Fellowships.
What is a Fellowship?
While the term “fellowship” is used by a variety of different programs, generally fellowships are:
- Short-term opportunities lasting from a few months to several years
- Focused on the professional development of the fellow
- Sponsored by a specific association or organization seeking to expand leadership in their field
Fellowship programs can be designed to support a range of activities including:
- Graduate study in a specific field
- Research to advance work on a particular issue
- Developing a new community-based organization or initiative
- Training and reflection to support the fellow’s growth
- Opportunities to further explore a particular field of work
Fellowships have traditionally been awarded to graduate and post-graduate students, but there are an increasing number of fellowships available to recent graduates in public policy, the arts, education, and other nonprofit fields.
Benefits of a Fellowship
- Experiential Learning: Fellowships are structured to provide significant work experiences, and fellows are often expected to take on a great deal of responsibility quickly. Generally, fellows are provided with unique experiences that are not typically available to someone starting out in an entry-level position. This experiential learning component varies depending upon the fellowship program.
- Training and Professional Development: Fellowship programs are known for their commitment to the professional development of individual fellows and often include intensive training. Key elements of this training might include:
- Academic seminars to develop frameworks and apply theory
- In-depth research and analysis of a particular issue area
- A broad curriculum of skills development: leadership, community organizing, public speaking, grant writing, media relation
- Compensation: Compensation is often considered the biggest drawback of a fellowship. Although most fellowship programs do provide a living allowance or stipend, it is typically not comparable to the salary of a full-time job. This financial compensation varies greatly – stipends can range from a few thousand for the summer months, to $10,000 – $25,000 for a 9 – 12 month program. Still others can compensate in the $40,000 – $65,000 annually and last for up to a 2-year period. Other incentives are often provided to fellows such as healthcare coverage, student loan repayment assistance, and housing stipends.
*Adapted from Berkeley, University of California, Career Center Website.
Recruiting Cycle and Deadlines to Apply
Deadlines to apply for these opportunities vary, though many fall between September and April. Please check individual websites for these details as well as additional application instructions.
Fellowship Application Tips
- Research: Learn about as many different fellowships as possible, and about the application/interview process. It is recommended to reach out to current fellows at organizations you are interested in. Know that they are often involved in the applicant screening process, so make those contacts professional and meaningful (e.g. don’t ask questions you can easily find the answers to on their website).
- Focus: Develop a list of fellowship programs that particularly interest you, either due to the organization’s focus, location, or the structure of the fellowship itself. Some programs limit students to 10 applications; we don’t, but that is not a bad target. You will need to tailor and personalize each cover letter and application, so you need to narrow down to a number that is manageable.
- Reach out: If you are planning to apply for administrative fellowships, it is ESSENTIAL that you identify your recommendation writers and contact them early to seek their participation. Many fellowships require a “program director” letter and, at BUSPH, that person is your concentration faculty director. It is strongly recommended that you contact your potential letter writers by August 1, since many of the fellowship deadlines are in September and early October. Many of the application processes require you to submit all materials on paper, in a single packet, so the logistics of asking for and getting letters can be challenging. We also suggest that you provide recommenders with electronic versions of your resume, your draft personal statement, and a table listing the letters you need, with full address and salutation information, along with submission method, and due dates (see example). This will increase the likelihood of the recommenders being able to provide what you are requesting, when you need it.
- Prepare: The interview process varies by fellowship, and the timeline tends to be fast. Programs usually start with phone and/or Skype screening interviews, and if you are invited for an onsite interview, it will likely be in mid-October to early November. Be sure you are prepared to travel with appropriate attire, hard copies of your resume, a portfolio to carry them in, etc. Review the video on the HPM concentrator Blackboard site in which a program alum discusses the application/interview process. Be prepared to make some difficult decisions if you are invited for conflicting interviews. Seek consultation from a faculty advisor or Career Services. Additionally, communicate schedule changes that may effect your missing class time and group projects to your faculty and classmates.
- Utilize the following Career & Practicum Office resources:
- Fellowship Program listing below
- Resume Review: Make an appointment via sphcareeroffice@bu.edu or attend drop-in sessions during the academic year.
- Personal Statement Review: Make an appointment via sphcareeroffice@bu.edu. Please allow 1-2 weeks before deadline for review and revisions.
- Online Interview Guides for Screening, Behavioral and Case Interviews located in the Career Services Library.
- In-person and phone Mock Interviews: Make an appointment via sphcareeroffice@bu.edu
Administrative Fellowships
Administrative fellowships are designed to provide grads with a comprehensive and immersive experience in hospital administration. These programs are typically offered by large academic medical centers and hospital systems.
Almost exclusively for healthcare management/administrative MPHers, MBAs, or others in related fields, the primary goal is to provide a broad understanding of the healthcare industry, as well as the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in a leadership role in a hospital or healthcare organization. Fellows are typically exposed to a variety of hospital departments, such as finance, operations, clinical operations, and quality improvement, and are given the opportunity to participate in high-level decision-making processes. There are often mentorship opportunities with hospital executives.
During their time, fellows work closely with hospital executives and other senior leaders, attend conferences and meetings, and participate in many projects and initiatives – typically on a rotational basis. They may also be involved in research, strategic planning, and other activities designed to improve the quality of care and operations within the hospital.
The application process is highly competitive. Many programs require candidates to have prior experience in the healthcare industry via internships or work experience. Interviews typically include multiple rounds with various hospital stakeholders, time spent with other candidates, case interviews, pre-work, and often full-day visits to the site.
Administrative fellowships are typically 1-2 years in length with a high percentage of fellows being hired into management roles following. Administrative fellows gain quality practical experience in a healthcare administration, develop leadership skills, and build a strong professional network that support them throughout their career.
More than half of Administrative Fellowships are posted in the NCAF’s (National Council on Administrative Fellowships) Centralized Application Service.
A Selection of Administrative Fellowship Listings:
- Advocate Healthcare, Downers Grove, IL
- Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA
- Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, Chicago, IL
- Atlantic Health System, Morristown, NJ
- Atrius Health, Newton, MA
- Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO
- Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI
- Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA
- Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA
- Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, VA
- Catholic Health Initiatives
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS): Pathways Program for Recent Grads (while not a Fellowship, this is structured like a Fellowship)
- CHE Trinity Health, Livonia, MI
- CHI St. Luke’s Health Administrative Fellowship Program
- Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
- Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
- City of Hope National Medical Center, Monrovia, CA
- Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
- Delaware Valley Accountable Care Organization, Radnor, PA
- Duke Health Private Diagnostic Clinic (PDC) Administrative Fellowship
- Duke University Health System Administrative Fellowship Programs, Durham, NC
- Emerson Hospital Administrative Fellowship, Concord, MA
- Emory Healthcare, Atlanta, GA
- Froedtert Hospital, Milwaukee, WI
- Geisinger Health System, Danville, PA
- Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI
- Hospital Sisters Health System, Illinois and Wisconsin
- Houston Methodist Leadership Fellowships, Houston, TX
- Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, CA (and others)
- Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, PA
- Lexington Medical Center, West Columbia, SC
- Loyola University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
- Main Line Health, Philadelphia, PA
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MI
- MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
- Mercy Health, Cincinnati, OH
- Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
- MultiCare Health System, Tacoma, WA
- Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Miami, FL
- Northwell Health, New York, NY
- Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, IL
- Novant Health, Greater Charlotte Market, Charlotte, NC
- Ochsner Health System, LA
- Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU), Portland, OR
- Penn State Health, Hershey Medical Center Administrative Fellowship
- Private Diagnostic Clinic Administrative Fellowship, Duke Health
- Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
- Stanford Children’s Health, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford, CA
- St. Joseph Heritage Healthcare, Irvine, CA
- St. Louis Children’s Hospital, St. Louis, MO
- Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals, Philadelphia, PA
- UAB Health System, Birmingham, AL
- UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
- UCSF Medical Center, San Francisco, CA
- University of Chicago Medicine, Chicago, IL
- University of Colorado Hospital, Aurora, CO
- University of Florida/UF Health Shands Hospital, Gainsville, FL
- University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System (UI Health)
- University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA
- University of Kansas Health System, Westwood, KS
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC
- University of Pennsylvania Health System, Philadelphia, PA
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), Pennsylvania
- University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, TX
- University of Utah Health Sciences, Salt Lake City, UT
- University of Wisconsin, WI
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
Fellowships/Programs for Doctoral Students
- AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships
- ACHE Stuart A. Wesbury Jr. Postgraduate Fellowship
- AHRQ-Sponsored Training Opportunities and Awards
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion (CHERP), VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Postdoctoral Fellowships, Seattle, WA
- Harvard School of Public Health Yerby Postdoctoral Fellowship
- Hospital for Sick Children, Postdoctoral Research Fellowships, Toronto, ON, Canada
- International Society for Environmental Epidemiology Fellowships
- International Society for Exposure Science Fellowships/Professorships
- Mass General Hospital, Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship
- Minority Fellowship Program/AAMFT
- Minority Fellowship Program/CSWE
- Minority Fellowship Program/NBCC
- National Cancer Institute Post-doctoral Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program
- National Institute of Environmental Health (NIEHS) Sciences Fellowships
- National Institutes of Health Grants and Funding
- NIEHS Career Development Awards
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Fellowships
- The Health Effects Institute
- University of Wisconsin Population Health Service Fellowship
- US Food and Drug Administration, FDA Drug Abuse Epidemiology Fellowship
- Walter A. Rosenblith New Investigator Award
Global Health Fellowships
- Academic Global Child Health Fellowship, The Hospital for Sick Children
- Catholic Relief Services International Development Fellows Program
- CDC Center for Global Health IMPACT Program Fellowship
- Fogarty International Center Global Health Program for Fellows and Scholars
- Fulbright-Fogarty Fellows in Public Health
- Global Health Corps
- Mickey Leland International Hunger Fellows Program, Congressional Hunger Center
- PHI/CDC Global Health Fellowship Program
- Princeton in Africa Fellowship
- Pulitzer Fellowship
- USAID-funded Fellowship and Internship program run by the Public Health Institute; Sustaining Technical and Analytical Resources (STAR)
Additional Fellowships for Public Health Candidates
- ACHE Stuart A. Wesbury Jr. Postgraduate Fellowship
- Advanced Fellowship in Health Professions Education Evaluation and Research, VA Advanced Fellowship
- AIDS United/Pedro Zamora Public Policy Fellowship
- Albert Schweitzer Fellowship
- American Statistical Association Fellowships and Grants
- ASPPH Fellowships and Internships
- Atlantic Fellows for Health Equity at The George Washington University
- Bloomberg Innovation Delivery Fellowship, NYU Wagner
- Boston Schweitzer Fellows Program
- BU Fellowships/Scholarships
- Bureau of Health Workforce/HRSA Training Grants and Scholarship Programs
- Cancer Prevention and Control (CAPAC) Research Training Program
- Center on Budget and Policy Priorities: State Policy Fellowship Program
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS): Pathways Program for Recent Grads (while not a Fellowship, this is structured like a Fellowship)
- CDC Public Health Training Fellowships (check out this helpful matrix to give you a quick snapshot)
- Connecticut Association of Healthcare Executives (CTAHE)
- Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CTSE) Applied Epidemiology Early Career Professionals Mentorship Program
- Dana Farber Cancer Institute Clinical Planning and Network Operations Fellowship
- The Data Incubator Data Scientist Fellowship
- David A. Winston Health Policy Fellowship, Washington, DC
- Families USA: Villers Fellowship
- Fulbright US Student Program
- Health Care for All
- Health Careers Opportunity Program/HRSA Training Grants
- HRSA Training Grants and Awards
- Insight Data Science Fellowship
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation Post-Bachelor Fellowship
- James Ferguson Emerging Infectious Diseases Fellowship Program
- Minority Fellowship Program/AAMFT
- Minority Fellowship Program/APA
- Minority Fellowship Program/SAMHSA
- National Center for Health Statistics (CDC): Chronic Disease, Nutrition, and More
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Fellowships
- Presidential Management Fellowship Program
- Pulitzer Fellowship
- Rappaport Institute, Harvard University, Summer Policy Fellowships
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Programs
- University of Wisconsin Population Health Service Fellowship