NUMC STARTS ADMINISTRATIVE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM TO PREPARE AND TRAIN ETHNIC AND RACIAL MINORITIES TO BECOME FUTURE HEALTHCARE LEADERS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 16, 2010

PRESS CONTACT:
Shelley Lotenberg
shelley@numc.edu
516-572-6055

NUMC STARTS ADMINISTRATIVE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM TO PREPARE AND TRAIN ETHNIC AND RACIAL MINORITIES TO BECOME FUTURE HEALTHCARE LEADERS

THREE FELLOWS WILL GAIN PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE IN OPERATIONS, FINANCE, QUALITY MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION DURING ONE YEAR ROTATION SCHEDULE, HELPING TO INCREASE POOL OF TALENTED AND CULTURALLY COMPETENT PROFESSIONALS DEDICATED TO SERVING THE UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS
 

East Meadow, NY…Arthur A. Gianelli, President/CEO of the NuHealth System, announced that an interview panel comprised of senior NuHealth officials, had finalized the selection for the NuHealth Minority Administrative Fellowship Program (NMAFP) at the Nassau University Medical Center and approved the hiring of three fellows for the one year rotation.

“We are excited to announce the start of the NuHealth Minority Administrative Fellowship Program at the Nassau University Medical Center, a program designed to prepare and train ethnic and racial minorities to become future leaders in healthcare. The fellows will have extensive opportunities to meet and work alongside with senior level management in gaining practical and operational experience in a work environment in the areas of operations, finance, quality management and administration,” said Gianelli. “As a safety net provider, NuHealth provides healthcare to a significant percentage of minority and disadvantaged populations. It is in NuHealth’s interest to ensure that ethnic and racial groups are employed in the workplace in executive management positions by participating in administrative and policy decisions that will influence the healthcare of minority and disadvantaged populations.”

Following an advertisement in American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), Newsday and Health Leaders of New York (HLNY), as well as outreach to local universities and colleges, the NuHealth System had received 26 applications which were reviewed, with 10 candidates interviewed. Following the interviews, three fellows were selected to start the one year paid rotation where they will gain experience in operations, finance, quality management and administration.
The three fellows selected following interviews by the senior management team are: Annette Nicole Thomas, Sarabpreet K.  Khara and Irma Sharpe, all three very strong candidates, very well spoken, with a clear understanding of the NuHealth’s mission and exhibiting a strong passion for healthcare.

Irma Sharpe, a resident of Floral Park, NY, completed a Master of Healthcare Administration from the Long Island University, C.W. Post Campus in Brookville, NY, following a change of career after working in the finance and banking industry for fourteen years. She has also obtained training in medical terminology and coding.

Annette Nicole Thomas, a resident of Texas, completed a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Health Systems Management from the Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas and worked as a program coordinator at the Texas Woman’s University, where she coordinated the development of the study abroad and outreach programs while providing direct support to the vice president of student life.

Sarabpreet K. Khara, a resident of Florida, completed a Master of Business Administration from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, a Master of Healthcare Administration from Bellevue University in NE and had completed three years of medical school in the Saint James School of Medicine in Bonaire, Northern Antilles.

Maureen Roarty, NuHealth’s vice president of human resources, added: “Our three fellows will gain hands-on operational experience which will foster personal as well as professional growth and development. The NMAFP shall provide a foundation of knowledge in health policy and management, while creating a network of future leaders capable of advancing successfully.”

To be considered for the one year intensive full time paid internship training program, candidates needed a master’s degree in hospital administration, healthcare administration, public health administration or a closely related field and a desire to pursue leadership roles in healthcare. Fellows will complete special projects to gain an understanding of major health issues facing minorities, disadvantaged and underserved populations. Fellows have the opportunity to utilize resources at the NuHealth System to enhance their networking career development and advancement.

“I am very confident that these three fellows, with a demonstrated passion for healthcare, will enable us to reach the objectives of the program, to provide professional guidance to ethnic and racial minority graduate students and to increase the pool of talented and culturally competent professionals dedicated to serving the underserved populations,” concluded Gianelli.

ABOUT NUHEALTH
NuHealth is a Long Island health care organization delivering essential medical care and disease and lifestyle management to everyone at every stage of life.  Also known as Nassau Health Care Corporation, NuHealth is a public benefit corporation managing the operations of Nassau Medical Center, A. Holly Patterson Extended Care and a network of Family Health Centers that bring primary and specialty care out into the community.  By emphasizing wellness, cultural sensitivity and collaborative efforts with the North Shore-LIJ Health System, NuHealth is working to make good care more affordable and easier to access.

For more information about NuHealth or its Centers of Care, visit www.nuhealth.net.