The six new graduates of the Mount Sinai Health System’s Administrative Fellowship Program
Ask questions; don’t be afraid to make mistakes; find mentors who challenge and encourage you; embrace change, but honor your deepest values. These were some of the key takeaways offered by six new graduates of the Mount Sinai Health System’s Administrative Fellowship Program.
The Office for Diversity and Inclusion—together with hospital leadership from Mount Sinai Beth Israel, The Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai Morningside, and Mount Sinai West—hosted a ceremony on Monday, June 29, to celebrate the six young professionals, who were hailed as “amazing,” “creative,” and “insightful.” The goal of the two-year administrative development program is to recruit, develop, and ultimately promote underrepresented minority talent into leadership roles within the Mount Sinai Health System.
“The fellows continue to teach us, make us better, and give us things to think about, and we are grateful for that,” Jeremy Boal, MD, President, Mount Sinai Downtown, and Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer, Mount Sinai Health System, said in his opening remarks for the event, which was held remotely. The graduates, Fatema Begum, MPH; Vanna Chau, MHA; Aaron Hopkins, MHSA; Atef Rafiuddin, MHA; Lititia Satpathy, MHSA; and Nina Williams, MPH, spoke enthusiastically about their projects and takeaways from the experience, which involved working with executive and senior leaders on key initiatives for the Health System.
David L. Reich, MD, President and Chief Operating Officer, The Mount Sinai Hospital, and President, Mount Sinai Queens, thanked the Office for Diversity and Inclusion for “establishing a remarkable pipeline of incredible talent and showing us the way to create better diversity at all levels of administration.” All six graduates have transitioned into managerial roles in the Health System, joining six graduates from previous years. Five new fellows, Carolina Carvajal, MPA; Oladapo Durojaiye, MS/HSA, MPH; Precious Nwajei, MPH; Hazel Rogers, MPH; and Francisca Roman, MHA, joined the organization in July; and four more started their second year of the fellowship.
The program’s contributions to developing the next generation of leaders in health care administration were noted in closing remarks by Pamela Y. Abner, MPA, Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, Office for Diversity and Inclusion. She thanked Shana Dacon, MPH, MBA, Director, Corporate Health System Affairs, ODI, and Janice Yoon, Program Manager, Corporate Health System Affairs, ODI, for their work in designing the program to advance a pipeline of health care professionals from underrepresented minority groups. “Our program is unique, and we are perhaps one of the only institutions doing this,” Ms. Abner said. “We are all proud to be part of it.”
Mount Sinai is accepting applications for the 2021 Administrative Fellowship through Friday, October 30. Health System staff and students are encouraged to apply. Contact the Office for Diversity and Inclusion at diversity@mountsinai.org for any additional questions.
Mount Sinai Administrative Fellows Share Takeaway Lessons
Six young professionals recently completed the Mount Sinai Administrative Fellowship, a two-year program developed by the Office for Diversity and Inclusion with support from top leadership. The Fellows served rotations at Mount Sinai hospitals in fields such as project management, business development, budgeting, data analysis, and the patient and staff experience. In a recent graduation ceremony, they all expressed profound gratitude and shared some takeaway thoughts:
Fatema Begum, MPH, Operations Manager
Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital
Administrative Fellowship Graduate, Mount Sinai Morningside
“Mount Sinai Morningside has instilled in me the importance of strong values, and I saw it exemplified in every area of my work. Quite often, I would work on a project that had previously not been done before. I was always assured that when there was no blueprint it was OK to be creative, to make mistakes, and do many iterations because we are always on a journey of continuous improvement.”
Aaron Hopkins, MHSA, Administrator, Mount Sinai Doctors – Westchester
Administrative Fellowship Graduate, The Mount Sinai Hospital
“This fellowship is the only one of its kind—focused on promoting minorities in health care administration—which is a big reason I chose to participate. With the current climate and everything going on in the world, it’s a blessing to be a part of an organization that shows support for diversity, as opposed to just providing words. Mount Sinai is an organization where senior leaders live out its mission every day, and I am grateful to be surrounded by such leaders and on the path to becoming one as well, thanks to the fellowship program.”
Atef Rafiuddin, MHA, Project Manager, Cardiac Services, Mount Sinai Morningside
Administrative Fellowship Graduate, Mount Sinai Morningside
“Throughout my Fellowship, I have tried to embody the philosophy of “Going to the Gemba.” This is a LEAN project management term—translated as “the Real Place”—that emphasizes going to where the work is actually completed. By following this philosophy, I have come to realize that there is no easy job in this industry, and you do not get a sense for what a job entails until you see it in person. Mount Sinai’s Administrative Fellowship truly was an opportunity to learn and grow by exploring various roles.”
Vanna Chau, MHA, Senior Financial Analyst, Mount Sinai West
Administrative Fellowship Graduate, Mount Sinai West
“Mount Sinai West leadership encourages curiosity and creativity. They gave me the opportunity to just take something, make it my own, and make improvements. For example, I helped create a new census template, which I’m proud to say is used every single day. And from it I also learned what leaders are looking for, how the whole hospital works, and the unique features of each unit.”
Lititia Satpathy, MHSA, Project Manager, Mount Sinai Union Square
Administrative Fellowship Graduate, Mount Sinai Beth Israel and Mount Sinai Union Square
“In the COVID-19 response, I tried to be present and available in any way I could, for example helping to organize labor pool deployments, and tracking personal protective equipment. I think the big takeaway is that I always felt like part of the teams at Mount Sinai Beth Israel and Mount Sinai Union Square—being trusted to do a lot and being a part of a wonderful organization.”
Nina Williams, MPH, Project Manager, Mount Sinai Doctors – Downtown
Administrative Fellowship Graduate, Mount Sinai Beth Israel
“We’re in a unique position because Mount Sinai Beth Israel is going through a massive transformation, and turning our attention to preventive measures focused on population health. During my rotation in the Transformation Department, I was able to focus on initiatives like maximizing our revenue with vacant spaces within the hospital; and I had the opportunity to enhance project management skills that help me in my current role.”