University of New Haven Alumni Excel in Healthcare Administration Fellowships

An administrative fellowship is one of the most competitive and impactful opportunities available to recent graduates pursuing careers in healthcare leadership. Designed as one- to two-year, post-graduate programs, fellowships provide hands-on experience across key areas of healthcare administration, from operations and quality improvement to strategy, finance, and patient-centered care.

This year, three University of New Haven Master of Healthcare Administration alumni earned highly sought-after fellowship placements. Each has taken a unique path into the profession, and they all share the goal of advancing healthcare systems in ways that improve care, strengthen communities, and create sustainable change.

Below, they reflect on their journeys and the opportunities ahead.

Securing an Administrative Fellowship at was more than a milestone — it’s a turning point in my journey from hands-on clinical operations to system-level healthcare leadership. As someone who’s worked across the revenue cycle, coding, and EMR optimization, I’ve seen firsthand how operational inefficiencies ripple across patient care. This fellowship gives me the platform to not only observe but actively shape solutions at the executive level.

What excites me most is the opportunity to collaborate with seasoned leaders, contribute to policy development, and refine process mapping strategies that drive real impact. I’m currently also contributing to larger strategic efforts within Yale New Haven Health, including projects with our corporate services team in the Office of Strategy Management (OSM). These initiatives have allowed me to engage with system-wide performance improvement and strategic planning. I’ve also supported high-impact projects alongside our C-suite leadership, most notably the Adams Neurosciences Center (ANC) Tower, a $400 million investment that reflects our commitment to innovation, access, and patient-centered care.

This experience aligns perfectly with my dual-degree path in healthcare administration and business, and it reinforces my long-term goal: to lead transformative initiatives that improve care delivery and operational performance across health systems. I’m grateful for the mentorship, the exposure, and the chance to represent my community and peers in this space.

I’m especially proud to contribute to a health system that values strategic growth, operational excellence, and the development of future leaders who are committed to driving change across the continuum of care.

Stepping into an Administrative Fellowship at Connecticut Orthopedics has been a true turning point in my career. This fellowship represents the opportunity to apply years of academic study in a setting where patients truly come first. The transition from classroom learning to real-world impact is both humbling and energizing, offering me the space to contribute meaningfully while continuing to grow as a leader. It feels real. Finally.

What excites me most is the opportunity to be able to sit at the same table with talented physicians, administrators, and support staff who tirelessly demonstrate their commitment to delivering exceptional care every day. Watching their dedication up close makes it impossible not to get pulled into the culture here that is built on teamwork, innovation, and accountability to the communities we serve.

Equally rewarding are the daily reminders of purpose—such as seeing a patient who struggled during their first week of physical therapy walk out smiling with new strength and confidence. These moments reaffirm why I chose to pursue this path: to make a lasting difference in people’s lives by strengthening the systems that support their health and well-being.

This fellowship challenges me every day. It pushes me to lead with empathy, to consistently learn from those around me, and to embrace the kind of growth that will shape me into an impactful healthcare leader. I know this is just the beginning, but each day brings me closer to becoming the kind of leader I aspire to be.

My fellowship journey so far has truly been a blessing, which is something I remind myself of every day. I applied very late in the process (a big ‘no’ in the fellowship world), crossed my fingers, and hoped for the best. After a series of interviews that didn’t pan out, I was close to losing hope. Then, at the very last minute, Hartford Healthcare reached out. Three interviews later, here I am.

Just three months in, the transition to full-time work was challenging at first. With time, I’ve begun to gain confidence in my abilities, drawing on both the hard and soft skills I developed at the University of New Haven, as well as the personal growth I continue to experience each day. I know I’ll come out of this fellowship as a completely different person, and I’m excited to see who that will be.