This project-based fellowship offers the unique opportunity to participate in key projects that support Vizient's Member Networks, Performance Improvement, and Education and Learning strategic plan.
The Performance Improvement Fellowship role
Fellows will engage with senior-level executives, cross-functional teams and Vizient member health care organizations to assist in enhancing current performance improvement programs and develop new products to better serve our member's needs. Performance Improvement Fellows will develop knowledge, skills and practical experience related to quality, safety and operational improvement, program management and strategic execution.
Performance Improvement Fellows will finish the program with:
- A comprehensive understanding of evidence-based strategies and performance improvement methodologies that drive excellence in health care organizations
- A more expansive view of the specific challenges and solutions clinical and operational executives from health care systems of all sizes value
- A growing sense of expertise regarding today’s most pressing health care issues and the necessary tools to address them
Learn more
Program location: Chicago
Duration: 1 year
Number of positions: 2
Qualifications
- Master's Degree in a related field (including MHA*, MBA with a healthcare concentration, MPH, etc.)
- Previous internship in a medical setting (strongly preferred)
- Strong quantitative and project management skills with familiarity in performance improvement methodology
- Demonstrated problem-solving and organizational skills
- Strong communication, interpersonal and writing skills, and professional presence with the ability to develop positive and professional relationships with cross-functional teams across all levels of the organization
- Proficient in Microsoft suite of products, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, as well as Outlook
*CAHME accreditation highly desired
Application requirements
- Resume
- One letter of recommendation
- A one-page personal statement (indicating interest in healthcare performance improvement)
Preceptor
Julie Cerese, PHD, RN, MSN
Group Senior Vice President, Networks and Performance Improvement
Julie Cerese leads the member connections experience including networking, performance improvement benchmarking and collaborative and member training and education. In this role, she works with colleagues to support members to achieve their quality, safety, cost and market performance goals. Having begun her career in nursing, Cerese has focused on clinical quality and performance improvement. She has conducted studies on the unique factors that differentiate top performers and has supported nursing and physician leaders to achieve their goals. Cerese has a keen interest in interprofessional education and collaboration.
Mentor
Laural Whitmore, MSE, BSE
Vice President, Improvement Collaboratives
Laural leads Vizient’s Performance Improvement Collaboratives program which provides members a topic-based, collaborative framework for improvement, leveraging data and analytics to measure and sustain performance. Prior to joining Vizient, Laural was a health care consultant working with hospital clients on operational performance improvement. In past roles, Laural led regional performance improvement, contracting and member networks in New England and managed clinical program development. Laural holds a Master of Science in Industrial and Operations Engineering and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Operations Engineering, both from the University of Michigan.
Mentor
Amber Hanser, MHA, CPHQ
Senior Program Director, Performance Improvement Programs
Amber is responsible for managing and delivering national performance improvement programs to more than 1,300 of the nation’s top healthcare organizations. In this role, she works to support providers in advancing clinical and operational performance, peer collaboration and strategic initiative execution. Amber has been with Vizient for 10 years, previously supporting Vizient’s Center for Advanced Analytics team as a clinical data analyst and as an administrative fellow. Amber holds a Master of Health Administration, Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics and a Bachelor of Health Science, all from University of Missouri-Columbia. She is also a certified healthcare quality professional (CPHQ) through NAHQ since 2019.