Choosing a Fellowship Advantages of a Fellowship Structure Overview Examples of Fellowship Projects Fellowship Locations Frequently Asked Questions Current Fellows Former Fellows Selection Process Application Process

Fellowship Program

Advantages of a Fellowship

Strong commitment from senior management

Trinity Health assigns a senior team member (VP level or above) to serve as the primary preceptor to each fellow. The primary preceptor is based at the location where the fellow spends the majority of his or her time. Unique to our program, Trinity also selects a secondary preceptor for each fellow at the location where the fellow spends the minority of his or her time. Each secondary preceptor also is a senior team member (VP level or above).

Ample and varied opportunity to interact with senior management

The program's success relies upon the fellow's ability to integrate the latest in academic training with the experience and knowledge afforded by senior executives. Thus, the preceptors ensure that the fellow has exposure to governance and senior team members to promote success. Board meetings, senior manager-level meetings, and senior manager-level retreats and conferences all serve a critical role in the fellowship.

System and local opportunities available

Trinity Health works to tailor each fellowship to meet the learning needs and objectives of the fellow. This may lead to a fellowship that is primarily corporate-focused or primarily field-focused. In either case, there will be the expectation that the fellow is involved to some degree in the "other setting." Additionally, if the fellow has not had significant work experience in an operational setting, a Member or Service Organization will be identified at which the fellow will be expected to spend a minimum of 50 percent of his or her time.

Ability to tailor program to fellow's interests

At the beginning of the fellowship, the preceptor and fellow create a learning plan that integrates the fellow's learning needs, fellowship objectives, and career aspirations with the needs of the organization. Throughout the fellowship, the preceptor works with the fellow to ensure that the objectives outlined in the learning plan are achieved. He or she coaches the fellow in various aspects of the fellow's development, ensures that the fellow has exposure to governance and senior team members, and identifies job opportunities for the fellow upon completion of the Fellowship Program.

The secondary preceptor also works with the fellow, the primary preceptor, and the VP of Organization Effectiveness and Learning to ensure that the fellow's learning plan is achieved. The secondary preceptor's focus is to provide insight related to local or system level experiences (where ever the fellow is spending the least amount of his or her time).

Many former fellows retained for full-time employment

At the conclusion of the first three months of the fellow's employment, he or she meets with the VP of Organization Effectiveness and Learning to ascertain initial career interests and geographic preferences. This information is then communicated to the Chief Human Resources Officers (CHROs) throughout Trinity Health.

On a quarterly basis thereafter, the fellow meets with the VP of Organization Effectiveness and Learning to verify interests, geographic preferences, and performance strengths. These updates also are distributed system-wide to the CHROs. Beginning in the tenth month, the VP of Organization Effectiveness and Learning works actively with system CHROs and CEOs to identify employment opportunities for each fellow.

Opportunity to work in a faith-based setting

As a Catholic health care organization, Trinity Health provides a unique setting where the organizational mission statement does more than collect dust. "Mission" is the basis for all of our actions, particularly our work to increase health care access for the poor and underserved. Depending upon their interests, fellows may address access issues and hone their problem-solving skills to improve community health. A variety of opportunities exist - including the areas of government relations/advocacy, community health programming, social accountability, and community needs assessments - to deliver a real and lasting impact on community health care in one or more of the Trinity Health markets.

Trinity Health annually recruits a maximum of five graduates (as warranted), at least one of whom is interested in Mission leadership. Specific efforts will be made to recruit interested candidates with a mission and ethics focus.