Administrative Fellowship Program

Eligibility

Graduate of or has successfully completed all on-campus didactic requirements of a masters-level program accredited by CAHME.

These are the application materials needed to apply via NAFCAS

• Current resume / CV
• Official graduate school transcript
• Three letters of recommendation: 1 academic, 1 professional, 1 other
• Cover letter addressed to Administrative Fellowship Selection Committee
• Personal statement addressing your interest in healthcare administration, specific interest in a fellowship at Baptist Health, and any skills or experience that will help you be successful during the fellowship.

Baptist Health will resume accepting applications in September 2024 for the 2025-2026 Administrative Fellowship.

The fellowship is a 12-month program, and is both rotational and project based.

Throughout the year, the fellow is exposed to the operations of an integrated health system with access to five acute-care hospitals, primary care, specialty practices and multiple community partnership facilities.

This unique learning opportunity allows the fellow to obtain a view of health care operations from both a system and hospital perspective.

The fellow will have shadowing and observation time at each of the hospitals. Additional rotations in the physician network and ambulatory settings are available based on interest. During these rotations, fellows will have the opportunity to work on projects based on current organizational needs and the fellow's interests.

The fellow will also have mentorship opportunities with senior leadership across the system throughout the year.

Hospitals

• Baptist Medical Center Downtown
• Baptist Medical Center South
• Baptist Medical Center Beaches
• Baptist Medical Center Nassau
• Wolfson Children’s Hospital
• Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center
• Baptist Medical Center Clay

Potential Areas of Exposure

• Ambulatory Services
• Ancillary Services
• Business Development
• Emergency Services
• Finance
• Health Information Records
• Hospital Operations
• Nursing Administration
• Patient Experience
• Performance Improvement
• Plants and Facilities
• Primary Care
• Research Department
• Revenue Cycle Management
• Specialty Physician Network

Qualities of an Ideal Candidate
Due the rotational and project based structure that is inherent with the fellowship, the position at Baptist Health requires a highly motivated and proactive individual who is willing to be a strategic thought leader and active participant. Individuals should have a strong work ethic, outstanding relationship building skills and an ability to work with limited instruction.

Current Fellows

Saagar N. Bhikha

Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, Saagar graduated from the Univerity of South Florida in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in public health. While at the University of South Florida, Saagar was the Vice President of the BAPS Campus Fellowship and a member of the Healthcare Management Student Association.

Prior to beginning his MHA program at Virginia Commonwealth University, Saagar gained experience through opportunities at Baptist Health Social Responsibilities and Medical Center which solidified his decision to pursue healthcare beyond his time at VCU.

Since August 2021, Saagar has worked toward a master’s degree in health administration. In May of 2023, Saagar completed the didactic portion of his degree and will ultimately graduate in May of 2024.

While pursuing his master’s degree, Saagar worked as a part-time graduate student intern for Vital Care & Bright Ideas Medical Consulting Firm. His experience included modeling financial and productivity dashboards and supporting the recruitment process for providers. Saagar also spearheaded the accreditation of the new sleep facility for Vital Care.

Saagar is motivated by the opportunities within healthcare and wants to inspire those who he works with. Outside of the workplace, he enjoys spending time playing sports, being outdoors, and volunteering at his local place of worship.

Andrea Brain

Andrea grew up in Bethesda, Maryland, and earned her undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) in 2021. She received a bachelor's in psychology and minored in chemistry. While at UNC, she volunteered her time at Carolina For The Kids. This non-profit organization helped to provide patients and families served by UNC Children’s hospital with resources that insurance does not cover. As part of the Formal Affairs committee, she reached out to businesses in the community to solicit items for the organization’s silent auction and managed the status of auctioned items during the annual Benefit Reception.

Andrea also volunteered her time as a mascot to promote positivity and school spirit during community events. Andrea created content and tailored the image of her character and more than doubled the following of the mascot’s social media accounts across many platforms. During her experiences volunteering as a mascot at UNC hospitals, Andrea realized her passion for healthcare administration and the multitude of opportunities it offers to positively impact patients’ experiences.

Since August of 2021, she has worked towards a master’s degree in health administration at The George Washington University. In May of 2023, Andrea completed the didactic portion of her MHA degree.

While pursuing her master’s degrees, Andrea worked as a part-time front desk receptionist at Family Dentistry of Gaithersburg. Her experience at the front desk of a small practice has allowed her to be involved from beginning to end in the patient experience. She was involved in scheduling, submitting claims, updating ledgers, taking inventory, and re-submitting denied claims. She was also charged with designing and ordering appointment cards, business cards, and new forms for the practice.

Andrea is excited to help Baptist Health deepen its impact in the Jacksonville community and optimize the experience of the patients it serves. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with loved ones, hiking and baking.

Alumni

Daniella Eslava, 2022-2023
Graduate: University of Central Florida
Undergraduate: University of Central Florida

Joyner C. Bousquet, 2022-2023
Graduate: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Undergraduate: Samford University

Varna Kesani, 2021-2022
Graduate: George Washington University
Undergraduate: University of South Florida

Christina Zhykin, 2021
Graduate: Trinity University
Undergraduate: Lyon College

Jean Marte, MHA, 2020-2021
Graduate: Cornell University
Undergraduate: Florida International University

Mariah Smith, MSHA, 2020-2021
Graduate: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Undergraduate: University of Alabama

Is there any relocation assistance to Jacksonville, Florida?
There is the possibility of relocation assistance depending on distance.

Do you need to be a graduate to apply to the Fellowship?
Applicants must have completed the didactic portion of a CAHME accredited masters-level program by the start date of the fellowship.

Is the fellowship a paid position?
The fellow is paid a competitive salary and is considered a full-time employee with benefits available.

Are international students eligible to apply?
Baptist Health does not sponsor international visa applications at this time.

What is the timeline process for an offer date?
Offers for the 2025 fellowship will be extended in late Fall 2024. See Application Process for additional details.

What is the structure of the fellowship?
The fellowship is 12 months, and is both rotational and project based. See Fellowship Structure section above for additional details.

How many administrative fellows do you accept each year?
Baptist Health can take up to two fellows per year depending on the organization’s needs.