Administrative Fellowship Program

The administrative fellowship offers an opportunity to learn about the structure, philosophy, values and mission of MD Anderson, which is part of The University of Texas System. Fellows will learn about the interrelations of the medical center components in an environment that supports and encourages learning.

Fellows spend the first two months rotating through several key departments of the hospital. This provides the fellows with an opportunity to become familiar with the institution, meet leaders and identify areas for further project work or rotations. Departments are very familiar with the program and enjoy meeting the new fellows each year.

Fellows spend time shadowing key leaders to gain perspective on the day-to-day challenges and decisions faced. Fellows will also work closely with the executive leadership team on projects that further the organization's goals.

Operations-based program that focuses on nurturing independence and learning through measurement and evaluation of progress toward educational objectives:

• Gain knowledge of organizational dynamics through combination of shadowing Sr. Leadership and meeting with various department leadership
• Participate in an array of enterprise-wide projects and initiatives providing hands on experience
• Develop an understanding of the common values shared by all health care professionals at MD Anderson
• Fully integrate into an existing team to gain additional exposure and expertise in a specific discipline
• Access to a wealth of educational resources, both internal and external to MD Anderson, to expand your personal development
• Interact and learn valuable insights from an extensive alumni network

Following the completion of rotations, the fellows have the opportunity to choose a concentration in:

• Performance Improvement
• Quality
• Finance
• Operations
• Information Systems
• Other departments as seen fit

Concentration areas are selected in tandem with meaningful projects throughout the institution. Unlike the broad-based rotations, tours through these areas are focused on operational mechanics and analysis within departments and areas of interest. Related governance standards (i.e., ACHE, HFMA, CPHIMS, TAPE) consistent with the concentration also serve as credentialing milestones for fellows who qualify. In addition to the overall preceptor-fellow relationship, the selection of a concentration provides fellows with an added level of mentorship from leaders within their concentration area. This allows administrative fellows to not only gain exposure to various types of leadership and managerial skills through daily interaction with all members of the executive leadership team, but to form a strong mentor relationship with executives regarding project management and exposure to strategic initiatives as it relates to career interests.

Fellows have access to an unlimited wealth of resources, both internal and external to MD Anderson. For example, fellows can:

• Learn and apply Lean Kaizen methodology
• Participate in the MD Anderson Clinical Safety and Effectiveness (CS&E) course
• Enroll in Quality Texas training course
• Obtain membership in ACHE
• Obtain membership in sub-concentration professional association (HFMA, HIMSS, ASQ)

Fellows also are supplemented with necessary resources to pursue professional credentialing activities. For example, they can attend the national American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) Congress and get involved locally with the largest ACHE chapter in the country.

The MD Anderson Cancer Center Hospital Administrative Fellowship Program has been in existence since 1995. Since many past fellows have chosen to remain at MD Anderson in leadership roles, current fellows have the opportunity to interact and learn valuable insight into their experiences and successes due to the program. Fellows have found this opportunity incredibly valuable to their learning over the course of the year.