Fellows

Email Address: ljacob@northshore.org

Current Status

• Administrative Fellow

Educational Background

• Saint Louis University College for Public Health, Bachelor of Science, Healthcare
• Saint Louis University, Master in Health Administration

 Healthcare Administrative Interests

• Program Development
• Strategic Planning
• Human Resources

Major Project Assignments

• Create a process map and identify opportunities to standardize best practice across the Skokie Hospital OR, Spine and Pain Center Procedural Suite, and Swedish ORs to improve block assignment/utilization, first case on-time starts, and OR/Procedure Room Turnaround Time
• Partner with Human Resources to identify efficiencies and best practices to redesign and develop a consistent, engaging onboarding experience for new team members
• Create a market differentiated approach to primary care that focuses on physicians, care models, and patient experience.

NorthShore’s Administrative Fellowship is an unparalleled opportunity for aspiring healthcare leaders to have an immersive learning experience. Fellows have wide access across the system to observe different facets of healthcare delivery and contribute to projects that directly impact patient lives. The organization and its leaders are wholly devoted to their fellows’ success and in curating a culture that personally cares for team members and the broader community.

Email Address: LCunningham@northshore.org

Current Status

• Administrative Fellow

Educational Background

• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Bachelor of Science, Kinesiology
• University of Illinois at Chicago, Master in Health Administration

 Healthcare Administrative Interests

• Hospital Operations
• Strategic Planning
• Health Equity

Major Project Assignments

• Supported the development of the Office of Community Health Equity and Engagement's request for proposal to solicit an advisor to develop a framework to help NorthShore become an anchor organization
• Project Management for the implementation of NorthShore's Mandatory Covid 19 Vaccine Requirement for all Team Members
• Project management for the Department of Laboratory and Pathology with strategy development to integrate Legacy NCH and Legacy NS laboratory outreach business while continuing to identify areas of overlap and opportunity for efficiency and growth

NorthShore's Administrative Fellowship Program is a rewarding experience that allows fellows to immediately immerse themselves into NorthShore's culture. NorthShore's established fellowship program provides fellows the opportunity to learn and hone their skillsets through diverse project opportunities based on their career interests across the system. Northshore's dedication to investing in fellows combined with one-on-one mentorship from senior leaders equips fellows with a solid foundation to become successful future healthcare leaders.

Email Address: rmehta2@northshore.org

Current Status

• Manager, Pain Clinic

Educational Background

• University of South Carolina, Bachelor of Science, Public Health and Business Administration
• The Ohio State University, Master in Health Administration

 Healthcare Administrative Interests

• Strategic Planning and Business Development
• Public Health/Community Health Initiatives
• Hospital Operations
• Process and Quality Improvement

Major Project Assignments

• Develop a Bone Health program, designed to identify, evaluate, and treat fragility fracture patients and coordinate patient care across the care continuum to positively impact post fracture treatment
• Supported multi- disciplinary teams throughout the organization to produce an Emergency Mass Communications system for employees. Managed various teams to conduct timely implementation of the tool.
• Assisted HIT in the EPIC Implementation for the new partnership with Swedish Covenant Health. Supported in project management and developing a training work plan and timeline

The administrative fellowship at NorthShore delivers a phenomenal and unique opportunity to gain a holistic view of all aspects in a healthcare delivery system. The fellowship allows for various value add projects within diverse departments. The learning experience at this organization is challenging, in-depth, and rich with mentorship and commitment to help you grow as a healthcare administrator and leader. NorthShore’s commitment to the fellowship is unmatched and the opportunities the fellowship offers and endless!

Email Address: wtangazi@northshore.org

Current Status

• Practice Manager

Educational Background

• Bachelor of Arts, Speech and Hearing Science, University of Iowa
• Master of Science, Epidemiology, University of Iowa
• Master in Health Administration, Ohio State University

 Healthcare Administrative Interests

• Corporate Strategic Planning and Business Development
• Hospital Operations
• Finance

 Major Project Assignments

• Conducted market data analysis that was leveraged to develop recommendations for a comprehensive NorthShore strategic growth plan.
• Supported development, analysis, and tracking of metrics to assess organizational performance related to NorthShore 20/20 strategic initiatives.

The Administrative Fellowship at NorthShore offers a unique and challenging learning experience at a top-notch health system. Fellows have the flexibility to pursue and develop their own interests through project work that is both meaningful to the system and of significant depth, so as to provide a rich education. This, coupled with a senior leadership team that is deeply committed to developing young leaders, allows for tremendous career development opportunities and future success.

Email Address: mbelanger2@northshore.org

Current Status

• Director, Clinical Operations

Educational Background

• Bachelor of Science, Public Health, Saint Louis University
• Master of Health Administration, University of Iowa
• Master of Business Administration, University of Iowa

Healthcare Administrative Interests

• Medical Group Management
• Business Development
• Hospital Operations
• Finance

Major Project Assignments

• Development of growth strategy for NorthShore Immediate Care.
• Worked with clinical and financial teams to develop Bundled Payment infrastructure and strategy.
• Managed the redesign of Outpatient MRI services across the enterprise.

NorthShore’s Fellowship Program creates opportunities for exposure across the organization. Being paired with a senior executive in both the Medical Group and hospital allows the fellow to learn about the entire organization while leading important projects. With a wide range of projects to choose from, fellows can contribute and lead important initiatives that align with their personal interests. It is a fun, fast-paced environment where you can contribute to real change from day one.

Email Address: bcutler@northshore.org

Current Status

• System Lead, Transformation Management Office

Educational Background

• Bachelor of Science – Concordia College – Moorhead, MN
• Master of Healthcare Administration – University of Minnesota

Healthcare Administrative Interests

• Hospital Operations
• Process and Quality Improvement
• Medical Group Management
• Strategic Planning

Major Project Assignments

• Decrease utilization of high-cost imaging in the inpatient setting by benchmarking best practices and recommending options for NorthShore to pilot.
• Provide administrative support for Lab Renovation/Construction project.
• Define and enhance Patient-Centered Care for GI and Lung Cancer patients by assessing current workflows for scheduling, teaching, communication and follow up.
• Analyze shifts in Skokie Hospital referral trends by physician, group, and service. Identify opportunities for growth and work with Administration and Medical Staff leadership to develop specific tactics related to opportunities. 

The NorthShore Fellowship is a very established program in which the leaders in the organization truly invest in developing the fellow through committed mentorship and offering unique project opportunities of significance to the organization. The fully integrated model allows for these project opportunities to span the continuum of care to support caregivers who uphold the highest regard for quality patient care.

Email Address: jbrueck@northshore.org

Current Status

• AVP, Research Administration

Educational Background

• Bachelor of Arts – Central College, Pella, IA
• Master of Arts – University of Iowa
• Master of Health Administration – University of Iowa

Healthcare Administrative Interests

• Hospital Operations
• Strategic Planning and Business Development
• Quality Improvement

Major Project Assignments

• Manage construction-related operational tasks during the renovation and expansion of Glenbrook Hospital’s Radiology, Cardiology, and Emergency Departments.
• Participate as a member of the Epic Upgrade team and work with the Evanston Hospital Quality team and their uses of Epic to manage clinical conditions more cost-effectively based on a data-driven process.
• Participate as a member of the site development team for the new Gurnee Ambulatory Care Center.
• Benchmark our customer loyalty performance with internal and external comparisons and develop best practice models.
• Review initial analysis of frequent users of NorthShore Emergency Departments and develop a pilot for case manager model. 

Between NorthShore's four hospitals, a growing physician network and a Research Institute, NorthShore provides the ideal environment for a fellow to learn the various components of an integrated healthcare delivery system. The senior leadership team - which is comprised of many former fellows - understands the value of the fellowship experience and is committed to providing mentorship that is key to career development and future success.

Email Address: mwaskerwitz@northshore.org

Current Status

• AVP, Clinical Operations

Educational Background

• Bachelor of Science – Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH
• Masters of Business Administration – Xavier University
• Masters of Health Services Administration – Xavier University

Healthcare Administration Interests

• Hospital Management
• Operations
• Strategic Planning

Project Assignments

• Manage the “GoLive” Command Center during the implementation of EPIC Health Information Systems at Skokie Hospital
• Oversee management and operations for the Food and Nutrition Services at Glenbrook Hospital, with direct reporting to the President of the hospital
• Develop and implement a communication plan for the operating room renovation at Evanston Hospital
• Co-lead a team tasked with developing a patient acuity classification system, by leveraging electronic health information

NorthShore is a healthcare leader and is located in a major metropolitan area. The fellowship provides an ideal opportunity for an individual to be exposed to all facets of an integrated healthcare delivery system. Throughout the interview process, it was evident that the NorthShore executive team values the fellowship experience.