Fellowship description

The Boston Children’s Hospital Administrative Fellowship is an intensive one-year training program for new master’s-level graduates to gain exposure and training in the field of hospital administration through project-based and first-hand observational opportunities. Fellows follow a structured curriculum that allows participation on senior-level hospital committees and completion of assignments as they rotate through various clinical and non-clinical hospital departments. Throughout the 12-month program, the fellow develops leadership and management skills while working alongside senior leaders of the hospital.

The program is tailored to allow the fellow to pursue their individual professional interests by structuring a rotation schedule that includes core department rotations mixed with elective rotations and opportunities chosen by the fellow. As a part of their professional development, fellows are invited to attend organizational meetings, leadership forums, and presentations, and are funded to attend one national conference or convention. The fellowship preceptor is the hospital’s chief administrative officer.

The fellowship curriculum prepares the fellow to assume a leadership role in the hospital by providing:

• opportunities to develop leadership skills and work collaboratively with multi-disciplinary hospital leaders
• exposure to organizational culture and dynamics from a senior-level perspective at a world-class pediatric hospital
• an understanding of the hospital’s mission and values as demonstrated by hospital leaders
• project-based assignments to further develop the analytical, financial, and management skills and insight necessary to become an effective hospital leader

At the conclusion of the one-year program, fellows will have the experience and skills necessary to assume a departmental leadership role.

Fellowship experience

During the course of the program, the fellow and preceptor will select a project that will serve as the fellow’s year-long “capstone” project. At the conclusion of the fellowship, the fellow will prepare a written report and present the project and its findings at a leadership meeting.

Examples of capstone projects:

• Denials Management Oversight Committee: Lead root-cause analysis of denials and administrative adjustments to decrease administrative burden and minimize financial losses.
• Strategic development of sustained staffing strategy for COVID-related projects and program oversight for non-clinical COVID projects (including managing employee volunteer program).
• Analysis of the impact of virtual visits on financial health, patient access, and experience to expand hybrid care delivery model across the enterprise.

In addition, the fellowship is structured to provide exposure and observational opportunities to various clinical and non-clinical departments through project-based work. Rotations are typically two months long, and the fellow is assigned “ownership” over a project in the department and work with other stakeholders during the rotation.

Examples of department projects led by fellows:

• developing billing workflow for eConsults pilot project
• creating educational webinars to support out-of-state medical licensure
• strategic well-being roll-out
• work-planning and staff scheduling for expansion of lactation program
• pharmacy pricing analysis
• strategic and operational support for launch of Finance Data and Analytics Collaborative
• developing strategy and model for virtual complex care coordination
• conducting market scan analysis to guide new strategic relationships
• developing dashboards for leadership decision making

Application process

The Boston Children’s Hospital Administrative Fellowship is an opportunity offered to recent master’s degree recipients who want to pursue a career in hospital administration and leadership. Accepted fellows are required to commit to completing the entire one-year fellowship program that begins in July and extends through the following June.

Boston Children’s Hospital participates in the National Council of Administrative Fellowship’s centralized application system. Prospective candidates can apply here. The centralized application opens on June 9, 2023, and the deadline for applying is Sept. 29, 2023. Interviews are held during the month of October and fellowship offers for the following year are made in early November. For more information about the fellowship or the application process, please contact one of our fellows:

Current fellows

Compensation

Administrative fellows are full-time employees of Boston Children’s Hospital and are provided an annual salary and benefits. In addition, the program will provide for transportation, food, and registration for a national conference during the fellowship.

Frequently asked questions

What work experience is expected for candidates who apply for the fellowship?
There is no specific work experience requirement to be considered for the fellowship, but relevant experience in hospitals or healthcare is beneficial.

How will I know if I was selected for an interview?
Once the window for the centralized application service closes (October 1) our selection committee immediately reviews applications. Candidates invited for interviews receive an email invitation to attend an interview in mid to late October. Interviews are typically completed before the end of the month, and fellowship offers are made in early November.

Is there flexibility in how the rotation schedule is developed?
Yes. The fellowship includes rotations through core hospital departments, but some elective rotations are flexible. Fellows may select their elective rotations based on their education, experience, and interest. In addition, with the help of the preceptor the fellow will choose a capstone project which will likely include observation and exposure to areas of the hospital that may not be included as part of the fellowship curriculum.

Will I have an opportunity for observation on clinical units?
Yes, one of the core rotations for the fellowship is Patient Care Operations. During this rotation the fellow will work on projects and observe in patient care areas.

Are fellows offered permanent roles at Boston Children’s Hospital after completing the program?
While permanent employment is not guaranteed to administrative fellows, the objective of the fellowship is to train and develop the fellow to succeed in a departmental leadership role. During the final months of the fellowship the fellow is encouraged to discuss with the preceptor their interest in applying for specific roles at the hospital.

Informational webinar

Our current fellows will host an informational webinar to discuss details of the administrative fellowship from 6 to 7 p.m. Aug. 15, 2023, and 5 to 6 p.m. Sept. 7, 2023, from 5 to 6 p.m. (All times are Eastern Time)

This will be an opportunity for prospective applicants to learn about the culture at Boston Children’s Hospital, interface with our current and past fellows, and ask questions about the fellowship experience. This webinar is highly recommended for all those interested in applying for the Administrative Fellowship at Boston Children’s.

Please register here to attend the webinar.