​​Health Services Division Administrative Fellowship Track, UPMC Pinnacle

About the Health Services Administrative Fellowship — UPMC Pinnacle

The two-year administrative fellowship provides exposure to all aspects of hospital and physician practice operations and management. It's ideal for those who wish to pursue a career in health administration.

UPMC Pinnacle joined the UPMC system on September 1, 2017. It is a nationally recognized leader in providing high-quality, patient-centered health care services in central Pennsylvania and the surrounding rural communities. Its more than 2,900 physicians and allied health professionals and approximately 11,000 employees serve a 10-county area at outpatient facilities and eight acute care hospitals with over 1,360 licensed beds.

All fellows spend their first year rotating with the executive team at UPMC Pinnacle and other HSD executives. Throughout rotations, fellows will gain structured experience in the areas of Operations, Revenue Cycle, Budgeting, and Finance.

The two-year administrative fellowship program at UPMC Pinnacle allows recent Master-level graduates the opportunity to experience operational and managerial aspects of hospital and physician management. Under the executive team at UPMC Pinnacle, fellows will participate in meaningful projects, management opportunities, and networking.

Fellows participate in core functional rotations during their first year of the program, and pursue a specific interest during the second year of the program. Upon completion of the program, fellows are prepared to move into highly competitive roles within the organization.

Supplemental learning opportunities

The following training and development courses will be offered to provide exposure to key areas of human resource management:

• Journey to Management
• New Manager Training - Physician Services
• Communicating for Leadership Success
• Strategic Performance Management
• Fraud: Define, Deter, Detect
• Generations in the Workplace
• Addressing Poor Performance
• Resolving Workplace Conflict
• Crucial Conversations

Year One Opportunities

The UPMC Pinnacle administrative fellow will primarily spend the first year of the program rotating through the Health Services Division at UPMC Pinnacle and shadow the hospital’s executive team, gaining observational and practical experience within operations and administration.

Throughout the first year, the fellow will complete formalized rotations with an assigned executive mentor per rotation. Rotations will primarily involve shadowing key executive and management teams, with supplemental project work as appropriate.

Rotations will focus in each of the following areas:

• Hospital Operations
• Imaging
• Finance
• Nursing
• Information Technology
• Facilities
• Construction & Design
• EVS
• Surgical Services
• ​Human Resources
• Physician Recruiting/Relations
• 1-Week Externship

Other opportunities approved by Fellowship Directors based on interests.

Project examples

Examples of projects, roles, etc. that administrative fellows may work on include: 

• Conducting process and workflow improvement studies 
• Coordinating various task forces 
• Serving a variety of analytical roles 
• Establishing new clinics 
• Assisting with the implementation quality-of-care improvement initiatives 
• Assisting with the integration of clinical departments across campuses 
• Assisting with the development of strategic plans
• Exposure to financial analyses 
• Exposure to contraction negotiations with physicians and consulting firms
• Championing various projects with senior leadership

Externship Examples

Examples of first year externships include:

• UPMC Hamot
• UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside
• UPMC Susquehanna
• UPMC Altoona
• UPMC Enterprises
• The UPMC Health Plan Pittsburgh Office

Year Two Opportunities

The second year of the fellowship allows more flexibility in satisfying career objectives with an emphasis on gaining direct associate management experience.

Based on the organization’s needs, fellows may have opportunities in the following:

• Extended or additional rotations 
• Physician practice management
• Planning and marketing 
• Information systems 
• Health information management 
• Human resources
• Project work as assigned by the chief executive officer, chief operations officer, or other members of senior management
• Department management

Preceptors

Roles and expectations

The fellow is also assigned a preceptor during each rotation. Preceptors are responsible for guidance and progress by:

• Defining projects
• Ensuring that the fellow's needs are being met
• Meeting with the fellow regularly
• Providing timely feedback regarding performance and progress

Fellows are responsible for providing their advisors and preceptors with all necessary information to ensure a mutually beneficial experience.

Fellows must also attend the following meetings:

• Rotation Preceptor 1:1 Meetings (weekly)
• Executive Management Group Meetings (bi-weekly)
• Committee Meetings (monthly)
• Management Team Meetings (monthly)
• Board Meetings (quarterly)

Current preceptors

• Bill Pugh — EVP, Chief Financial Officer
• Ann Gormley — SVP Human Resources
• Chris Markley — SVP Legal Affairs
• Tina Nixon — Chief Diversity Officer & VP, Mission Effectiveness
• Dr. Robert Nielsen — President, Pinnacle Health Medical Group
• Susan Comp — SVP, Chief Nursing Officer
• Joan Silver — SVP, President, Dauphin County
• Paul Toburen — SVP Facilities and Support Services