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Developing leaders who inspire health and connect with heart

Welcome to Beacon Health System’s Administrative Fellowship Program

Why choose Beacon Health for your administrative fellowship?

Beacon’s administrative fellowship program offers projects that help each fellow truly understand how the hospital and health system function. Our program is designed to challenge you through multiple 6 month rotations that span up to two years. We work with you in devising these rotations based on work experience, career goals, and Beacon’s business needs drive rotation selection.

four, six-month rotations will expose you to different business units and refine your management and leadership skills
experiential learning and mentoring
hands-on projects at both systemwide and business unit levels
regular involvement in key leadership and board meetings

“The Beacon Administrative Fellowship program is designed to provide the best opportunity for incoming fellows to gain experience in healthcare administration through leadership development, project-based work, and executive-level exposure. I am excited each year as we advance and enhance the program, inviting talented Fellows to be a part of solutions that meet the challenges in healthcare administration and leadership.”

~Mario Ellis – Chief Human Resource Officer

About Beacon Health System & the community we call home

Beacon is a locally owned, not-for-profit healthcare system. With 8 hospitals and 74 outpatient clinics, we are the regional leader in comprehensive, integrated services — from childbirth and pediatrics to cancer, trauma, heart and vascular, stroke, orthopedics and sports medicine, surgery, mental health and so much more.

Our mission is to deliver outstanding care, inspire health, and connect with heart. Here at Beacon, we lead with our hearts — providing the best care and the best experience to each and every person. That is our calling. That is why we love what we do. Learn more about Beacon

Beacon has locations throughout the region known as Michiana – an area that includes the towns of South Bend, Elkhart and extends into southern Michigan. Our community in the Great Lakes Region includes sports, arts and cultural heritage attractions and events, vibrant downtown communities and extensive outdoor recreation and shopping venues.

Learn More Meet Our Current Fellows Join Our Talent Network

About Beacon Health System’s Administrative Fellowship Program

Our administrative fellowship program provides a unique opportunity to learn operations across Beacon Health System through rotation-based projects and leadership development. The program is designed to help you gain experience from various management styles, department structures, data systems, and operational designs.

Our rotations aim to provide a well-rounded fellowship experience and include:

Beacon Medical Group
Elkhart General Hospital or Memorial Hospital of South Bend
A corporate department, and
A department of the fellow’s choice

During your rotations you will have opportunities to lead projects at the department, entity, or system level based on needs at the time. You will also serve as support to engage in specific project work. Your preceptor for Beacon Medical Group, Elkhart General Hospital or Memorial Hospital of South Bend will be the Vice President of Operations of that entity. In corporate departments, the preceptor will vary. For example, the Controller is the preceptor in Finance and the Chief Strategy Officer in Strategy.

Mentorship and Development

Each fellow is assigned a mentor to offer advice and provide support throughout the fellowship. Outside of the formal mentorship, you will have ready access to the leadership team and the opportunity to attend executive, leadership and board meetings.

During your time with Beacon Health, we want to help you develop into a future executive leader ready to contribute to the advancement of healthcare.

Current and Previous Rotations

Memorial Hospital of South Bend
Elkhart General Hospital
Beacon Medical Group
Strategy, Supply Chain, and Retail
Finance – Revenue Cycle

System Exposure

Executive Leadership Meetings
Incident Command
Hospital, Medical Group, and System Board Meetings: Operations and Patient Safety Committee, Master Facility Planning Steering Committee, Finance Committee, and Investment Committee
Clinical Excellence Council Meetings
Joint Commission Surveys
Leadership Retreats
Performance Improvement Initiatives
Human Resources Initiatives

Previous Fellow Projects

Memorial Hospital Capital Improvement Plan
Clinical Site Evaluation
Respiratory Room Implementation at Primary Care Clinics
Revenue Cycle System Implementation
Business Plan Development
System Wide Newborn Scheduling Standardization
Two-Way Texting Implementation
Coronary Calcium Scan Process Improvement
2024 Strategy Metric Development
Ambulatory Service Line Implementation
Linen Savings Implementation
Cost Per Plate Analysis

Shaelyn Richardson

2nd Year Fellow

Education: Bachelor’s in Public Health and Master’s in Healthcare Administration from the University of Kentucky
Mentor: Kimberly Green Reeves,Executive Director of Community Impact
Previous Rotation: Elkhart General Hospital, Beacon Medical Group
Current Rotation: Corporate Strategy

Shaelyn Richardson was born and raised in Danville, KY. Shaelyn has been involved in several projects in her time at Beacon, including assessments to ascertain adherence to Joint Commission standards, the development of a leader rounding log at our Elkhart General Hospital, and two-way texting implementation at over 60 Beacon Medical Group practices. In her current rotation in Corporate Strategy, she is involved in developing 2024 Strategy metrics for the health system, collaborating with leadership at each entity in developing 2024 scorecards, and assisting the Digital team on various projects. Shaelyn’s professional interests include patient safety and experience, risk management, population health/community, and DEI. Outside of work, Shaelyn enjoys spending time with family and friends, prioritizing self-care, and watching college sports.

Blake Bertles

2nd Year Fellow

Education: Bachelor’s from Indiana University – South Bend and Master’s of Healthcare Administration from Purdue University
Mentor: Carl Risk, President of Elkhart General Hospital
Previous Rotation: Patient Accounting; Revenue Cycle Management & Finance, Elkhart General Hospital
Current Rotation: Retail

Blake Bertles, a lifelong resident of South Bend, Indiana has had the opportunities to work on several projects while in the Administrative Fellowship program. During his rotation at Elkhart General Hospital, Blake led a cross functional group of leaders on a process improvement to our Coronary Calcium Scan service offering. Currently, Blake is operating in the retail division–learning from several leaders on healthcare initiatives that includes supply chain efficiency, staffing models, and innovations in the urgent care space.

Blake’s professional interests include quality & patient safety, performance improvement, and the retail model of healthcare. His goal is to use his passion of working with people as a way to further influence how quality patient care is delivered to our community members. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, coaching fastpitch softball, writing and recording music, watching live music and sporting events, and traveling.

Samuel Dobbins

2nd Year Fellow

Education: Bachelor’s in Family and Child Science from Florida State University and Master’s in Health Administration from Florida A&M University.
Mentor: Kreg Gruber, Chief Executive Officer
Previous Rotation: Memorial Hospital of South Bend, Revenue Cycle & Finance
Current Rotation: Beacon Medical Group

Samuel Dobbins is originally from Tampa, FL. Samuel’s first rotation was at our Memorial Hospital of South Bend where he reported directly to the President of the hospital. Samuel was involved in various projects during his time at Memorial, including conducting a safety risk assessment for a community-wide project between the hospital and other local entities, participating in initiatives to optimize length of stay for patient safety, and providing management support for potential new service lines to expand Beacon’s services. Samuel has also worked in Beacon’s Revenue Cycle and Finance department where his projects included working on a 990 form, managing unclaimed properties for the health system and investigating/working several denial types for the system. Currently at Beacon Medical Group, Samuel is working with management in practices as he plans to pursue a career in practice management post-fellowship. His professional interests are in mental health, healthcare access and operational efficiency. Outside of work Samuel enjoys working out, watching sports, reading and trying new food places

Jazmine Walker

1st Year Fellow

Education: Bachelors in Interdisciplinary Studies - Health & Society from Michigan State University, Masters of Healthcare Administration from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Mentor: Mario Ellis, Chief Human Resource Officer
Current Rotation: Memorial Hospital South Bend

Jazmine was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. She began her undergrad career pursuing Nursing, but ultimately realized that her passion for health equity and interests in strategic innovation and quality were more aligned with the nonclinical side of healthcare. In her current rotation at Memorial, she reports directly to the VP of Operations. Her projects include a linen savings implementation plan with the Environmental Services and a cost per plate analysis for the cafeteria and patient rooms with Nutritional Services. In her free time, Jazmine enjoys traveling, trying new restaurants, and doing DIY projects around her home.

Previous Fellows

2022-2024:

Shaelyn Richardson, Business Strategist at Beacon
Blake Bertles, Manager, Supply Chain Contracting at Beacon
Samuel Dobbins, Operations Coordinator at Florida ENT and Allergy

2021-2023:

Staisy Cardenas, Practice Manager at Oak Street Health
Huda Syed, Sales Analysis and Strategy Manager at Kelsey-Seybold

2020-2022:

- Ben Kern, Director of Operations at Beacon Medical Group
- Noah Schrader, Healthcare Consultant at FORVIS

How to Apply

The Administrative Fellowship is part of Beacon Health System’s Management Development Program (MDP), a rotational leadership program that builds a foundation for professionals who aspire to be healthcare leaders. Beacon Health System generally accepts two (2) fellows each year. Applications are accepted starting in the Fall with rotations starting in the Summer of the following year.

Master’s Degree in Hospital Administration, Healthcare Administration, Business Administration or a related field is required. Knowledge of hospital operations that was obtained through an internship or previous administrative experience is preferred.
Fellows receive a competitive salary and full benefits, including paid time off and medical/dental/vision.
Join Our Talent Network

Additional questions? Contact us: adminfellows@beaconhealthsystem.org