Healthcare administrative fellowships offer aspiring leaders a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience and develop critical skills in the complex world of hospital administration. These programs provide a bridge between academic knowledge and practical application, allowing fellows to learn from seasoned executives and contribute to meaningful projects within healthcare systems. The Deland Fellowship in Healthcare and Society at Brigham and Women's Hospital is an exemplary administrative fellowship that offers a comprehensive experience in healthcare administration.
In this review of the Deland Fellowship experience, we'll explore the journey of Judah Soray, BPharm, MHA, a former pharmacist who transitioned into a healthcare administration career. His experience highlights the value of clinical backgrounds in administrative roles and the impact of well-structured healthcare fellowships on professional development and career growth.
Judah's path to healthcare administration is anything but typical. Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Judah began his career as a licensed pharmacist. This clinical background provided him with valuable insights into patient care and healthcare operations from the ground up.
Recognizing the potential to make a broader impact on patient care, Judah decided to pivot his career towards hospital administration. He explains, "I wanted to use that experience being on the clinical side, bringing the experience of patient care face-to-face interactions with patients, and being able to expand that passion that I have for improving patients' lives, but across a broader section of patients in the healthcare industry."
This transition led Judah to pursue a Master's in Healthcare Administration at the University of Central Florida, setting the stage for his future as an administrative fellow and a career in healthcare leadership.
Before embarking on his fellowship journey, Judah secured a summer internship at the Cleveland Clinic, focusing on international operations. This experience proved instrumental in shaping his healthcare administration career path and preparing him for the challenges of hospital administration.
During his internship, Judah worked on several key projects:
Analyzing two years of USCAHPS (Universal Survey of Patient Experience) data
Identifying trends and areas for improvement in patient experience
Collaborating with the director of patient experience
The internship not only provided Judah with practical experience but also exposed him to the world of healthcare administration fellowships. He took the opportunity to network with Cleveland Clinic fellows, gaining insights into the benefits and challenges of fellowship programs.
Judah's internship experience and networking led him to apply for the Deland Fellowship in Healthcare and Society at Brigham and Women's Hospital, a prestigious academic medical center. This one-year health administration fellowship offers a unique, less structured approach, allowing fellows to shape their experience based on their interests and the organization's needs.
The Deland Fellowship is primarily project-based but offers the flexibility to rotate through different clinical departments. Fellows have the freedom to choose their strategic projects, their scope, and the departments they wish to work with. This autonomy allows fellows to tailor their experience to their career goals and interests, providing valuable operational experience in healthcare operations management.
One of the strengths of the Deland Fellowship is the opportunity to work alongside other administrative fellows. Judah emphasizes the importance of this peer support, stating, "Having a cohort, at least a plus one for your fellowship, is fantastic as just like moral, emotional, physical support during the fellowship time."
Throughout his fellowship year, Judah worked on several significant projects that contributed to healthcare innovation and quality improvement:
Vendor Diversity Initiative: Collaborating with his co-fellow, Judah worked on increasing vendor diversity within the hospital, focusing on sourcing local suppliers for the gift shop.
340B Expansion Program: Leveraging his pharmacy background, Judah developed a business case for expanding the 340B program, which aimed to improve patient experience and generate savings for the organization.
These projects not only contributed to the hospital's operations but also allowed Judah to apply his unique skill set and gain valuable experience in healthcare administration and healthcare finance.
A key component of the Deland Fellowship is the mentorship program. Fellows are paired with senior leaders who provide guidance, support, and insights into healthcare leadership.
Judah had the opportunity to work with two exceptional mentors during his fellowship:
Dr. Sunny Eappen, the Chief Medical Officer, known for his compassionate leadership style
Dr. Charles Morris, who took over as Chief Medical Officer midway through Judah's fellowship
These mentorship relationships proved invaluable, offering Judah the chance to discuss ideas, navigate decision-making processes, and gain a deeper understanding of executive leadership in healthcare systems.
Relocating to Boston for the fellowship presented both challenges and opportunities for Judah. Despite never having visited the city before, he found Boston to be an ideal location for healthcare professionals.
Judah describes Boston as a city with "old world charm" that's also very walkable and filled with distinct neighborhoods. The influx of students, residents, and fellows each academic year creates a vibrant community of like-minded professionals, fostering networking opportunities and shared experiences in healthcare administration.
After completing his fellowship, Judah carefully considered his next career move. He ultimately landed a role as a Systems Integration Project Manager at Beth Israel Lahey Health, a competitor health system to Mass General Brigham.
In his current position, Judah applies the skills and knowledge gained during his fellowship to system-level integration projects. He notes that much of his work mirrors the types of projects he tackled as a fellow, allowing him to leverage his unique skill set in a new organizational context and continue his professional development in healthcare technology and healthcare analytics.
Reflecting on his Deland Fellowship experience, Judah offers valuable advice for those considering or preparing for a healthcare administrative fellowship:
Focus on making an impact rather than worrying about perceptions
Build confidence in your abilities and the value you bring to the organization
Embrace challenges and learning opportunities
Recognize the value of your unique perspective and experiences
Judah emphasizes the importance of overcoming imposter syndrome, reminding future fellows that "even these leaders, people who are CEOs, C-suite leaders in the hospital, at the end of the day, they're all human as well. Everybody makes mistakes, everybody has good and bad days."
By focusing on personal growth, embracing challenges, and leveraging their unique backgrounds, fellowship candidates can make the most of their experience and set themselves up for success in healthcare administration.
The Deland Fellowship is a one-year hospital administrative fellowship program at Brigham and Women's Hospital. It offers a flexible, project-based experience that allows fellows to shape their learning journey based on their interests and the organization's needs.
The program usually accepts two fellows per year, although there have been years with three or four fellows. Having at least one co-fellow provides valuable peer support throughout the fellowship experience.
Fellows work on a variety of strategic projects based on their interests and the hospital's needs. These can range from diversity initiatives and business development to process improvement and healthcare strategy.
While clinical experience is not always required, it can be beneficial. Judah's background as a pharmacist provided him with valuable insights that he applied to his administrative role, demonstrating the value of clinical immersion in healthcare administration.
Fellows are paired with senior leaders who serve as mentors throughout the fellowship year. These relationships provide guidance, support, and insights into healthcare leadership and healthcare policy.
Post-fellowship opportunities vary, but many fellows go on to leadership roles in healthcare organizations. The skills and experiences gained during the fellowship are valuable for a wide range of positions in healthcare administration, healthcare innovation, and healthcare operations management.
In conclusion, the Deland Fellowship experience offers a comprehensive introduction to healthcare administration careers, providing fellows with the opportunity to work on impactful projects, learn from senior leaders, and develop the skills necessary to succeed in the complex world of healthcare systems. For those looking to jumpstart their career in healthcare administration, programs like the Deland Fellowship offer an invaluable steppingstone to future success.
