Administrative Fellowship Program

Application

The Harris Center for Mental Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Administrative Fellowship Program provides ONE recent graduate with a one-year opportunity to learn about leadership and management in a community-based regional authority that delivers mental health and IDD services to Harris County (the county where Houston is located) and beyond. The 2023-2024 year will be the second year for the Administrative Fellowship program. The selected Fellow will have the opportunity to guide fellowship program development as well as contribute to ongoing leadership projects. In addition, the Fellow will gain real-world management experiences while helping provide safety net care to a diverse patient population.
 
A one-year administrative experience can help prepare individuals to learn the fundamentals of clinical operations, finance, care delivery, strategic planning, and data analytics. The Fellow would have the opportunity to closely work with the C-level executives as preceptors and gain experience with the complexities of mental health care delivery.

The fellowship application deadline for the 2023 Administrative Fellowship with The Harris Center is on September 13, 2022. The fellowship interview process will consist of videoconferencing interviews with The Harris Center executive management team, which will begin in late September . After completing the videoconferencing interviews, the executive management team will select new fellows by October 5, 2022. The selected fellow will be invited for on-site campus tours and opportunities to meet fellowship preceptors and executive leadership prior to starting the fellowship start date. The Fellow will start the Administrative Fellowship with The Harris Center on July 15, 2023 (tentative).

If you have questions, contact the program directly at: [email protected]

Who Should Apply

• Any recent graduates* or current students completing a master’s program with emphasis on healthcare management, operations, finance, and/or other aspects of healthcare leadership MPA, MPH, MBA, or other related master’s degree program). Behavioral health and/or IDD interest is a plus, but not required. 
• Strong interest in community care delivery and serving diverse populations
• Demonstrates high proficiency in oral and verbal communication, collaborative, and team leadership skills. Data analysis and healthcare analytic skills are a plus, but not required. 
• Strong academic record
• Energetic, highly motivated to transform healthcare delivery 

*A recent graduate is an applicant who has graduated within two years of the start date of the fellowship program from an accredited school with a master’s degree in healthcare. 

Application Requirements

Please include the following materials for review in your application: 

• Brief two-minute video introducing yourself and providing information not included in other parts of the application
• Cover letter highlighting your interest in the fellowship and career goals (1.5 page maximum). Cover letter should be single spaced, one-inch margins, 11–12-point Times New Roman font 
• Resume or curriculum vitae
• At least two letters of recommendation from (One Professor, one from Internship or Job from supervisor/non-relative) 
• Official undergraduate transcripts
• Official graduate transcripts

How to Apply

The application has three requirements:

• Brief video introduction
• One combined PDF that includes cover letter and resume/CV
• Submission of official undergraduate and graduate school transcripts and letters of recommendation

Letters of recommendation must be emailed by the recommender with the subject line: “[Applicant Name] The Harris Center 2023 Administrative Fellowship Recommendation.”

All materials should be emailed to [email protected] no later than 11:59 p.m. CST on September 13, 2022. Both components of the application must be submitted to be considered complete; incomplete submissions will not be reviewed.

Only transcripts may be sent by mail and must be received by September 13, 2022. All official transcripts must be sent by the applicant's institution electronically or by mail.

Additional Information

As the inaugural Administrative Fellow for the Harris Center for Mental Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), the 2023-2024 Administrative Fellow will have the opportunity to have a meaningful, visible position to help advance the organizational mission of high quality, collaborative, safe patient care delivery. In particular, the Administrative Fellow will help build the fellowship program and also have the opportunity to take on high impact projects across the organization.

Rotations: 

Fellows will have the opportunity to precept with several C-suite executives within The Harris Center and receive direct supervision on a weekly basis. The Fellow will be able to choose rotational assignments in: Quality & Safety, Clinical Operations, Finance, Performance Improvement, Informatics, Data Analytics, Pharmacy, and Business Operations. The Fellow will have the opportunity to work on a specialized project with the program’s preceptor. The preceptor will work with the Fellow to choose a longitudinal project matched with the candidate’s interest as related to organizational need.

Some specific opportunities include: 

• Exposure to leadership rounds in clinical settings
• Engage in clinical redesign, quality improvement, and operational efforts at the largest community mental health center in Texas 
• Experience in working in the mental health regional authority in Harris County serving diverse community needs
• Participation and engagement in high level organizational leadership meetings with the opportunity to directly contribute to projects

If you have additional questions, please reach out to [email protected] to learn more about the program.

Application Timeline

• • Application Deadline: September 13, 2022at 11:59 p.m. CST
• Videoconferencing Interviews: Late September
• Selection Announcement: October 5, 2022
• Fellowship Start Date: July 15, 2023