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Administrative Fellowship

Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Administrative Fellowship

The Froedtert and Medical College of Wisconsin Administrative Fellowship offers two positions within the health system:

  • A hospital-based fellow employed by Froedtert Health sponsored by the COO of Froedtert Hospital
  • A physician practice-based fellow employed by the Medical College of Wisconsin sponsored by the COO of the Medical College Physicians Practice and the Senior VP, Ambulatory Operations for Froedtert Health

About the Administrative Fellowship

The Administrative Fellowship Program is sponsored by the Health System CEO and the Physician Practice CEO and locally sponsored by an Administrative Fellowship Council consisting of senior executives from both Froedtert Health and the Medical College of Wisconsin. Both positions offer exposure to all levels of leadership, allowing the Fellows to gain an applied understanding of their skills and of the healthcare system's operations. Working within a leading academic medical center, community-based hospitals, and physician practice provides the fellows with the opportunity to develop a comprehensive and varied skill set. In addition, unique areas of opportunity within the program include exposure to a clinically integrated accountable care organization, digital health platform, and a system-owned health plan.

The structure of the Fellowship program is project and core-competency based. Both positions start in July every year, are two years in duration, and flexible to meet the interests of the Fellows. Fellows are expected to attend various meetings across the system, are encouraged to participate in committees and are able to lead team projects. The second year will include an increased focus on leadership and management of long-term projects through interim role placement. These experiences are centered on opportunities that fulfill organizational needs while also satisfying the interests and competency development of the Fellow. Fellows also receive intense coaching and mentorship from senior leaders. The accumulation of these features allows for a wide-ranging experience that leads to a comprehensive understanding of the healthcare landscape.

The primary goal of the program is to develop participants, through measurable demonstration of healthcare operations knowledge and skill-set competency, to successfully assume leadership roles in health system administration. Fellows will complete projects designed to strengthen administrative and leadership skills. The Froedtert & MCW Administrative Fellow will:

  • Lead projects that develop analytical, leadership, finance, and health care operations skills.
  • Demonstrate attention to detail, consistency, and meets multiple deadlines in a timely manner.
  • Exhibit an understanding of health care administration, medical practice management, and an understanding of Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin's organizational structure and mission.
  • Work effectively both independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
  • Act as a self-starter and demonstrate a willingness to take on new and challenging leadership roles, as well as non-leadership projects and deliverables.
  • Build effective health care management skills and the ability to work with administrative leaders, as well as physician and clinical leaders.

Administrative Fellowship Core Competencies

Through our project-based Administrative Fellowship, we are proud to offer opportunities for the Fellow in the following areas.
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Academic Medical Center, Community Hospital & Physician Practice Operations

Projects in this area will allow the Fellow to gain experience and exposure to key components of the hospital as an operating entity. Project scope would include planning, analysis, and implementation for initiatives such as:

  • Process improvement activities
  • Space/facilities management
  • Physician relations
  • Staffing/scheduling
  • Business plan development
  • Project management (planning, financial feasibility, etc.)
  • Risk management
  • Clinical program development
  • Service excellence and patient experience
Ambulatory Care

Ambulatory care provides the Fellow with an understanding of the delivery of care in an outpatient setting and an opportunity to learn about the many support and ancillary services that are integral to the delivery of ambulatory care. Activities could encompass:

  • Patient flow
  • Operational reports
  • Budget issues
  • Staff scheduling
  • Training issues
  • Wayfinding
Financial Management

Financial activities will be included in many projects. In particular, projects are likely to include exposure to the following:

  • Patient accounting/billing/collections
  • Reimbursement and third party payer mix issues
  • Budget development
  • Financial modeling
  • Volume forecasting
  • Financial strategic planning
  • NPV analysis
Human Resources and Organizational Development

Exposure in this area provides a system level and hospital specific view of the functions of recruitment, salary and benefit administration, training and development, and legal issues.

Information Systems

From developing and implementing an information system master plan that is compatible with the systems at Froedtert Hospital, Froedtert Menomonee Falls Hospital, Froedtert West Bend Hospital, Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Community Physicians and the Medical College of Wisconsin to designing and implementing new programs and applications system-wide, the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin IT offers challenging opportunities for a Fellow. Project scope would include exposure to operational and clinical challenges associated with implementing a legal electronic medical record across multiple settings, including both inpatient and outpatient.

Managed Care

This competency offers the Fellow an opportunity to gain experience in dealing with managed care organizations and insights into the dynamics of contract negotiations. Many aspects of the program will be covered, such as:

  • Rate setting for defined populations
  • Negotiation skills
  • Provider network development
  • Reimbursement, charges and cost issues
Nursing/Clinical Care

Projects in this area would provide the opportunity to understand the complexity of managing a clinical service. Nurse staffing, nursing standards, physician credentialing, quality monitoring, and resource management are all part of the many complex aspects of successful nursing/clinical management that would become part of the Fellow’s experience.

  • Additional nursing related topics that might be covered include:
  • Scheduling and staffing in an environment of flexible demand
  • Managing a flexible volume budget
  • Clinical pathways/case management
  • Care delivery models
  • Rounds with interns and residents
Quality

Project work in this area supports high quality, cost-effective care and continuous quality improvement. Potential project work may encompass:

  • Quality management
  • Patient safety
  • CQI methodology
  • Process improvement (Six Sigma/Lean)
  • Benchmarking
  • External reporting/database management
Strategic Planning and Business Development

Strategic planning and business development are integral cornerstones of a dynamic, growing organization like Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin. The Fellow’s work includes opportunities to access or participate in the following:

  • Strategic planning
  • Situational analysis/business plan development
  • Competitor analysis
  • Environmental assessment
  • Regional business development
Other/Outside Activities

Others
Projects and observation of other key functions within a clinical enterprise are also possible. A Fellow could select from such areas as: Patient Relations, Customer Service, Volunteers, Government Relations, Ancillary Services, Public Relations, Marketing, Social Services, and Compliance & Regulatory Issues.

Outside Activities
The Fellow is provided with an opportunity to attend meaningful national and regional meetings, such as Wisconsin Hospital Association meetings where political and legal issues impacting healthcare are presented and discussed.

Administrative Fellowship Application Requirements & Information

Applicants must have obtained a graduate degree through an accredited program in health administration, business administration with an emphasis on healthcare, public health, or a closely related field. Furthermore, applicants must demonstrate a record of academic excellence, strong written and verbal communication skills, and the ability to manage multiple tasks and projects. Previous working experience within the healthcare field is strongly preferred. Other important skills that will contribute to the selection of the Administrative Fellow include leadership, self-motivation, ability to work in a team setting, and knowledge of the healthcare environment.

Initial candidate interviews will be conducted by phone. Finalists will be invited to a comprehensive interview with members of the F&MCW senior leadership team.

Candidates will have the opportunity to specify which Fellowship track they would like to pursue – the hospital-based Fellowship or the practice-based fellowship – and will interview with leaders within each track.

Please note: Work visas are not sponsored.

How to Apply

Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin health network is a member of the National Council on Administrative Fellowships (NCAF). As such, we adhere to the uniform application and offer dates; and utilize the centralized application service (NAFCAS). Visit the application portal for the 2025-2027 fellowship application requirements, which opens on June 7, 2024.

Important Dates

Application deadline: The application portal closed on September 27, 2024.

Informational Webinars

  • Monday, July 29 | 4-5 p.m. CST
  • Wednesday, August 21 | 12-1 p.m. CST
  • Thursday, September 12 | 3-4 p.m. CST
 

Reasons to live in Milwaukee

Milwaukee is a one-of-a-kind city with a vibrant and diverse culture, this charming, yet metropolitan must-see is just 90 minutes north of Chicago and nestled on the coast of Lake Michigan. Whether you’re catching a show at Summerfest, the world’s largest music festival, immersing yourself in the old world charm of the Historic Third Ward or taking in the sights and sounds of one of the many cafés, beer gardens or restaurants that line the city’s riverbank and shoreline, Milwaukee never disappoints. Find out why MCW residents and fellows take pride in calling Milwaukee home.

About Us

Medical College of Wisconsin

Medical College of Wisconsin

The Medical College of Wisconsin is a distinguished leader, providing cutting-edge, collaborative patient care of the highest quality in hospitals and clinics across Wisconsin. Our researchers discover and translate new knowledge in biomedical and health sciences to transform healthcare. We educate the next generation of doctors, scientists and pharmacists through innovative programs on three campuses across Wisconsin. The Medical College has approximately 1,650 faculty and approximately 3,445 full-time employees. The Medical College is the eighth largest private employer in metro Milwaukee and has approximately 15,000 alumni.

There are more than 1,260 students enrolled in educational programs at MCW. This includes 900 medical students on 3 campuses and 450 graduate students. College faculty supervise 700 physicians in residency training and 250 students in fellowship training through the Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals. MCW offers accredited residency and fellowship training in 90 medical specialties and subspecialties.

Medical College Physicians

Medical College Physicians

Medical College Physicians (MCP) is the adult clinical component that is fully owned by the Medical College. MCP employs approximately 1,500 clinical providers in 19 clinical departments. These providers see patients at 5 health systems, 10 hospitals, and 38 clinical locations in the region. It is the largest physician group practice in the state of Wisconsin and the 7th largest academic practice in the United States.

Froedtert Health

Froedtert Health

The Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin regional health network is a partnership between Froedtert Health and the Medical College of Wisconsin supporting a shared mission of patient care, innovation, medical research and education. Our health network operates eastern Wisconsin's only academic medical center and adult Level I Trauma Center at Froedtert Hospital, Milwaukee, an internationally recognized training and research center engaged in thousands of clinical trials and studies.

The Froedtert & MCW health network, which includes four community hospital campuses, more than 1,600 physicians and nearly 40 health centers and clinics, draws patients from throughout the Midwest and the nation. In our most recent fiscal year, outpatient visits exceeded 1.1 million, inpatient admissions to our hospitals were 49,250 and visits to our network physicians totaled 932,000.

Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Community Physicians

Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Community Physicians

Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Community Physicians is built on the existing partnership between southeastern Wisconsin’s only academic medical center and our community clinics and hospitals. Our unique academic-community partnership allows us to provide the most appropriate and comprehensive care to all of our patients.

We recognize that patients prefer to receive care close to home. Our integrated network of health care comprises more than 30 clinics and 250 physicians across seven counties. Patients have convenient access to physicians in communities close to their home or workplace, along with access to highly specialized care and clinical trials at southeastern Wisconsin’s only academic medical center.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. It is the policy of MCW to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified persons without discriminating based on race, color, sex, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, protected veteran status, past or present service in the uniformed services, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, religion, arrest or conviction record. Equal employment opportunities shall be provided in accordance with pertinent legislation, judicial mandates and presidential executive orders designed to eradicate discrimination in all areas of employment. MCW is also committed to providing a work and academic environment free from harassment.

Current Second-Year Administrative Fellow

Desirae Bartos (she/her)

Undergraduate: Washington University in Saint Louis, 2022

Graduate Degree and Program: MPH, Brown School at Washington University in Saint Louis, 2023

Why did you pursue a fellowship?
I chose to pursue an administrative fellowship to further develop my understanding of healthcare and health system operations. F&MCW exposes fellows to opportunities across all system departments allowing for a truly robust and diverse experience. The fellowship program has offered me a great introduction into the world of healthcare while continuing to prioritize learning, mentorship, and growth, which is ultimately what drew me to the F&MCW program.

Current First-Year Administrative Fellows

Blake Belgeri

Undergraduate: Michigan State University, 2018

Graduate Degree and Program: Grand Valley State University, MHA concentration in Finance 2022

Why did you pursue a fellowship?
I worked in the Public Behavioral Health industry in the State of Michigan, for a community-based organization and payor of behavioral health services for 3 years as a healthcare finance data analyst. All my work was centered around finances, it did not focus on the patients that received services through our network and the daily operations required to provide services. I chose to pursue this fellowship to enhance my ability to understand all aspects around delivering high quality patient care, to be the most well-rounded administrator that I can become. Since this fellowship is a 2-year program, it gives me even more opportunities than most fellowships to learn from leaders at Froedtert and more exposure to individuals in our network to find an opportunity that is right for my development.

Christine Do (she/her)

Undergraduate: University of Minnesota Twin Cities in Minneapolis, MN, 2020

Graduate Degree and Program: MHA, School of Public Health at University of Minnesota Twin Cities in Minneapolis, MN, 2024

Why did you pursue a fellowship?
In general, an administrative fellowship alone provides invaluable opportunities and real-life exposure to the healthcare system, healthcare professionals, and patients. At F&MCW in particular, the possibilities are endless for getting involved in any of the specialties and services that are available to patients. Additionally, it's clear that I have no shortage of access to senior leaders across both institutions. Everybody I have met so far has wanted me to thrive both personally and professionally, especially all of the former fellows and executive sponsors that I have connected with. F&MCW truly cares about providing the fellows a comprehensive, unique, and tailored experience that helps foster growth and relationships that will last for my entire career.

Administrative Fellowship Program Graduates

2018

Christopher Villa, MS-HSM
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois
Senior Manager

2020

Kaila Mitchell, MS-HSM
Froedtert Hospital
Manager of Business Development

2021

Jacob Meyer, MHA
Froedtert Hospital
Behavioral Health Manager

Jonathan Ortega, MHA
Advocate Aurora Health
Practice Acquisition Manager

2022

Alexis O’Leary, MHSA, MBA
Froedtert Health
Clinic Manager, Germantown Health Center

Mary Wiesman, MHSA
Froedtert Health
Clinic Manager, Mequon Health Center

2023

Madison Crowe, MHA
United Surgical Partners
Ambulatory Surgery Center Administrator

Vanessa Savage, MHA
Froedtert Hospital
Executive Operations Specialist

View all program alumni from 2002-2023 (PDF)

Contact Us

Desirae Bartos
Second Year Administrative Fellow
desirae.bartos@froedtert.com or dbartos@mcw.edu