The Administrative Fellowship is a one-year program at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute that provides management and leadership training, as well as opportunities to learn about health care planning and ambulatory care management.
Highly motivated individuals with a master’s degree in a relevant field and one to two years of experience are encouraged to apply.
The fellowship program is grounded in ambulatory care training and administration. Fellows are given the opportunity to work in hospital settings, including Brigham and Women's Hospital and Boston Children's Hospital.
Dana-Farber has several ambulatory care satellite facilities, offering fellows additional opportunities to learn about health care planning, capital expansion, and the clinical business development process.
Structure of the fellowship
The Administrative Fellowship is designed to provide high-potential individuals with the opportunity to further develop their leadership style and analytical skills, and to gain exposure in every aspect of health care administration, including:
- Patient care services
- Finance
- Ambulatory care operations
- Human resources
- Research administration
- Development
- Clinical business development
- Communications
- Information Systems
The fellowship will begin with a two-month rotation and shadow experience with senior leaders throughout Dana-Farber. After the rotation, and for the duration of the fellowship, the fellow will lead and participate in high-visibility projects based on individual interests and the Institute's needs.
The fellow will report directly to the Chief Operating Officer, who will provide feedback and direction and assist in the fellow's professional development.
Testimonials
"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, 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 pursing a career in hospital administration."
Daniel Yagoda, 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, Chief Administrator, Medical Oncology
"The Administrative Fellowship is an excellent opportunity for a recent grad to explore multiple areas of interest and opportunity and contribute to the organization. The fresh perspective, enthusiasm, and inquisitiveness of the Fellows has been a positive contribution every year. As leaders, I believe that it is our obligation to mentor our future executives."
Hugh Kelleher, Vice President of Operations
"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
Application process
Applications for the 2013-2014 fellowship must be received by October 5, 2012, and should be mailed to:
Kelly Murphy, MBA
Administrative Fellow
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
450 Brookline Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
The completed application must include all of the following:
- Resume
- Written statement of interest in the Fellowship Program and how it would further the applicant's career objectives (1-2 pages)
- Official graduate school transcript
- Two letters of recommendation, one of which must be from a graduate school professor
Please mail all application materials, including letters of reference, as a single package.
Finalists will be invited to Boston for an interview in November 2012. Fellows will be selected by mid-December 2012, and will begin the Fellowship in summer 2013.
Frequently asked questions
What transcript should I send? Should I include my transcript with my application or should I have the school send it directly to Dana-Farber?
Applicants in a two- to three-year master's program should send the most recent official transcript from their current program. Applicants in a one-year master's program (in which a transcript is not currently available) should send an official transcript from the program they most recently completed. In this scenario, applicants should also send a list of the classes they are currently taking and plan on taking during their program. Official transcripts must be submitted with all other required application materials as a single application package.
If I am selected to come to Boston for an interview, will Dana-Farber reimburse my travel expenses?
Yes. Dana-Farber will reimburse reasonable travel expenses for finalists, including airfare, one night's hotel accommodations, meals, and transportation to and from the airport and hotel.
Can you accept my application electronically?
No. All application materials should be submitted as hard copies via mail or in person.
Can my application be postmarked by the deadline date?
No. The application must be received at Dana-Farber by the deadline date. This is to ensure that there is enough time to thoroughly review all applications prior to selecting the finalists.
Can I apply if I will be graduating in August?
Yes, you can apply. The fellowship start date is flexible.
Can I apply if I am an international student?
Yes, if you have an advanced degree from a U.S. accredited institution. Dana-Farber does not sponsor work visas for Administrative Fellows.
If I am selected for and accept the fellowship, do I have to leave my current job?
Yes, you would have to leave your current job and become the Dana-Farber Administrative Fellow for the entire year.
Does the completion of the fellowship guarantee me a job at Dana-Farber?
No, completion of the Fellowship Program does not guarantee you a job at Dana-Farber. However, your performance during the fellowship may provide you with many great job opportunities at the Institute and elsewhere.
Where can I learn more about the Boston healthcare market?
The Center for Studying Healthcare Change recently produced a good overview of the healthcare market in the Boston metropolitan area. Read the report
Current Fellow
Kelly Murphy, MBA
Fellowship Year: 2012-2013
Graduate School: Babson College
Past Fellows
Meredith Roberts Tomasi, MS
Fellowship Year: 2011-2012
Graduate School: Harvard School of Public Health
Organization: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Julie Bryar, MPH
Fellowship Year: 2010-2011
Graduate School: Harvard School of Public Health
Position: Project Manager, Quality Initiatives
Organization: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Daniel Yagoda, MPH
Fellowship Year: 2009-2010
Graduate School: Columbia University
Position: Health Engineer, Critical Care
Organization: Massachusetts General Hospital
Catherine Nwodo, MPH
Fellowship Year: 2008-2009
Graduate School: Emory University
Position: Health Information Services and Privacy Manager
Organization: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Tracie Lewis, MHA
Fellowship Year: 2007-2008
Graduate School: Simmons School of Health Studies
Position: Corporate Team Lead, Pharmacy Information Systems
Organization: Partners Healthcare
Contact us
For more information about Dana-Farber's Administrative Fellowship program, contact:
Kelly Murphy, MBA
Administrative Fellow
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
450 Brookline Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
Phone: 617-632-5569
Email: Kelly_Murphy@dfci.harvard.edu