Program Description

Overview

Cleveland Clinic's Administrative Fellowship Program is a post-graduate management and leadership development experience that unfolds exceptional opportunities across operational, clinical, strategic growth, and international spheres. Guided by the program director and seasoned executive leaders, fellows gain invaluable insights into leading-edge areas of healthcare management.

In this supportive environment of innovation, our program offers a dynamic setting where exploration is encouraged. With diverse opportunities to engage in various aspects of healthcare management, fellows discover and refine their interests. The Administrative Fellowship Program at Cleveland Clinic is not just a training ground; it's a platform for personal and professional growth, where you can navigate through different areas and shape your path in the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare.

What makes the Cleveland Clinic Administrative Fellowship so impactful?

1. Innovative and Dynamic Project Portfolio: Our program offers a truly unique immersion into healthcare's cutting edge that you cannot find at other health systems. As a fellow, you'll delve into projects that redefine industry norms, from exploring groundbreaking payor partnerships to harnessing the potential of generative AI in healthcare. With access to diverse geographic markets and the extensive resources of Cleveland Clinic, fellows actively engage in 8-10 concurrent projects. By the end of the program, you'll have contributed to a robust portfolio of approximately 25 projects across our locations, shaping not just your career but the future of healthcare itself. Explore a more in-depth look at the fellow project portfolio.
2. International Opportunities: Explore global perspectives with our expanding international presence. Fellows have the chance to work on projects with global components that go beyond the fundamentals of US healthcare systems. Cleveland Clinic's international footprint offers a unique lens into global markets, providing fellows with an invaluable knowledge base to prepare them for the evolving landscape of global healthcare in an increasingly interconnected world. Cleveland Clinic delivers care to patients outside the United States in Toronto, London and the United Arab Emirates.
3. A Commitment to Mentorship: At the heart of our program is a steadfast commitment to mentorship. Our program leadership, executive sponsors, and mentors form the backbone of our success. Together, they create a supportive environment that fosters unique learning opportunities and hands-on guidance. This collaborative effort ensures that Fellows are well-equipped to transition seamlessly into leadership roles within healthcare administration. Discover more about our Program Leadership, Sponsors, and Mentors.
4. Structured Personalized Leadership Development: In addition to executive mentoring, Fellows participate in structured leadership development sessions, as well as in-depth skills-based didactic sessions. Led by an executive coach or subject matter expert, these sessions encompass a range of tools including thinking rounds, deep dives, case studies, and strength-based assessments. Learn more about the structure and curriculum of the fellowship.
5. Competitive Compensation & Benefits: Our program recognizes and rewards Fellows with a competitive stipend, comprehensive benefits, and unique opportunities for growth:
   • 28 days of paid time off.
   • Medical coverage through the Cleveland Clinic Employee Health Plan.
   • Access to educational and leadership development classes.
   • Automatic enrollment in the Cleveland Clinic Pension Plan.

Project Portfolio

The Cleveland Clinic Administrative Fellowship offers fellows a diverse project portfolio, immersing them in the inner workings of a global healthcare organization. From clinical operations to cutting-edge technology initiatives, fellows play a key role in driving impactful change alongside leaders in the field. The breadth and variety of this experience allows fellows to make a lasting impact on the future of healthcare while shaping their own futures as leaders.

Throughout the fellowship, fellows engage in a range of dynamic initiatives, collaborating with high-level executives and external partners. This exposure provides invaluable insights into industry trends and the complexities of healthcare delivery. By actively participating in critical discussions and decision-making processes, fellows gain a deep understanding of healthcare systems on both national and global scales. Each project is a gateway to hands-on learning and meaningful contributions, offering unparalleled insight and experience.

Read on to discover some of the recent projects undertaken by our Administrative Fellows.

• Robotics Strategic Plan: Strategic Plan & Business Plan developed to expand Cleveland Clinic's robotic surgery footprint. Served in a Project Manager role, meeting 1:1 with several surgeons and executive leadership - including Dr. Scott Steele, the President of Cleveland Clinic's main campus hospital - to gather a central vision in guiding enterprise prioritization. Granted the opportunity to attend a robotic surgery conference in Chicago to further inform strategic direction.
• Hospital Care At Home: Successfully supported expansion of Cleveland Clinic Florida's Hospital Care At Home Program across Tradition, Martin North, and Martin South Hospitals. Served in a Project Manager role, tracking progress of 15+ workstreams towards operational readiness to launch program. Led education roadshows to inform a variety of front-line caregiver groups on our virtual hospital offerings and expansion plan.
• Cleveland Clinic Florida Supplier Accelerator: Launched and operationalized the new Florida Supplier Accelerator, a program providing training and development to 5 diverse businesses in the Florida market. Led all workstreams, application and onboarding of cohorts, communication with external partners, and managed internal stakeholder relationships.
• Health Equity Index, Human Rights Campaign: Collaborating with the Chief Officer of DEI, co-led Cleveland Clinic's biennial engagement in the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) survey. Oversaw material collection, coordinated 800 hours of education across 16 hospitals, and implemented policy and organizational practice changes. Achieved perfect 100% scores for 14 hospitals, ensuring robust LGBTQ+ inclusion and foundational protection for patients, visitors, and staff.
• Digital AI Strategy: Managed the development and operationalization of three key strategic priorities in the digital strategy for the Enterprise. Including management of key relationships with vendors and cross functional departments to deploy 6 pilots for analysis of generative AI technologies.
• International Operations Business Development Strategy Refresh: In collaboration with the Strategy Office, International Operations Business Development worked to develop a contemporary and focused strategy. This team works to create a proactive business plan for international operations, encompassing key initiatives targeting Europe, LATAM, APAC, Africa, and the Middle East.

Current Fellows

Thaila Cooper, MHA

Thaila Cooper, a New Jersey native, earned her Bachelor of Science in Public Health Sciences from the University of Maryland, College Park, where she also competed in Division 1 Track and Field. Following her undergraduate years, Thaila gained hands-on experience as a Medical Assistant and later as a Clinical Manager at an Internal Medicine practice in Northwest DC and Bethesda, MD. These roles provided her with valuable insights into practice management and clinical operations, sparking her passion for effecting systemic change within healthcare. Motivated by her experiences, Thaila pursued a Master of Healthcare Administration at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, further enhancing her skills in operations and quality improvement. While there, she completed a graduate internship at Cleveland Clinic in their Children's Institute, leveraging her prior experiences and education to make meaningful contributions to a range of impactful projects. Now, as an Administrative Fellow at Cleveland Clinic, Thaila looks forward to contributing to the organization's mission and continuing her journey in healthcare administration. In her leisure time, she enjoys reading, traveling, trying new restaurants, and keeping up with the latest TV shows.

Valentina Espinoza, MHA

Valentina was born in Venezuela, and grew up in Miami, FL. She attended the University of Notre Dame for her undergraduate studies where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Spanish. During this time, Valentina volunteered at Sister Maura Brannick Health Center, a 100% financial assistance clinic that aims to bring health care to the underserved populations of South Bend, IN. This inspired her interest in improving access to care and health equity. To pursue a Master of Administration degree, Valentina attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she worked as the Chief Human Resources Officer for the Student Health Action Coalition (SHAC) Clinic to gain more exposure to health administration. Valentina completed her graduate administrative internship at Cleveland Clinic Florida with the Clinical Operations team conducting a current state analysis of regional endoscopy initiatives to improve access, the patient experience, and operational efficiency. In her free time, Valentina enjoys practicing Pilates, spending time with friends and family, and trying out new hobbies.

Marie-Ange Kanellos, MHA

Marie-Ange was born and raised in Kingston, Ontario. She completed her Bachelor of Science (Honours) at Queen's University, majoring in Life Sciences and minoring in Health Studies. While at Queen's University, Marie-Ange worked as the Staying Connected Program Moderator at Kingston Health Sciences Centre, overseeing the four programs in its portfolio. Her time as Moderator ignited her interest in administrative practices that promote health equity and access by advancing the quality and efficiency of healthcare delivery. These experiences prompted her to earn her Master of Health Administration from Cornell University. Before the fellowship, Marie-Ange was a Graduate Administrative Intern in the Neurological Institute at Cleveland Clinic. She completed projects in clinical operations, patient experience, and strategic planning. Marie-Ange enjoys running and practicing Pilates, finding a new patio, reading, and cooking outside of work.

Hana Korajkic, MHA

Hana was born and raised in Wheaton, IL. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Management from Saint Louis University, where she furthered her studies and completed an Accelerated Master of Healthcare Administration. Hana’s studies were enriched by her roles of Financial Supervisor for her University’s Health & Wellness department, volunteering positions within Saint Louis University Hospital, and serving as Lead Mission Trip Coordinator for Experience Mission. In graduate school, Hana completed her summer internship at Cleveland Clinic’s former Head and Neck Institute. In this role, she led an institute-wide space reallocation initiative to accommodate the rapidly growing number of caregivers. Hana’s passions within healthcare are centered around patient and caregiver experience, and her interests mainly focus on clinical operations and healthcare ethics. In her free time, Hana enjoys getting in daily movement, trying new restaurants, traveling, attending concerts, and spending quality time with her family and friends.

David Martinez Vicenttin, MHA

David was born in Cancun, Mexico and raised in Miami, Florida. He earned a Bachelor of Health Services Administration from Florida Internation University and a Master of Health Administration from Cornell University. While completing his undergraduate studies, David led nutritional departments across different healthcare settings, ranging from an acute care hospital to rehabilitation facilities, as a Supervisor and Certified Dietary Manager. Through these roles, he delved into quality assessment and performance improvement, financial performance, and emergency preparedness. Most recently, David completed his graduate administrative internship at Massachusetts General Hospital, supporting the Cancer Center in their network development and advisory service efforts. David is excited to be joining Cleveland Clinic as an Administrative Fellow to take a deep dive into his interests in strategy, investments, and innovations. Outside of work, he enjoys trying new restaurants, running with his dog, and traveling.

Joy Mason, MHA

Joy was born in China but raised in Mentor, OH after being adopted. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Case Western Reserve University. While at CWRU, Joy completed administrative internships at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and Cleveland Clinic. These experiences cemented Joy’s passion for impacting healthcare through a non-clinical lens and led her to pursue a Master of Health Administration at The Ohio State University. While at OSU, Joy worked as a Graduate Administrative Associate at The OSU Wexner Medical Center and served in numerous student leadership roles, including Chair of the OSU Health Administration Case Competition. Joy completed her Graduate Administrative Internship at Cleveland Clinic in the Primary Care Institute where she helped manage a regional Epic InBasket transformation initiative among other projects. Outside of work, Joy spends her time roller skating, traveling, hiking, reading, rock climbing, and taking her dog, Daisy May, on lots of walks.

John Whelan, MHA, CPH

John was born and raised in Sarasota, Florida. To pursue a career in healthcare, John attended the University of South Florida (USF), where he earned his undergraduate degree in Health Sciences. John continued his studies at the USF College of Public Health, where he received a Master of Healthcare Administration and a Certification in Public Health. During John’s graduate program, he pursued a variety of internship and extracurricular experiences to form a broad understanding of the healthcare industry. John completed his summer administrative internship with HCA West Florida Division, where he assisted the development of a new breast cancer surgery center in Port Charlotte, Florida. During the second year of his MHA program, John joined the Service Line Development team at BayCare Healthcare System, a not-for-profit healthcare system in the Tampa area, where he also completed his administrative capstone project. John enjoys traveling and the outdoors, and he holds professional interests in healthcare strategy, access, and leadership.