UCHealth Administrative Fellowship Program
The UCHealth administrative fellowship program is a 24-month project and rotation-based hospital operations program.
- Designed to help recent graduates or early careerists grow professionally, develop leadership skills in the health care field, and cultivate relationships with executives in various areas.
- Customized to match fellow’s interests and organizational needs.
The first 12 months give the fellow an opportunity to rotate in many service lines and departments while completing project work, while the last 12 months give the fellow more in depth management experience in an interim role.
UCHealth is a network of nationally recognized facilities; we provide superior care to patients and are committed to serving the communities we are a part of. We push the boundaries of medicine as we improve health through innovation. Our specialty practices have rapidly gained a reputation for excellence nationwide.
UCHealth is a nonprofit health system headquartered in Aurora, Colorado, serving communities across Colorado, southern Wyoming, and western Nebraska. With more than 33,000 employees, 14 acute-care hospitals, and over 200 clinic locations, UCHealth is committed to delivering high-quality, patient-centered care while advancing medical innovation and research.
UCHealth is deeply committed to making a positive impact in the communities it serves across Colorado and beyond. Through a wide range of outreach programs, partnerships, and initiatives, UCHealth works to address social determinants of health, improve access to care, and support underserved populations. The system invests in preventive care, education, and wellness initiatives that promote healthier lifestyles and reduce health disparities. From mobile health clinics and school-based health centers to community health fairs and behavioral health resources, UCHealth strives to meet people where they are and deliver compassionate, equitable care. This focus on community impact not only reflects UCHealth’s mission to improve lives but also provides administrative fellows with the opportunity to engage in meaningful, service-driven projects that create lasting change.
University of Colorado Hospital
“Our fellowship program offers both the breadth and depth of experiences that allow for fellows to gain a holistic understanding of how health systems work and also apply skills to solve problems that are aligned toward implementing our organizational strategy.”
-Pradipta Komanduri, COO, University of Colorado Hospital
Past Fellow Projects
- Clinical coverage modeling for funds flow: Compiled clinical coverage data including hours, provider type, and call structure for inpatient services to support modeling for funds flow arrangements between the hospital and school of medicine.
- Transplant procedural authorization process improvement: Led a multidisciplinary process improvement project to improve communication, timely authorization, and access to Interventional Radiology procedures for transplant patients.
- New product governance: Established a new product review process and supported implementation of a structured approach to product governance to maintain supply sustainability.
- Unit refresh and activations: Partnered with design and construction leadership on the project management, operational planning, and execution of unit refresh moves and clinical activations.
- Kanban acceleration: Analyzed historical ordering data to forecast optimal stocking levels (PAR) and supported Kanban system implementation across the 900-bed hospital to enhance supply chain and clinical efficiencies.
Northern Colorado Region
Past Fellow Projects
- Physician peer review process restructure: Facilitated the implementation of a new physician peer review structure that upholds the principles of Just Culture and guarantees the confidentiality of cases.
- Virtual behavioral health center grant fund tracker optimization: Improved the Virtual Behavioral Health Center’s grant fund tracker by automating cost filtering and sorting, reducing manual report-building time by eight hours per month and optimizing grant fund utilization.
- Early Patient and Family Engagement (EFE) implementation: Spearheaded the implementation of the system EFE initiative across 6 Northern region ICUs to identify the ICU patient’s goals of care and medical decision maker early in their care journey.
- CMS TEAM bundled payment gap analysis: Support the gap analysis of 4 high volume orthopedic procedures in the Northern Region to identify opportunities to improve quality and cost savings across multidisciplinary teams.
- Administrator On-Call (AOC) Training: As an AOC provided regional support across Northern Colorado, ensuring hospital operations run smoothly. Trained in Emergency Preparedness and Hospital Incident Command (HICS), the AOC responds to urgent needs, coordinates resources, and supports hospital teams in critical situations.
“UCHealth’s administrative fellowship program provides unparalleled opportunities for hands-on experience, strategic thinking, and leadership development—all within a system that is shaping the future of healthcare in our communities.”
-Brian Allen, Chief Operating Officer, UCHealth Northern Region
Metro Denver Community Region
Past Fellow Projects
- IV fluid shortage response and recovery: Served as coordinator for system incident command response and recovery effort during nationwide IV fluid shortage caused by Hurricane Helene.
- Highlands Ranch Hospital CT imaging upgrade: Successfully led the completion of a strategic capital project to enhance CT imaging capabilities at Highlands Ranch Hospital.
- Introduction of Aquablation: Spearheaded implementation of cutting-edge urologic procedure, Aquablation, at Longs Peak and Highlands Ranch Hospitals.
- Optimizing patient transfers: Provided ongoing analysis of community hospital patient transfers to identify service expansion opportunities, enabling patients to receive care closer to home.
- Strategic proposal for regionalizing stroke program: Developed a plan to regionalize the Metro Denver community hospital stroke program, optimizing staffing and enhancing patient services.
“Our fellowship is designed to create accelerated developmental opportunities for our fellows and prepare them to be future leaders in our organization and the healthcare industry.”
-Merle Taylor, President, Diversified Services and Denver Metro Community Hospitals
Southern Colorado Region
Past Fellow Projects
- Financial sustainability plan: Supported the development of a financial sustainability plan by analyzing operational data and identifying cost-saving opportunities to ensure long-term fiscal health.
- Realignment of medical staff office and medical executive committee: Facilitated the restructuring of the Medical Staff Office and Medical Executive Committee to enhance governance efficiency and align leadership with strategic priorities.
- Business plans for sleep medicine, sports medicine, and facility renovations: Collaborated in drafting comprehensive business plans for new and expanding service lines as well as key facility upgrades to drive patient access and revenue growth.
- Dialysis integration: Assisted in the integration of dialysis services by coordinating stakeholder input, aligning workflows, and supporting implementation strategies to improve continuity of care.
“As a former fellow, I deeply value the opportunity to create a meaningful growth experience for future generations of leaders.”
-Erin Smith, Chief Operating Officer, UCHealth Southern Region
Administrative Fellows and Alumni
This directory highlights the accomplished alumni of the UCHealth Administrative Fellowship Program, and provides insights into their fellowship year, the specific UCHealth location where they trained, their graduate program, and their current professional role and organization. This compilation showcases the diverse career trajectories our fellows have pursued, reflecting the program’s commitment to cultivating future healthcare leaders.
UCHealth Administrative Fellowship Key Information
To apply, you must have completed an MBA, MHA, MPH, MHSA, or equivalent coursework prior to the start of the fellowship in June/July 2026. This includes graduate programs requiring a fellowship for degree completion. We do not sponsor international visas for this fellowship. Our two-year fellowship offers support to explore interests and gain foundational knowledge in hospital operations and governance, providing flexibility to chart your path as a future leader.
Application Materials
- Personal Statement (1-page limit)
- Resume
- Letters of Recommendation (1 Professional and 1 Academic)
- Unofficial Transcripts (Undergraduate and Graduate)
- Please submit all materials in a single PDF
Interview Timeline
- 1st Round: Early September
- 2nd Round: Mid-September
- On-Site: Late September-Early October
