Administrative Fellowship

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago provides superior pediatric care in a setting that offers the latest benefits and innovations in medical technology, research, and family-friendly design. As the largest freestanding pediatric provider in the region with a 140-year legacy of excellence, Lurie Children’s is an academic pediatric healthcare leader committed to providing unsurpassed healthcare for children and educating future healthcare leaders. Our Administrative Fellowship Program fulfills that commitment by providing analytical, financial, and leadership experiences to diverse and emerging healthcare leaders in a dynamic environment to achieve a healthier future for the children we serve.

This is an 18 to 24-month Administrative Fellowship that allows the fellow to gain exposure to all facets of the organization. Year 1 of the Fellowship is project based, ensuring that the fellow works closely with senior leadership on projects that address operational and strategic initiatives and support the mission of Lurie Children’s, while also allowing the fellow to tailor the experience to align with their personal interests. The fellow is invited to attend leadership and board meetings and is encouraged to enhance their experience by shadowing and seeking out other activities across the organization. Year 2 provides the fellow the opportunity to pursue an interim management role, stretch assignment, or department specific project support depending on the organizational need and fellow's interest. The fellow will be encouraged to start applying for full-time roles around 18 months and is expected to complete their fellowship at 24 months.

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is a top-tier academic pediatric healthcare institution. As such, the Fellowship program allows for future healthcare leaders to develop their skillset in this unique and enriching environment, while highlighting the individual’s skillset and allowing unique opportunities for continued growth. The goal of the program is to prepare the Fellow for immediate success in their next role, and eventual success in healthcare leadership, while promoting a culture that embraces the Power of All values.

Objectives

The objectives of the fellowship include:

  • Postgraduate experiential learning and professional growth through projects, shadowing/observations, leadership meetings, and conferences.
  • Contribution to the organization through projects based on personal interest and organizational goals.
  • Fostering mentor/mentee relationships with the senior executive team.

Executive Sponsor & Formal Mentors

Executive Sponsor

  • Administrative Fellow reports directly to Dr. Derek Wheeler, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer.
  • Meetings occur on a weekly basis.

Formal Mentors

  • Colin Harding, Senior Director of Strategic Planning
  • Mary Alida Brisk, Chief Talent and Learning Officer
  • Phil Schettenhelm, Senior Director of Pediatrics Administration and Operations
  • Each leader provides support and guidance for learning opportunities, project work, and professional development throughout the fellowship. Meetings with each Mentor occur bi-weekly.

How to Apply

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. While all applications will be reviewed, it may be beneficial to apply earlier than the deadline.

There are two ways to apply to the Administrative Fellowship program at Lurie Children's:

  1. Submit required materials using the National Administrative Fellowship Centralized Application Service (NAFCAS). Applications must be submitted by Friday, September 29, 2023. Apply here.

    OR

  2. Consolidate the materials listed below into a single PDF and send to adminfellowship@luriechildrens.org by Friday, September 29, 2023:
    • Resume
    • Cover Letter
    • Official Graduate Transcript
    • Personal Statement: A one-page single spaced essay addressing career goals, your decision to pursue a fellowship experience, and specific expectations of the Lurie Children's fellowship
    • Essay (500 words or less): Lurie Children’s Hospital is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion. What contributions do you believe you can make to support and honor that commitment? Provide an example of what you have done in the past that would support your statement.
    • Three letters of recommendation addressed to Lurie Children’s Administrative Fellowship Selection Committee. This must be submitted directly from the recommender to: adminfellowship@luriechildrens.org. Please have the recommender format subject line; “Last Name, First Name – Letter of Recommendation”

It is the policy of the hospital to comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment and to ensure equal opportunity in all terms and conditions of employment or potential employment with the hospital. The hospital prohibits discrimination and harassment against any individual and provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race, sex, pregnancy, color, age, religion, national origin, gender, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, gender identity or expression, or any other protected basis under applicable federal, state, and local laws.

Application Process Dates

  • Information Webinars for Administrative Fellowship*:
    • Wednesday, August 2, 2023, 12 p.m. CST
    • Wednesday, September 6, 2023, 5 p.m. CST
  • Friday, September 29, 2023 – Application must be submitted
  • Mid-October 2023 – Screenings and Interview Process Begins
  • Mid to Late October 2023 – Final Round Interviews
  • Late October to Early November 2023 – Selection Date
  • June 2024 – Start Date

*To register for a specific webinar date, please fill out the registration form OR email adminfellowship@luriechildrens.org

Candidate Qualifications

Candidates must have an MHA, MPA, MPH or MBA with a concentration in healthcare or equivalent from an accredited graduate program, and complete the didactic portion of their program by the end of the 2023-24 academic year. Candidates in programs that require completion of a fellowship as a graduation requirement are also eligible to apply.

Candidates typically have limited work experience, ranging from summer internships to full-time work experience prior to graduate school.

Summer Administrative Internship

Lurie Children’s also offers a project-based summer Administrative Internship for first year graduate students. 

Learn More

Contact the Current Fellow

Rwan Ibrahim, MPH | Northwestern University – The Feinberg School of Medicine
Administrative Fellow
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago 
312.227.2953adminfellowship@luriechildrens.org

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Previous Fellows

2022-23

Tyler Morgan, MHA | The George Washington University

Highlighted Projects:

  • Facilitated length of stay and throughput initiatives by implementing predictive discharge tools
  • Co-led efforts to improve chair utilization in the ambulatory infusion center through dashboard analytics and template modifications
  • Conducted financial analysis to improve provider billing practices across pediatric divisions

Current Position: Business Operations Manager, Department of Pediatric Anesthesiology, Lurie Children’s 

2021-22

Erin Sam, MHA | UNT Health Science Center 

Highlighted Projects:

  • Revised and redesigned the MR Safety Program
  • Conducted research analysis on top children’s hospitals and presented findings to Executive Leadership Team
  • Interim management role in the division of Emergency Medicine and Dermatology

Current Position: Manager Division Operations for Emergency Medicine, Lurie Children’s 

2020-21

Nicole Vershaw, MHA | University of Iowa

Highlighted Projects:

  • Supported and coordinated COVID related initiatives
  • Redesigned DOSE call to increase transparency on safety and operational related issues
  • Interim management role in the Department of Anesthesia

Current Position: Account Executive at UnitedHealthcare

2019-20

Matthew Ludwig, MS-HSM | Rush University

Highlighted Projects:

  • Acting project manager for strategic partnership initiatives
  • Developed recommendation for long-term ambulatory services operational initiative to ensure continued quality of care
  • Implemented family-centered rounding process on specific unit and organization-wide staff support program

Current Position: Division Administrator, Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders, Lurie Children’s

2018 -19

Preston Blackburn, MPH | Texas A&M University

Highlighted Projects:

  • Created an institution-wide recommendation to improve after-hour communication between primary care providers and Lurie Children’s specialists
  • Co-led committee focused on improving employee engagement through developing culture champions, employee recognition, and improving diversity and inclusion initiatives
  • Developed a needs assessment and market landscape analysis to identify current state of homelessness and home instability among  Chicago youth

Current Position: Practice Manager at NorthShore University HealthSystem

2018-2019

Jessica Prieskorn, MHSA | University of Michigan

Highlighted Projects:

  • Directed a workgroup measuring the impact of a new, transformative psychiatric inpatient care model
  • Co-managed a $1.5M budget for six strategic clinical initiatives through tracking program development, hiring, and spending versus budget
  • Developed local and regional multi-year growth strategy recommendations aligned with national healthcare trends and organization’s strategic goals

Current Position: Program Manager, Value Based Care, Northwestern Memorial Healthcare

2017-18

Amelia Aiello, HCMBA | Loyola University Chicago

Highlighted Projects:

  • Project manager for taskforce charged with assessing processes used to develop external hospital partnerships and outpatient satellites
  • Created a dashboard to track FTE usage and determine causes of budget variances
  • Conducted an extensive analysis of 40 hospitals in the Chicago market and presented opportunities for expanded partnerships to the executive leadership team and academic chairs

Current Position: Division Administrator for Emergency Medicine and Child Abuse Pediatrics, Lurie Children’s 

2016-17

Jasmine Rossman, MS-HSM | Rush University

Highlighted Projects:

  • Opening new Ambulatory Surgical Treatment Center
  • Facilitated the ongoing program enhancements for the fellowship
  • Aided in planning for the inpatient expansion project

Current Position: Senior Performance Improvement Consultant, Lurie Children’s 

2015-16

Emily LeVin, MHA | University of Minnesota

Highlighted Projects:

  • Comparative data assessment and presentation of top pediatric healthcare facilities
  • Comprehensive review of linen distribution and usage with implemented recommendations on improved processes and cost savings
  • Observation and analysis of provider ambulatory utilization and throughput

Current Position: Division Administrator, Northwestern Medicine

2014-15

Shanna Kirshenblatt, MHSA | University of Michigan

Highlighted Projects:

  • Analyzed and provided recommendations regarding convenient care models
  • Led and facilitated Heart Failure team achieving Center of Excellence designation
  • Conducted a market analysis and proposed partnership opportunities with a children’s hospital in Peoria, IL

Current Position: Director, Pharmacy Services Innovation at Shoppers Drug Mart

2013-14

Lexi Lennox Sals, MHA | University of Michigan

Highlighted Projects:

  • Peripheral IV infiltrate scale implementation
  • International Patient Services department/program development
  • Daily safety debriefs implementation

Current Position: Program Manager, Digestive Health Center, Northwestern Medicine 

2012-13

Francesca Chiappo Sherman, MHSA | George Washington University

Highlighted Projects:

  • International patients operational/financial workflow
  • Implementation of family-activated response team
  • Monitored and reported to senior management quarterly key performance indicators for relocation project

Current Position: Senior Healthcare Consultant, Ernst & Young 

2011-12

Ryan Howard, MHA | University of Minnesota

Highlighted Projects:

  • Designed, implemented and managed the Move Support Center
  • Implemented a new scheduling process for the echo lab
  • Developed business plan for new convenient care clinic in Lincoln Park

Current Position: General Manager, Skarnes, Inc. 

2010-11

Phil Schettenhelm, MHSA | Georgetown University

Highlighted Projects:

  • Ambulance and route planning for move day to Lurie Children’s
  • Investiture committee consultant RFP/selection
  • New hospital outpatient and operating room space utilization tool

Current Position: Senior Director of Pediatrics Administration & Operations, Lurie Children’s 

2009-10

Colleen Russell, MHSA | University of Michigan

Highlighted Projects:

  • H1N1 emergency preparedness
  • Collaboration with the Feinberg School of Medicine on research forms
  • Accountable care organizations

Current Position: Senior Staff to the Senior Vice President of Value-Based Care, Northwestern Medicine 

2008-09

Olga Bergman, MHSA | Georgetown University

Highlighted Projects:

  • Ambulatory patient access
  • Hospital transparency
  • Physician education

Current Position: Director of Portfolio Management and Governance, Lurie Children's

2007-08

Colin Harding, MHSA | University of Michigan

Highlighted Projects:

  • Worked with Impact Advisors, LLC, to coordinate, manage, and develop the short-term and long-term hospital information technology plan
  • Designed and led an investigation of helicopter transports and the additional clinical risk of using an off-site helipad
  • Analyzed Emergency Department utilization data to identify which geographic areas produced the largest volume

Current Position: Senior Director of Strategic Planning, Lurie Children’s

About Lurie Children's

In the 2023-24 U.S.News & World Report rankings of the Best Children’s Hospitals, Lurie Children’s continues to be the top hospital in Illinois, ranking in 9 specialties.

Four words that perfectly articulate the promise we make to every family, every day. It’s not just a tagline — it’s our rallying cry. Whether it’s cutting-edge research, community advocacy or the very best clinical care, everything we do is driven by an intense passion to help kids become healthy, happy adults.

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Lurie Children's provides superior pediatric care in a setting that offers the latest benefits and innovations in medical technology, research and family-friendly design.

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