A hallmark of the Deland Fellowship is project-based learning guided by senior leaders. Deland Fellows also have the opportunity to shadow administrative and clinical stakeholders across the organization. This includes participation in high-level meetings, shadowing clinical teams, and tour and visits to Brigham facilities and across the Mass General Brigham system.
The Deland Fellowship gave me the opportunity to examine healthcare from the vantage points of different stakeholders: patients, clinicians, administrators, researchers, and policy makers. Understanding the perspectives and incentives for each of these groups is crucial for navigating the complexities of healthcare, but insufficient for affecting change. The elevating factor of the Deland fellowship is the experience of working directly with senior leaders who know how to affect change by working with integrity and compassion to align these incentives.
Deland Fellow, 2017-2018
I was originally attracted to the Deland Fellowship because of the opportunity it provided to learn how a complex academic medical center functioned: from front-line patient care, to Board-level decisions; from the intricacies of reimbursement methodologies to the annual budgeting process. Through my project work, the clinical immersion experiences, dedicated mentorship, and unparalleled exposure to senior leadership, this year has given me much more than that — it has provided me a glimpse into the subtle elements of culture, leadership, camaraderie, and intellectual curiosity that differentiate a good healthcare organization from a great one; a regional hospital from a cutting-edge center expanding the boundaries of medicine.
I am extremely fortunate to have been given the opportunity to be a Deland Fellow at Brigham and Women's Hospital. BWH is a world-class institution that delivers exceptional care to a wide range of populations, and has clear dedication to ensuring access to care for all. This year has been an exciting time.
Deland Fellows 2011-2012
The Deland Fellowship provided me the unique opportunity to sit in on high-level administrative meetings, meet one-on-one with both clinical and administrative leaders, and shadow clinicians. I was involved with projects ranging from budget management to process improvement, regulatory compliance to patient safety. I learned that effective, high quality patient care is driven, directly and indirectly, by decisions made at various levels within the institution, and on a wide range of issues. The extraordinary experiences I had highlighted the fact that key in this decision making process is effective leadership, teamwork and communication, and maintaining a clear focus on patient and family needs.
Deland Fellow 2010-2011
On one level, the Deland Fellowship provided me with an unparalleled opportunity to learn how a complex academic medical center functions: from front-line patient care, to Board-level decisions; from the intricacies of reimbursement methodologies to the annual budgeting process. However, this year has given me much more than that. Through my project work, the clinical immersion experiences, dedicated mentorship, and extensive exposure to senior leadership, it has also provided me a glimpse into the subtle elements of culture, leadership, camaraderie, and intellectual curiosity that enable innovative organizations like the Brigham to succeed. I know that these are lessons I will always carry with me as I pursue a career in healthcare administration.
Deland Fellow 2010-2011
The Deland Fellowship...provided me with the opportunity to see firsthand the work of physicians and what management does to ensure departments have the ability to provide support for their physicians, remain financially viable, find opportunities for growth, and keep patients satisfied. In short, the fellowship provided the opportunity to see, and partake in the inner-workings of the hospital and how it forges ahead in the ever-changing healthcare market.
Deland Fellow 2008-2009
To be an effective leader in the healthcare industry, one must understand the challenges that face health care institutions, be cognizant of the concerns of the clinicians and staff, and manage incentives, which are often competing with each other, to drive an organization forward. The Deland Fellowship prepares Fellows to shape the delivery of healthcare by providing an opportunity to learn about these issues with astonishing breadth and depth.
Deland Fellow 2007-2008
The structure of the Deland Fellowship allowed me the opportunity and privilege to gain exposure to all aspects of the hospital. On a particular day I was able to shadow a nurse on the inpatient floor, shadow a physician in the emergency room, sit in on a Board of Trustees meeting, and meet with the Chief of Neurology. During another opportunity I saw an in vitro fertilization procedure and soon after I went to the embryology lab to see how the actual fertilization occurred. The opportunities and learning experiences throughout this Fellowship were endless.
Deland Fellow 2006-2007
