Administrative Fellowship Program
Explore the Fellowship Program
Fellowship Overview
After fifty years of existence, we're confident that Massachusetts General Hospital's Administrative Fellowship Program is one of the best ways to enter the health care field. Fellows hit the ground running and gain a unique vantage point in addition to real-life work experience in a dynamic organization dedicated to its community and its larger mission.
With a leading academic medical center as your campus, you'll see this world from all corners under the tutelage of a superb management team who support the growth of future hospital administrators. Fellows gain experience in key departments at the hospital through a variety of rotations ranging from five weeks to six months in duration. All rotations emphasize project deliverables, acquired competencies and technical skills.
Why should you consider applying to the Administrative Fellowship Program?
- Mass General consistently ranks among the top prestigious medical institutions in the United States.
- Mass General is the largest teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School and a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system.
- The Mass General fellowship program has had fifty years of success in providing top-notch training to future healthcare leaders.
- Fellows have a unique opportunity to learn about the structure, culture and values of a leading academic medical center in an environment that supports and encourages lifelong learning.
- Fellows rotate through key Mass General departments including patient care services, finance, patient advocacy, human resources, corporate/public affairs, hospital and ambulatory care operations, and the physicians organization.
- Fellows participate in senior operations teams and shadow key leaders to understand day-to-day challenges and decision-making processes and identify projects that further hospital goals.
- Fellows have access to resources through seminars, training courses and conferences through the Mass General Leadership Academy.
- Fellows attend one conference during the fellowship program.
Program fellows also have a strong network of current and past fellows within the larger Boston health care community. Meet our current and past fellows and find local Boston information.
Our fellows work hard and we have high expectations for them, but if an academic medical center provider is your goal, we hope that our program will be just the right challenge and you continue on with the application process.
We offer ongoing support to each of our fellows as they progress through the various rotations and preceptor relationships. Our goal is to offer continuity as well as a wide variety of management exposures and relationships.
Sally Mason Boemer
Senior Vice President, Administration and Finance
Director, Mass General Administrative Fellowship Program
2024-2025 Application Cycle Informational Webinars
Informational webinars to learn more about the MGH Administrative Fellowship Program and application process have concluded for this cycle. Information webinar details for the next application cycle will be posted here at a later time.
Requirements
Mass General seeks diverse candidates from strong masters-level-accredited programs. Qualified candidates for the Administrative Fellowship Program are Masters-prepared individuals who have completed the degree requirements in one or more of the following fields of study or related degree programs:
- Public health
- Business administration
- Health services administration
- Hospital administration
Candidates may have working experience through areas such as:
- Employment
- Internship
- Fellowship
Candidates are typically self-starters, knowledgeable of past and current health industry perspectives, team players and excellent communicators. Find answers to frequently asked questions under the "How to Apply" section of this page.
Ultimately, the fellowship continues to evolve to meet the needs of the hospital, the desires of the fellow, and the Mass General Brigham system.
Curriculum
Curriculum Fellowship Goals
The Administrative Fellowship Program has been designed to provide:
- A knowledge of organizational dynamics, gained from working with managers at various levels of the health care organization
- An opportunity for the inexperienced manager to obtain an applied foundation in financial management, practice management, process engineering, human resources administration, and facility and strategic planning
- An appreciation for the common values shared by all health care professionals at Mass General and Mass General Brigham
- A progressive experience directed towards preparing fellows for administrative leadership positions in academic medical centers.
Core Rotations
The fellowship is a structured two-year program comprised of seven core rotations ranging in length from one to six months. Typically, the program starts in July each year. During the two years, the fellow becomes exposed to various aspects of hospital administration. Core rotations include:
- Patient Care Services (6 months)
- Finance (6 months)
- Hospital and Ambulatory Care Operations (3 months)
- Human Resources (3 months)
- Patient Advocacy (1 month)
- Public Affairs/President (2 months)
- Network Development and Practice Management, MGPO (3 months)
Each rotation is collaboratively developed by senior vice presidents, executive preceptors and the administrative fellow. During each rotation, the fellow participates in fundamental projects that support ongoing department initiatives and aid the fellow in developing core competencies. The responsibilities and assignments are primarily project oriented.
The fellow is also exposed to senior-level decision-making processes and participates in team decision making to learn about the interdependent nature of hospital departments.
With guidance from fellowship directors, fellows are also encouraged to seek exposure to activities outside of their core rotations. A broad network of individuals also provide continuous support to the fellow. During each rotation, he or she is assigned a senior level preceptor who provides feedback and direction for working projects. In addition, the fellowship directors are readily available to assist in the fellow’s professional development at any time during the program.
Activites and Committees
Mass General also offers a strong network of former fellows who meet regularly to discuss current issues in health care such as journal clubs, networking events and fellows night. Fellows' experiences also confirm the level of support from the hospital administration and the friendly, collegial working environment.
In addition to completing core rotations, examples of activities and committees fellows actively engage in include but are not limited to:
- Quality and Safety Committees (hospital wide and departmental)
- Joint Commission Survey Preparedness teams
- New Building planning teams
- Diversity Committee (hospital wide and departmental)
- Ethics Committee
- United Way Campaign
- Ether Day – Employee Service Awards
- Community health fairs
- Patient and family advisory committee
- Emergency preparedness/Incident command teams
Past Project Assignments
- Developed staffing benchmark model for physician practices
- Coordinated and assisted in the development of a hospital wide ethics program and seminar series
- Wrote and managed submission of a Determination of Need to the state approval agency
- Developed rationale for changes in nurse staffing and participated in development of acuity system
- Assisted in the operating budget and researched reimbursement analysis for $30 million research expansion project
- Established method for collecting employee diversity data
- Developed and improved hospital-wide charge collection system
- Completed feasibility study of Burn Unit upgrading and development of specifications for implementation
- Recommended and implemented improvement in technicians' working conditions and integration in patient care team IBM Demonstration Project
- Researched and recommended issues regarding hospital wide discharges
- Project Manager for the construction of Ambulatory Care Building.
- Standardizing parking rates for offsite clinical offices
- Identified best practices among out-of-state lab licensing
- Collaborated with senior leadership to develop a Vascular Center Revenue Enhancement
- Updated Professional Services Agreement between Mass General and other facilities
How to Apply
The Massachusetts General Hospital has moved its fellowship application for the 2024-2025 application cycle off the National Administrative Fellowship Centralized Application System (NAFCAS). Please follow the instructions below for the new application timeline and required materials.
Timeline
- Applications for the MGH Administrative Fellowship Program open on August 1, 2024.
- All application materials must be submitted no later than September 9, 2024. Any materials received after September 9 will not be reviewed. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis once all required materials (see below) are received.
- Selected applicants will be invited to a first-round interview and if the application is selected to move forward, the applicant will be invited on-site to Massachusetts General Hospital September 25-26, 2024.
- A final decision will be communicated to final round applicants shortly following the final round interview.
Application Instructions
All required materials listed below must be submitted by the application deadline for your application to be considered.
After submitting this cover/demographics form, please email a single PDF containing your resume, written statement of interest, and unofficial academic transcripts to MGHAdministrativeFellowship@mgb.org.
Please have your recommenders send their letter of recommendation to MGHAdministrativeFellowship@mgb.org with your first name, last name, and “LoR” in subject line.
Required materials:
- Cover/demographics form
- Please submit this as soon as possible, even if you are not ready to submit the rest of your application
- Current resume
- Written statement of interest
- Prompt: Tell us why you hope to pursue an Administrative Fellowship at MGH. Please include how the position and institution align with your goals and interests. Please keep your personal statement within one single-spaced page, 10 pt font
- Unofficial graduate academic transcripts
- Please note MGH reserves the right to verify academic transcripts
- One letter of recommendation from each of the following:
- Graduate school program director
- Graduate school faculty member
- Professional letter (e.g., supervisor, internship/fellowship preceptor)
FAQs
What are the benefits of completing a two year administrative fellowship?
Health care and academic medical centers are complex organizations requiring significant and broad exposure to gain a meaningful experience. A two year fellowship also offers the opportunity to build upon and apply foundational skills acquired in an academic program, while gaining significant working experience.
What sort of compensation do fellows receive?
The fellow is paid an annual stipend equal to that of medical residents. In addition, the fellow receives the full fringe benefits available to employees and is able to select one conference to attend during the fellowship program. Discounts on public transportation, the Mass General health club, and cultural and sporting events also are available. Relocation costs are considered on a case by case basis.
How involved is senior leadership with the administrative fellowship program?
Senior leaders serve as preceptors to fellows during core rotations and assigned projects. Senior and Mid-level leaders from Mass General and the Mass General Physicians Organization (MGPO) are actively involved with the development of administrative fellows.
What kind of projects do fellows work on?
View past project assignments under the "Curriculum" section for examples of fellow projects.
What are typical first jobs post-fellowship?
First jobs after completion of the administrative fellowship program are competitive to early level management positions. General areas of interest are project specialists, department managers, and process improvement. View the current and former fellows page to learn about jobs post-fellowship >
Do Mass General fellows interact with fellows from other Boston area
administrative fellowship programs?
Yes, we have formal interactions through the Mass General Journal Club as well as informal networking events and social outings. Mass General fellows also have game nights and social gatherings throughout the year.
How often do fellows work on projects within Mass General Brigham?
Projects within Mass General Brigham are bountiful for those who are interested.
How will I know if I make it to the in-person interviewing process?
Program Directors invite candidates to Boston for an in-person interview with members of the senior leadership team. Candidates who make it to this round are contacted by program directors by email and/or phone call.
I have an educational degree or work experience as an MD, RN, PT, or other clinical discipline.
Would my background be a good fit for the fellowship program?
The majority of successful applicants have either a Master's degree in health care administration or an MBA with a concentration in health care management, and have demonstrated interest in lifelong careers in hospital operations and management. While a clinical degree or work experience is not a typical career path of our fellows, we appreciate the diverse skills and backgrounds that candidates can bring to Mass General and do not exclude candidates with clinical backgrounds from applying for the fellowship if they have a strong interest in a career dedicated to hospital management.
I am a foreign applicant. Does the Mass General Administrative Fellowship Program provide visas?
No, we do not sponsor work visas for Administrative Fellows.
Contact the Administrative Fellowship Program
Learn more about the application and meet our current and former fellows.