We are excited to highlight the great work of our Master of Health Administration alumni who are currently serving in administrative fellowships. Alycia Felix (Franciscan Health), Kendall Ranges (IU Health) and Japjit Tutt (Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center) share their fellowship experiences.
How did the MHA program prepare you for your fellowship?
Alycia Felix: I genuinely feel that the program adequately equipped me to contribute to the work that I have done. The program focus of value-based healthcare has been instrumental and made me an asset to the team where historically these seasoned leaders have operated under the fee-for-service model.
Kendall Ranges: The MHA program had all the opportunities for me to practice my leadership skills and understand what values I hold dear that helped set me apart as an early careerist and in my recruitment phase for fellowships postgrad. From personal mentoring through the faculty, case competition experiences, and in coursework deliverables, I truly think the framework to enable success for me all started here in preparation for the fellowship.
Japjit Tutt: The Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health best prepared me for my fellowship by offering courses rich in principles that have now contributed to my professional career as a young emerging health care leader. Alongside support from faculty/peers, the program has a robust student board that offers various professional development opportunities. The program also encourages students to seek out real-world, hands-on experience and connects students with organizations across the state/national level.
Describe your fellowship, your responsibilities, and what you have accomplished so far.
AF: My program is unique due to its one-year duration vs. the traditional two-year format. My co-fellow is also based in a different location, which has been great to offer a diverse perspective of the overall organization. I have full autonomy to choose what my projects and rotations are, which has been beneficial to supporting my goals of the program.
Since starting in June, I have successfully completed a revenue-generating initiative within one of our clinics. Currently, I am engaged in several projects. I am leading efforts on a hospice project, working on redesigning our primary care model within our internal collaboratives, and contributing to the operationalization of our new cancer center, which is slated to open its doors in the first quarter of 2024.
KR: In my fellowship with IU Health, I oversee a lot of projects; about 7-8 in varying responsibilities as a project manager in learning how to achieve results, make deliverables, and balance my portfolio of projects as an executive skillset. Generally, the IU fellowship gives you the opportunity to explore whatever your heart desires in healthcare quite honestly and you can have anyone of your choosing as a mentor to help coach you for any skill you either want to strengthen or have more knowledge towards.
JT: The Cincinnati Children’s Administrative Fellowship is a one-year project-based experience offering the opportunity to develop an understanding of the administration and operations of a leading pediatric and academic medical center. Fellows have the opportunity to lead and participate in real-time strategic, operational, and financial projects across the organization, while also building relationships with team members and leaders throughout Cincinnati Children’s.
I have chosen projects based off of my interests and have been assigned a preceptor to whom I ultimately report up to. I have also been paired with an executive sponsor, who is typically on the leadership team at CCHMC. I have spent the first three months of my fellowship meeting with leadership across the organization, participating in professional development opportunities, and leading five different projects.
Is there a specific program you’ve been involved in during your fellowship that you’d like to highlight?
AF: I have stayed engaged with iHEN, EWHC, and NALHE, which has been vital during the initial phases of my fellowship. Being able to have time to continue to invest in these programs as they do for me, was a negotiation I proposed during my interview process. It has been pivotal to have mentors both inside and outside of my organization to lean into as I made the school to career transition. I am beyond thankful for my mentors and their support.
I also just started Leadership Lafayette. This is an eight-month leadership program in the local area that allows me to learn the community of the patients we serve and what resources are available to them. Franciscan leadership encouraged me to participate in this program to get more involved within the community since I am not from the area.
KR: Not a particular program but for example the types of projects I am working on is a strategy paper on obesity with weight loss management drugs, their impacts for our bariatrics and other social impacts, a new metric coming to our system promise dashboard all leaders will be carrying out next year for patient quality and safety, and a new leadership concept we are piloting with CEO Dennis Murphy and all system leaders to standardize approaches in some areas of operations.
JT: I joined the Volunteer Ambassador’s program at Cincinnati Children’s, which helps our faculty and staff find opportunities to give back to Greater Cincinnati. CCHMC encourages a philanthropic worldview through enriching and challenging experiences for colleagues and neighbors. I have also joined the Asian Cultural and Professional Employee Resource Group.
What have you learned that will prepare you for your next step?
AF: Although I have typically followed this philosophy, I think it has been emphasized in my fellowship experience – I say yes to as many opportunities as I can. I want to maximize my exposure to various areas of the organization. This helps me to not only understand the organization’s MVVs but also to intentionally build relationships within the organization and departmental subject matter experts.
KR: I have a long way to go to explore what I have to offer with my current skills in healthcare, but I think in preparation and largely due to what got me here today I should always strive to understand a process as best I can and be okay with not knowing everything and being coachable. With leadership specifically and in preparation for my next projects and my second year of the fellowship I am working on skills ranging from making effective decisions and measuring them, how to build effective teams, and nonverbals to name a few areas where I see opportunity for further development.
JT: I have learned the importance of making valuable connections. Many of the fellows from previous cohorts have landed positions at CCHMC through the connections they have made with leaders across the organization.
Anything else you’d like to mention?
AF: If you’re considering a fellowship, I couldn’t advocate for it enough! Always feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions about Franciscan’s program or want to know more.
KR: I want to thank those who are reading this who were my support system for not only making a difference in my career but also my personal life. My gratitude cannot be expressed enough for my Fairbanks family and the pivotal parts they played in my career elevation (Gary Brummitt, Thomas Duszynski, Antionette “Auntie” Epps, Nir Menachemi). Truly this list could be massive, but I appreciate each of you for your mentorship!
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