PDC Administrative Fellowship

Simon Curtis, MHA
Vice President, Operations and Management Services

Hometown: Durham, North Carolina
Education: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Master of Health Administration
Fellowship: Duke University Hospital, 2010–2012

Simon joined PDC in 2013 after his role in Ambulatory Operations at Duke University Hospital, bringing more than seven years of experience in a variety of administrative and leadership roles at Duke Health and PDC.

Simon is responsible for the operations of the 36 community-based PDC practices that deliver more than 670,000 patient visits per year. In this role, he oversees all aspects of these clinics, including patient satisfaction, safety, employee relations, and finance.

Simon is a founder of the PDC Administrative Fellowship program and has been Preceptor since its inception in 2015. 

Second Year Fellows (2017–2019)
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Rachel Liao, MHA

​Hometown: Cary, North Carolina
Education: University of Washington, Master of Health Administration
Fields of Interests: Ambulatory operations, strategic planning, care management, and process improvement
Personal Interests: Hiking trails with her dog Penny, trying new recipes and restaurants, enjoying music, planning future travels, and interior design

Sonia Kohli, MHA

​​Hometown: Hilton Head, South Carolina
Education: Medical University of South Carolina, Master of Health Administration
​Fields of Interests: Women’s health and patient experience
Personal Interests: Playing tennis, trying new restaurants, and spending time with her dog, Cotton

2017 PDC Administrative Fellowship Alumni
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Camille Grant, MAT, MHA 
Program Manager, PDC Accreditation and Patient Safety  

Hometown: Bridgeport, Connecticut
Education: Georgia State University, Master of Arts in Teaching; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Master of Health Administration

Fellowship Experience: “The PDC Administrative Fellowship has afforded me the opportunity to explore the broad field of ambulatory care, while deepening my knowledge of healthcare administration. The professional and personal relationships that I’ve gained at the PDC are ones that will last a lifetime. I am forever thankful for the opportunity to find my niche in healthcare administration, and my voice as a young careerist. I look forward to the opportunities to come with confidence knowing that I’ve been prepared by an extraordinary administrative fellowship program.” 
 

John Ruch, MMS
Financial Analyst, PDC Finance

Hometown: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Education: Duke University Fuqua School of Business, Master of Management Studies

Fellowship Experience: “The PDC Administrative Fellowship allowed me to understand how a world-class health system functions at an executive level while simultaneously experiencing clinical operations in an up-close and personal way. This approach helped me to understand all aspects of healthcare delivery while also fostering my personal and professional development.”

Lauren Walls, MHA
Health Center Administrator, Duke Eye Center

Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Education: University of Texas Arlington, Master of Health Administration

Fellowship Experience: “The PDC Administrative Fellowship provided me with many opportunities to interface with physician and university leadership across all areas of the PDC and health system. Working with these leaders has been invaluable in helping me understand the complex issues the health care industry faces today, and furthering my professional development."

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Stand Out Above the Rest

The PDC Administrative Fellowship is different from other opportunities within Duke, as it exposes Fellows to all facets of the health care delivery. Fellows 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. Fellows are expected to go where the physicians go, in order to get a holistic view of a multi-faceted organization.

To ensure we are in the heart of the action, PDC 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.  

PDC Administration is also growing to continue to meet the needs of its members, which means adding bandwidth to our Clinical Operations, Finance, Business Strategy, Network Development, Quality, Safety, Contracting, Compliance, and Communications teams, to name a few. These are the areas fellows will explore, opening doors to numerous opportunities for the motivated, proactive individuals accepted into the program.

“ Getting the chance to work in such a variety of areas not only gave me the experience I needed to be successful in my career, it also gave me insight into which direction I wanted to take it."

—John Ruch, PDC Administrative Fellow Alumnus '17

Year One: Learn the Ropes

During the first year, Fellows rotate through clinical and administrative departments of the PDC, Duke University Health System, and Duke University Hospitals. During these rotations, Fellows gain a comprehensive understanding of PDC and its strategic initiatives by shadowing senior administrators and PDC leaders, who also mentor Fellows on a monthly basis to ensure they are successful.

Fellows will also have department-specific projects in each of their rotations to provide a broad understanding of all areas of PDC's administration. This also gives Fellows to get a better sense of where to hone their focus in year two. 

Rotations:

Project Work

Project work may be proposed by senior leaders or fellows, based on personal interest and professional goals. Fellows work with leadership to evaluate and select projects that combine the professional interests of the Fellows and the needs of the organization.

Projects assigned during the first year allow Fellows hands-on experience with various types of initiatives across all departments and functional areas of PDC's administration. A new project may be assigned during each of the Fellows' 2-week rotations, allowing them to develop working relationships and working knowledge of the organization.

Required Application Materials:

Prior to initiating your application process, prepare the following items:

• Resume/CV

• 1 Current Official Graduate School Transcript 

• Undergraduate Transcript (Unofficial Accepted)

• 2 Letters of Recommendation (Academic and Professional)

• 1-Page Statement of Purpose that explains: 

​If selected as a PDC Fellow, what do you hope to gain and what do you plan to contribute during your fellowship?

• 1-Page Supplemental Essay that addresses the following: 

Describe a time when your team or workplace environment was undergoing change. How did the change impact you, and how did you adapt?

Applicants for the 2019–2021 fellowship must apply between July 1 and October 1, 2018