrna to the Jefferson Health Administrative Fellowship? Myrna’s answer is unequivocal: retention of fellows and a culture of real investment in talent.
“The reason why I wanted to do the Jefferson Fellowship was because I saw how many fellows they retained… Not really usual for fellowship programs to really retain most of their fellows year after year.”
What sets Jefferson Health apart:
High fellow retention rates: Most fellows stay on after their fellowship, a sign of strong internal development and satisfaction.
Culture of mentorship: “The leaders I’m working with… they’re really ingraining me in the beginning of a lot of cool programs that we have here. I really appreciate the time they’re taking to invest in me.”
Opportunities for growth: Jefferson is described as being in “a time of growth” and actively fostering future leaders.
Takeaway: Culture is everything. Look for organizations that treat their fellowship as a talent pipeline, not just a resume builder.
How did Myrna’s time at Temple shape her approach at Jefferson? Myrna credits her Temple experience, serving a primarily Medicaid population, with teaching her to “do more with less.” She emphasizes the lesson: “Every little thing matters. Everything you do is going to add up to a greater good… If you could save a dollar here, if you could make an improvement here, it’s always going to matter.”
This attention to detail and incremental improvement—honed in a resource-constrained environment—transfers directly to her current work at Jefferson. She sees value not just in big projects but in small, daily actions, both operationally and interpersonally: “Even saying hi and smiling to them, they could really remember that for literally the rest of their life.”
Tip for future leaders: Don’t overlook the power of small wins. In complex systems, seemingly minor improvements accumulate into transformational change.
What are Myrna’s career aspirations post-fellowship? Myrna is refreshingly honest: she doesn’t have a specific job title in mind. “I could genuinely tell you I have no idea… I just know what I want to do.” She’s drawn to business development, data-driven projects, and operationalizing strategic plans.
How does she approach long-term planning?
Openness to opportunity: “A lot of leaders… say, ‘I got to where I am today because I just said yes to the opportunities that were presented before me.’”
Desire for well-rounded leadership: “I want to be a well-rounded healthcare leader, so whatever experiences I can do to get there is what I’ll do.”
Key lesson: Focus on building core competencies and being adaptable. The specifics of your career may change, but skills in strategy, leadership, and operational execution remain invaluable.
What advice does Myrna give future fellowship candidates? She offers clear, actionable guidance:
Embrace challenges: “Don’t be afraid of challenges because you’re not going to get better, you’re not going to develop yourself if you’re sticking to what you know.” Myrna purposefully sought a financial operations residency for this reason.
Make connections: “I really sought out people’s experiences… making connections with people that were past fellows, even leaders I knew, I just reached out to everyone.”
Build relationships where you are: Success often comes from nurturing relationships with your current team, mentors, and colleagues.
Myrna’s approach to networking is both bold and humble: “You have to really remember that… even though you’re just starting off in your career, they started where we were too. Everyone’s human. They were at your position at one point.”
For those intimidated by networking: Start at smaller, more intimate conferences—like the HFMA Women’s Conference—which make it easier to engage with leaders and peers alike.
Which professional associations and conferences does Myrna recommend? She is a big advocate for the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), especially its Women’s Conference held every May: “It’s awesome because it’s a smaller group, very intimate, and they invite a bunch of leaders—not just financial leaders but healthcare leaders from the area—to sit on panels and speak.”
She also values:
ACHE conferences, which she attended during her time at Pitt
NAHSE (National Association of Health Services Executives) and its case competitions
Participating in HFMA’s mentor-mentee programs, “with my mentor from Temple, the Rev Cycle VP, so we’re like mentoring in that program now as well.”
Tip: Seek out both large and small events, as well as formal mentorship programs. Even brief connections can lead to opportunities years down the road.
What should applicants know about relocating for education and work? Myrna’s journey has taken her from New Jersey to Pittsburgh and Philadelphia and back. Each city, she notes, has its quirks: “Pittsburgh… didn’t snow a lot but gets very, very cold. It’s the second rainiest city in America right after Seattle.” Her advice? Try new places, but be aware of climate and culture fit—it can influence your overall satisfaction.
Insider tip: For those new to Pittsburgh, Myrna recommends attending a Pirates game in the summer and soaking up the city’s unique vibe—“It’s a very good starter city. You get a city feel without being thrust into Philadelphia or New York City.”
The Jefferson Health Administrative Fellowship—as experienced and articulated by Myrna Brignol—exemplifies what a robust, growth-minded program should offer: deep exposure to real operational challenges, genuine investment in fellows, and a culture where both incremental and strategic changes are valued. Myrna’s story is proof that you don’t need to have every step mapped out; instead, invest in core skills, say yes to new opportunities, and never shy away from a challenge.
As you consider your own career in healthcare administration, remember Myrna’s parting wisdom: “Don’t be afraid of challenges… Make connections where you want to be and also where you are. Every little thing matters.” Whether you’re just applying or already advancing, keep learning, keep building relationships, and let your career unfold one courageous step at a time.
