Administrative Fellowship Program

Contact Information

For more information about Dana-Farber's Administrative Fellowship program, contact:

Administrative Fellows
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
450 Brookline Avenue
Boston, MA 02215

Email administrative_fellow@dfci.harvard.edu

Position Overview

The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute administrative fellowship is a prestigious one-year fellowship program. The administrative fellowship offers an unparalleled opportunity to work side-by-side with senior leaders, gain immersive hands-on experience, and drive critical, large-scale projects. As an Administrative Fellow, you will be at the forefront of strategic initiatives, and developing a robust understanding of healthcare leadership. This full-time, hybrid role includes approximately 2 to 3 days onsite in Boston, providing the perfect balance of flexibility and engagement.

Why Dana-Farber?

Influence and Innovate: Play a crucial role in shaping the future of healthcare administration at one of the world's leading cancer institutes.

Elite Mentorship: Gain direct access to our C-Suite and receive personalized mentorship from top healthcare executives.

Career Development: Enhance your professional skills through exclusive leadership workshops, seminars, and networking opportunities.

Project Diversity: Work on a variety of high-impact projects, gaining practical experience in project management and implementation.

The Administrative Fellowship Experience at Dana-Farber

The Administrative Fellowship is a one-year program designed to provide high-potential individuals with the opportunity to develop their leadership style and analytical skills further while gaining expertise in areas across the Institute. The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Administrative Fellowship Program began in 2007.

Key Components

  • Knowledge of Organizational Dynamics: Gain insights from working with senior leadership across the Institute.
  • Exposure to Various Areas: Explore financial management, clinical operations, research administration, human resources administration, facilities operations, inclusion, diversity, equity, and strategic planning.
  • Advanced Experience: Prepare for administrative leadership positions in research/academic medical centers.
  • Networking: Build a strong network of healthcare professionals at various levels across the Institute and within partnering organizations in Boston.

Fellowship Sponsor, Mentor, and Advisors

group-of-administrative-fellows.jpg

The Dana-Farber Administrative Fellowship experience is distinguished in how the Fellow is empowered to build rapport and relationships with senior leaders across the Institute.

  • Executive Sponsor: Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
  • Executive Co-Sponsor: Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Chief People Officer

Structure of the Fellowship

The Fellowship experience consists of the following key components: executive leadership exposure, structured department rotations and robust project work, and concrete management and leadership development.

Application Process

Our Administrative Fellowship Program seeks a diverse pool of master's-prepared candidates in healthcare administration, business administration, public health, or related fields of study. Highly motivated individuals with 1-2 years of experience within the healthcare industry are encouraged to apply.

  • Dana-Farber Application Window Opens: June 13, 2024 
  • Application Window Closes: Sept. 23, 2024 
  • Semi-Finalist Interviews (via Zoom): Oct.1 and 2, 2024 
  • Finalist Interviews (in person): Oct. 11, 2024 
  • Fellow Selection: Day of finalist interviews or week of Oct. 14, 2024 
  • Fellowship Dates: July 1, 2025-June 30, 2026 

Upcoming Informational Webinars

Join current and past fellows to learn more about the program.

How to Apply

Please submit your application via Dana-Farber Careers during the application window timeframe. All application materials should be submitted as a single PDF.

Start Your Application

Contact administrative_fellow@dfci.harvard.edu with any questions.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Do you consider internships or fellowships as relevant experience?
    Yes, we consider experience to be gained through employment, internships, or fellowships.

    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 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.

    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 one-year program.

    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 Dana-Farber and the healthcare industry?
    There are many books describing the history of health care and how it has evolved. A few that are recommended based on their unique perspective of areas within the healthcare field relevant to Dana-Farber include:

    The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer
    Siddhartha Mukherjee
    This comprehensive narrative reaches back into the depths of history to tell the biography of cancer and man's attempts at treatment and discovering a cure. The Emperor of All Maladies also highlights Dana-Farber's inception and development as an institution on the frontlines of the war on cancer.

    The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
    Rebecca Skloot
    In a twist to the usual dialogue surrounding stem cell research, Rebecca Skloot explores a variety of moral dilemmas centered around the continued use of immortalized cancer cells from a patient in the 1950s.

    The Truth in Small Doses: Why We're Losing the War on Cancer — and How to Win It
    Clifton Leaf
    A decade ago, Clifton Leaf, a celebrated journalist and a cancer survivor himself, began to investigate why we had made such limited progress fighting this terrifying disease. The Truth in Small Doses brings an interesting perspective to the debate about how best to allocate our scarce resources in the cancer fight.

    Current Fellows

    Abby Rogstad Fallon, MPH
    Fellowship Years: 2024-2025
    Graduate School: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

    Judy Chen, MPH
    Fellowship Years: 2023-2025
    Graduate School: Yale University

    Past Fellows

    Raavi Singh, MHA, MPH, CPH
    Fellowship Years: 2022-2024
    Graduate School: University of South Florida

    Theo Baldwin, MSci, MBA, MCSO
    Fellowship Years: 2021-2023     
    Graduate Schools: University of Pennsylvania, University of Texas at Austin, Harvard Medical School

    Nancy Tang, MPH
    Fellowship Year: 2020-2021     
    Graduate School: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

    Alexandria Monteiro, MS
    Fellowship Year: 2019-2020     
    Graduate School: Wake Forest University School of Business

    Alyssa Stapper, MHA
    Fellowship Year: 2018-2019     
    Graduate School: Cornell University

    Francesca Wang, MPH
    Fellowship Year: 2017-2018 
    Graduate School: Yale University

    Hannah Theodat, MBA, MSW
    Fellowship Year: 2016-2017
    Graduate School: Boston College

    Maya Espada, MSPH
    Fellowship Year: 2015-2016
    Graduate School: University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

    Manny Hill, MSE
    Fellowship Year: 2014-2015
    Graduate School: University of Michigan

    Mary Tyson Catlin, MS
    Fellowship Year: 2013-2014
    Graduate School: University of Rochester

    Kelly Greeley, MBA
    Fellowship Year: 2012-2013
    Graduate School: Babson College

    Meredith Roberts Tomasi, MPH
    Fellowship Year: 2011-2012
    Graduate School: Harvard School of Public Health

    Julie Bryar Porter, MS
    Fellowship Year: 2010-2011
    Graduate School: Harvard School of Public Health

    Daniel Yagoda, MPH
    Fellowship Year: 2009-2010
    Graduate School: Columbia University

    Catherine Nwodo, MPH
    Fellowship Year: 2008-2009
    Graduate School: Emory University

    Tracie Lewis, MHA
    Fellowship Year: 2007-2008
    Graduate School: Simmons School of Health Studies

    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