Duke Health Ambulatory and Physician Practices Administrative Fellowship
Welcome from the Executive Sponsors
Simon Curtis
Chief Ambulatory Officer & COO of Physician Practices
Heather Marstiller
Chief Operating Officer, Ambulatory Services
Thank you for your interest in the Duke Health Ambulatory and Physician Practice Administrative Fellowship. We are excited that you are exploring this opportunity to grow as a future leader in healthcare.
Our Administrative Fellows are driven, curious, and passionate individuals who take part in a truly transformative experience. During the fellowship, you will gain a deeper understanding of healthcare administration while building skills in strategic thinking, operations, and leadership within a dynamic and complex environment.
Throughout the program, you will work closely with physicians and senior leaders across Duke Health. This hands-on exposure provides valuable insight into the inner workings of a leading academic health system and allows you to engage in a wide range of focus areas, including clinical operations, physician practice management, access, quality improvement, and patient experience.
We look for fellows who are proactive, thoughtful, and eager to learn. In this role, you will have the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to strategic initiatives, support data-informed decision-making, and collaborate across interdisciplinary teams to tackle real-world challenges
By the end of the fellowship, you will have developed a strong foundation in healthcare administration, strengthened your leadership capabilities, and built a network of mentors and peers who will support your continued growth. We are confident that our fellows will leave prepared to make a meaningful impact, enhance patient outcomes, and shape the future of healthcare delivery.
Sincerely,
Simon Curtis, MHA
Chief Ambulatory Officer & COO of Physician Practices
Heather Marstiller
Chief Operating Officer, Ambulatory Services
About the Fellowship
The Administrative Fellowship is a 2-year program for Masters-level graduates or students whose program requires a year-long fellowship before graduation. The program offers career development opportunities, hands-on experiences in outpatient practice management, and exposure to one of the world's top academic medical centers. As Fellows, we gain first-hand experience in dealing with the internal and external pressures that affect the local and national healthcare landscapes, and how they impact all entities within Duke Health.
To ensure we are in the heart of the action, leadership is strategically located in the center of Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, which places us in the middle of our clinical network and supports our current growth plan.
Have a question? Email us!
IMPORTANT DATES
Applications for the 2027-2029 fellowship program will open July 1, 2026. Information about the application is below.
- The application will close August 27, 2026, at 12 pm EST
- Interviews will be conducted throughout September
- Offers will be extended no later than early October
Year One
During the first year, Fellows rotate through clinical and administrative departments of the clinical practice, outpatient ambulatory network, and Duke University Health System. During these rotations, fellows gain a comprehensive understanding of the practice, ambulatory operations, strategic initiatives, and healthcare administration by shadowing senior administrators who are dedicated to helping each fellow succeed. In the first few months, fellows will also take on various projects, such as project management of access improvement, clinic activation management, and business expansion planning. This provides hands on experience with various types of strategic growth initiatives across all departments and functional areas of the organization.
Examples of rotations:
- Clinical Operations
- Duke Health Access Services
- Physician Integration
- Performance Excellence
- Compliance
- Finance
- Quality, Safety, and Accreditation
Examples of past first-year projects:
- New clinic business plans
- DHIP Health Equity Liaison management.
- Clinician contracting platform development
- Clinician onboarding dashboard development
- Project management access improvement
Year Two
During the second year, Fellows select an area of the organization in which to work based on career interests, organizational priorities, and continued mentoring. Early in the year, Fellows are encouraged to establish connections in their areas of focus for independent projects. In this more focused year, Fellows become part of the management team, gaining health administration leadership experience. Projects during the second year align with the Fellows' chosen areas and span the entire year, providing the opportunity to manage them from start to finish.
Examples of second-year areas of focus:
- Capacity Management
- Strategic Planning
- Access Services
- Performance Excellence
- Human Resources
- Perioperative Services
Examples of past second-year projects:
- Access Improvement Leadership - partnering with clinical departments to improve patient access
- Space Optimization - developing tools to optimize clinic space and support business growth
- Interim Practice Manager - lead daily operations for a specialty clinic
Ready to learn more about the DUHS Fellowship Programs?
Register to join fellows from across the health system for an upcoming webinar session!
Application Information
The Duke Health Ambulatory and Physician Practices Administrative Fellowship seeks driven, team-oriented individuals with foundational knowledge in the core competencies of healthcare administration, who are looking to grow personally and professionally.
Application Materials
- Resume/CV
- Current Official Graduate School Transcript
- 2 Letters of Recommendation (1 Academic and 1 Professional) - Please address letters of recommendation to the "DHAPP Administrative Fellowship Selection Committee"
- 1-page Statement of Purpose: Explain how your life experiences and journey into healthcare influenced the person you are today and your decision to pursue an ambulatory administrative fellowship.
- Supplemental Essay: Select one of our values - teamwork, excellence, safety, integrity, and diversity - and describe its importance to healthcare leadership (250 words max)
- Supplemental Essay: Describe a time when you had to adapt to unexpected change in your professional or personal life. What was your response? What did you learn from the experience (250 words max)
*If you have challenges uploading your application materials, feel free to compile all of your application materials into a single PDF and email your complete application to adminfellowshipdhapp@duke.edu
Additional Requirements
- Candidates must have completed didactic degree requirements for a Masters in Health Administration, Masters in Business Administration, Masters in Public Health, or related advanced degree
- Graduate program must be accredited by CAHME, AACSB, CEPH, AUPHA, or a similar accrediting body
- You may apply to multiple administrative fellowship programs. Please ensure you read each program's requirements carefully and submit all required materials to each program
At this time, we do not sponsor international visas
Apply Now
Do you meet the requirements? Have you gathered your materials? Great! Click the button below to send your application materials.
Current Fellows
First Year Fellows (2025-2027)
Kasia Horger, MHA
Hometown: Fort Pierce, FL
Education: University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
Healthcare Fields of Interest: Ambulatory Operations, Telehealth, Health Equity, Recruitment
Personal Interests: Dancing, Reading, Spending time with Family & Friends, Spending time in Nature
Johnny Henry III, MHA
Hometown: Dayton, OH
Education: The Ohio State University
Healthcare Fields of Interest: Ambulatory Operations, Health Equity, Access, Population Health
Personal Interests: Cooking, Spending time with Family, Video Games
Bryan Lester
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
Education: University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
Healthcare Fields of Interest: Ambulatory Operations, Access, Process Improvement
Personal Interests: Reading, Hiking, Playing Sports
Second Year Fellows (2024-2026)
Erin Jewell, MPH
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Education: University of Memphis
Healthcare Fields of Interest: Operations, Health Equity, Patient and Provider Experience, Performance Improvement
Personal Interests: Cyclebar, Audiobooks, Traveling, Swimming
Gina Koppenaal, MHA
Hometown: Mount Pleasant, SC
Education: Medical University of South Carolina
Healthcare Fields of Interest: Human Resources, Health Equity, Ambulatory Operations
Personal Interests: Cooking, Reading/Writing, Hiking