Testimonials
“The Dana-Farber Administrative Fellowship program provided the opportunity for me to take deep dives into diverse project work and gain hands-on learning and management experience, all of which were supported by strong mentorship from executive leadership across the organization. Specifically, the Fellowship program and leadership team empowered me to collaborate with teams across the organization while developing skills within strategic planning, operations, finance, patient care services, community outreach, clinical research, and business initiatives. The Dana-Farber Administrative Fellowship program allowed me to accelerate my understanding of the competencies that are essential for leaders in health administration; develop strong relationships across diverse clinical and administrative teams; and pursue post-Fellowship opportunities tailored to my interests. I highly suggest the Fellowship program to those looking to pursue a career in health care administration.”
— Alyssa Stapper, MHA, Fellow from 2018-2019
“Dana-Farber's Administrative Fellowship program was a significant inflection point in my career and life. The unique experience of working closely with the world-class leadership team at Dana-Farber gave me a powerful perspective and understanding of internal/external challenges facing health care organizations today. Of equal importance, the Fellowship allowed me to explore my wide range of interests and led me down a path of self-discovery and growth. I will never forget what an amazing and transformative year I had! My deepest thanks and appreciation to Dana-Farber for its commitment to supporting and training future health care leaders.”
— Fran Wang, MPH, Fellow from 2017-2018
“Completing the Administrative Fellowship program at Dana-Farber has been pivotal in guiding and advancing my career in healthcare. Throughout my Fellowship, I learned directly from leaders in the field, helped solve high priority challenges facing the organization, and developed lasting and meaningful relationships with a network of mentors. As the Fellow, I gleaned insights into leadership, organizational culture, and strategic decision-making. The Fellowship program was an invaluable and transformative experience and one that I cannot recommend enough for anyone interested in pursuing a career in healthcare administration.”
— Hannah Theodat, MBA, MSW, Fellow from 2016-2017
“The Dana-Farber fellowship provided me with an opportunity to get to know the organization and make a positive impact on patient care and the patient experience. Throughout my year as a fellow, I shadowed over 30 leaders including administrators, physicians, and nurses. Dana-Farber’s commitment to the fellow experience paved the way for mentorship and impactful project work in all areas of the Institute. I had the opportunity to contribute to various complex projects, including the launch of our new medical record system and the integration of Dana-Farber Community Cancer Care. By the end of my year-long fellowship, I had developed lasting relationships with leaders and was transformed both personally and professionally.”
— Manny Hill, MSE, Fellow from 2014 to 2015
“The Dana-Farber administrative fellowship is a unique and extraordinary opportunity. Exposure to senior leadership, engaging project work, a collaborative environment, and incredibly strong mentorship are the cornerstones of this fellowship. I was able to observe high level decision-making while also empowered to lead and implement projects of strategic importance to the Institute. This combination has given me a unique perspective and set of skills that I am truly grateful for at this stage of my career. And even more valuable are the lifetime relationships built over the course of my fellowship at this mission-driven organization.”
— Mary Tyson Catlin, MS, Fellow from 2013-2014
"The Administrative Fellowship at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute exceeded my already high expectations, and I consider it to be a critical milestone in my early career. I found the senior leadership at Dana-Farber to be extraordinarily generous with their time, mentorship, and opportunities for me to work on projects. Each project provided valuable lessons, such as how to effectively build and manage teams, what questions to ask when thinking about an organization’s future, and how to define and solve problems in a healthcare setting. The fellowship is relatively unstructured, which meant I was able to explore various projects and departments, and learn as much about Dana-Farber, cancer delivery, and hospital operations as possible."
— Julie Bryar Porter, MS, Fellow from 2010 to 2011
"Participating in the Administrative Fellowship program was an incredible experience, and one which has greatly contributed to my professional development. The program provided a unique opportunity to work closely alongside incredibly talented and experienced leaders at a very early stage in my career. Through their mentorship, I developed a deep understanding and appreciation for the complexity involved in managing one of the country's leading cancer centers. In a relatively short period of time, I had an opportunity to work on high-visibility projects across multiple functional groups, allowing me to explore my interests while developing my skill sets. The program was an invaluable experience, and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in pursuing a career in hospital administration."
— Daniel Yagoda, MPH, Fellow from 2009 to 2010
"The Administrative Fellowship at Dana-Farber provides an opportunity for bright, talented future health care executives to work, and accumulate more relevant experience, in the complex environment that Dana-Farber provides. From the Institute's perspective we get to see young talent in action. Our administrative fellows are then ready for more senior level positions sooner and hopefully, if we can convince them to stay at Dana-Farber, their ramp-up time is much shorter."
— David Read, MBA, MPH, Vice President for Ambulatory Care Operations and Chief Administrator, Medical Oncology
"Fellows have the opportunity to participate in a broad range of leadership and management opportunities, including executive leadership strategic initiatives, tactical/operational projects, and scholarly programs and activities. The diversity of the experiences makes this fellowship unique. Each fellow brings his/her strengths to the table — and it's a win-win for everyone."
— Pat Reid Ponte, RN, DNSc, FAAN, Senior Vice President for Patient Care Services and Chief of Nursing
