The Harris Center's
Administrative Fellowship Program
Fellowship Program Overview
The Harris Center for Mental Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Administrative Fellowship Program provides one recent graduate with a 1-year opportunity to learn about leadership and management in a community-based regional authority that delivers mental health and IDD services to Harris County (the county where Houston is located) and beyond.
The selected Fellow will have the opportunity to contribute to ongoing leadership projects and gain real-world management experiences through hands-on work with the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Chief Executive Officer (CEO), and other executives. This experience offers exposure to high-level decision-making processes and strategic initiatives while helping provide safety net care to a diverse patient population.
This one-year management experience helps individuals learn the fundamentals of clinical operations, finance, care delivery, strategic planning, data analytics, and administrative leadership within a large healthcare organization.
Why Choose The Harris Center Administrative Fellowship at The Harris Center
What Does it Take to be an Administrative Fellow at The Harris Center?
Strong Academic Record
Any recent graduates or current students completing a master's program with emphasis on healthcare management, operations, finance, and/or other aspects of healthcare leadership (MPA, MPH, MBA, or other related master's degree program). Data analysis and healthcare analytic skills are a plus, but not required.
Leadership
Demonstrates high proficiency in oral and verbal communication, collaborative, and team leadership skills. Energetic, highly motivated to transform healthcare delivery
Industry Interest
Interest in community care delivery, serving diverse populations, and behavioral health and/or IDD.
Administrative Fellow Will
Administrative fellows at The Harris Center will gain experience by working in a variety of departments throughout The Harris Center. Under the direction of the fellowship preceptors, fellows will support key initiatives and projects in each area. Fellows will participate in senior leadership team meetings and work as part of multi-disciplinary teams and independently to advance the strategic goals of The Harris Center. The Administrative Fellowship Program prepares fellows for health care administration leadership opportunities within the organization. Fellows will complete projects designed to strengthen administrative and leadership skills.
Lead
Lead projects that develop analytical, leadership, finance, and health care operations skills.
Demonstrate
Demonstrate attention to detail, consistency, and meets multiple deadlines in a timely manner.
Exhibit
Exhibit an understanding of health care administration, health industry trends, and an understanding of The Harris Center's organizational structure and mission.
Work
Work effectively both independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
Act
Act as a self-starter and demonstrate a willingness to take on new and challenging leadership roles, as well as non-leadership projects and deliverables.
Build
Build effective health care management skills and the ability to work with administrative leaders.
Application Requirements
Please include the following materials for review in your application:
Application and Selection Process
How To Apply
1
Combine Cover Letter and Resume/CV
Merge your cover letter and resume/CV into a single PDF document.
2
Submit the Combined PDF
Email the combined cover letter and resume/CV PDF to adminfellow@theharriscenter.org.
3
Request Letters of Recommendation
Ask your recommenders to email their letters directly to adminfellow@theharriscenter.org Ensure they use the subject line: "[Applicant Name] The Harris Center 20XX Administrative Fellowship Recommendation."
4
Confirm Submission of Letters of Recommendation
Follow up with your recommenders to ensure they send their letters no later than 11:59 PM CST on [DATE].
5
Submit Your Transcripts
Mail Submission: If mailing your transcripts, ensure they are received by [DATE]. Electronic Submission (preferred): Request your institution to send your electronic transcripts directly to The Harris Center. Ensure electronic transcripts are sent either electronically or by mail to be received by [DATE].
6
Complete Application Submission
Verify that all components of your application (combined cover letter and resume/CV PDF, letters of recommendation, and transcripts) are submitted by the deadline. Note that incomplete submissions will not be reviewed.
Our Fellows
INCOMING FELLOW
Hillary Mai Dang
Administrative Fellow (2025-2026)
Hillary comes to the Meadows Institute with five years of experience in management and two years of experience in project management in both outpatient and inpatient healthcare settings. Prior to joining the Institute, Hillary was a patient care technician at a 78-bed psychiatric hospital where she learned about inpatient settings for behavioral health care and had direct patient care experiences. During her time at The University of Texas at Dallas, she was President of the Environmental Conservation Organization and served as a student council committee member for the American College of Healthcare Executives of North Texas. Most recently, Hillary was part of the 2022 Summer Internship Program on the Policy Implementation Team.
Hillary Mai Dang
Hillary comes to the Meadows Institute with five years of experience in management and two years of experience in project management in both outpatient and inpatient healthcare settings. Prior to joining the Institute, Hillary was a patient care technician at a 78-bed psychiatric hospital where she learned about inpatient settings for behavioral health care and had direct patient care experiences. During her time at The University of Texas at Dallas, she was President of the Environmental Conservation Organization and served as a student council committee member for the American College of Healthcare Executives of North Texas. Most recently, Hillary was part of the 2022 Summer Internship Program on the Policy Implementation Team.
In her role at the Meadows Institute, Hillary supports the work of the Center for Health System Transformation related to regional assessments and behavioral health system redesign and supports the Operations Team across general administration, grants and contracts, and the Summer Internship Program.
Hillary has a bachelor’s in Healthcare Management from The University of Texas at Dallas and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Public Health at George Washington University. Hillary currently lives in Washington DC with her cat, Lamarck, who will occasionally make an appearance in meetings. Hillary has a passion to understand and improve mental health through effective policy and business practices.
CURRENT FELLOW
Ria Menon, MPH
Administrative Fellow (2024-2025)
"Throughout my first two months as an Administrative Fellow, I have been able to dive into the multifaceted and ever-changing landscape of a leading behavioral health organization. It has been wonderful collaborating with individuals who are committed to the organization, its cause, and progress, and learning from their experiences and extensive knowledge base. I’ve found that growth truly does emerge from the interplay of challenge and collaboration."
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Ria
Ria Menon, MPH, is the Administrative Fellow for The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD. She has earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with minors in Biology and Health and her Master of Public Health in Healthcare Management. Her interest in public health stemmed from her time at the Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions and grew through her undergraduate studies. With a desire to bridge her pre-medical and public health exposure to accelerate healthcare evolution and elevate patient care, Ria immersed herself in healthcare management through her graduate degree.
Her essential experiences from coursework include the implementation of a Lean Six Sigma project for the Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder department of an FQHC in Houston, writing public health policy papers about bills initiated in Texas, developing a comparative financial analysis on Harris Health, and collaborating on a community grant proposal for Ethos Wellness, a mental health clinic, to utilize peer support services for its substance use disorder treatment. An internship with the System Optimization and Performance Department at the University of Texas Medical Branch allowed Ria to engage with stakeholders to create solutions across multiple departments to improve metrics and meet strategic goals. She led many value stream analyses, oversaw rapid improvement events, and facilitated a Model Cell and Coaching for Performance Improvement courses. Her involvement in these different experiences allowed her to develop a strong foundation in healthcare management with a comprehensive understanding of the industry, hands-on experience, and a solid skillset to prepare her for her Administrative Fellowship.
PAST FELLOW
Ali Shamsi, MPH
Administrative Fellow (2023-2024)
Business Development & Strategic Initiatives Manager, The Harris Center
Ali recently earned his Master of Public Health with a concentration in Healthcare Management from UTHealth and holds a BBA in Finance from the University of Houston. Prior to his graduation, Ali served as an Outreach Coordinator at UT Health and gained valuable experience as a Business Operations Intern at Texas Children's Hospital. Ali’s previous role as a Behavior Technician at Texana Center has provided him with a profound understanding of the challenges and opportunities involved in delivering specialized care to the population we serve, an asset that will serve him well at The Harris Center.
Ali
Ali recently earned his Master of Public Health with a concentration in Healthcare Management from UTHealth and holds a BBA in Finance from the University of Houston. Prior to his graduation, Ali served as an Outreach Coordinator at UT Health and gained valuable experience as a Business Operations Intern at Texas Children's Hospital. Ali’s previous role as a Behavior Technician at Texana Center has provided him with a profound understanding of the challenges and opportunities involved in delivering specialized care to the population we serve, an asset that will serve him well at The Harris Center.
Ali will continue the legacy of excellence left by Bianca Daswani, our very first Administrative Fellow. We wish Bianca well in her new journey with The Harris Center. Bianca has set a high bar for success. We eagerly anticipate the bright that lies ahead with our new Administrative Fellow. We are confident that Ali will continue the extraordinary work of his predecessor and leave an indelible legacy of his own. Together, we will reach new heights, drive innovation, and make a lasting impact at the Harris Center.
Please help us extend a warm welcome to Ali as he joins The Harris Center family.
PAST FELLOW
Bianca Daswani, MHA, MBA
Inaugural Administrative Fellow (2022-2023)
Talent Development Leader, The Harris Center
"Throughout my first two months as an Administrative Fellow, I have been able to dive into the multifaceted and ever-changing landscape of a leading behavioral health organization. It has been wonderful collaborating with individuals who are committed to the organization, its cause, and progress, and learning from their experiences and extensive knowledge base. I’ve found that growth truly does emerge from the interplay of challenge and collaboration."
Bianca Daswani
Bianca Daswani currently serves as the Talent Development Leader for The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD, the largest behavioral and developmental disability care center in Texas. There, she manages agency-wide clinical rotation, internship, and practicum programs and associated affiliation agreements. Her passion for developing young professionals and utilizing data and evidence-based approaches to enhance operational efficiencies has been an asset to The Harris Center.
Before her current role, Daswani gained unmatched experience as the very first Administrative Fellow at The Harris Center. She is no stranger to “building the plane while flying it,” from operationalizing the fellowship with scarce reference to conceptualizing the organization's first Administrative Internship Program. Daswani holds a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Houston, and a Master of Healthcare Administration and Master of Business Administration in Business Analytics from Texas Woman’s University.
Highly motivated to transform healthcare delivery positively, Bianca Daswani has a strong interest in behavioral health, diversity, equity, and inclusion. She believes that educating oneself on how to lead is as equally important as educating others on how to lead. To this end, she feels passionately about her position in ACHE-SETC as the Cochair of the Mentorship Committee, where she creates more efficient methods for further mentorship engagement. In the future, Daswani looks forward to impacting the quality of patient care and efficiency in health system operations through leadership and management.
Application Timeline
Virtual Informational Sessions:
7/17/24: 5:00pm - 6:00 pm
8/7/24: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
8/21/24: 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Application Opens: 7/7/24
Application Deadline: 9/6/24
Phone Interviews: 9/23/24 - 9/27/24
Final Interviews: October
Final Decision: Early November
Rotations
Fellows will have the opportunity to precept with several C-suite executives within The Harris Center and receive direct supervision on a weekly basis. The preceptor will work with the Fellow to choose a longitudinal project matched with the candidate's interest as related to organizational need.
Quality & Safety
Clinical Operations
Finance
Performance Improvement
Informatics
Data Analytics
Pharmacy
Business Operations
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The Administrative Fellow's main preceptor will ensure that the fellow is guided by a clear action plan that includes an in-depth orientation using The Administrative Fellowship Guidebook and related PowerPoint Presentations, establishes a timeline of activities, delineates required skills, and provides periodic performance appraisals using 360 Evaluations.
The main preceptor is responsible for helping the Admin Fellow harness the various experiences gained through the fellowship program and facilitate the realization of learning outcomes. This can be done by:
- Affording the fellow the time and patience needed for an optimal learning experience
- Encouraging the fellow to express opinions and to feel free to come to you to discuss problems
- Suggesting new ideas without dominating the fellow's thought and action
- Encouraging the fellow to develop new ideas and put them into practice
- Empowering the fellow to try different methods of accomplishing assigned tasks
Yes! They just need to meet the minimum requirements of the position.
Understanding the organization’s Strategic Plan and Annual Financial Reports will enhance your awareness of the functions of The Harris Center, the reasons behind decisions being made, and the trajectory of where the agency is headed, especially in relation to achieving budget and strategic plan goals.
Viewing the services provided and decisions being made through the lenses of the Strategic Plan and Annual Financial Report will help you maximize administrative learning outcomes during your Administrative Fellowship.
It is best to start your first 2 weeks before the rotations start by meeting key people and visiting key sites to acclimate you to the agency.
Informational Interviews
Fellows should start by meeting each of the Chief Executives of the agency (CMO, CNO, COO, CAO, CIO, CEO, CFO, and General Council) and then the Vice Presidents under each Chief if time allows. If time runs out, it is best to complete informational interviews when you go through each of the designated rotations. Informational interviews with Directors and Managers can be conducted during the respective rotations.
Please note that for the informational interviews you do not get to within the first 2 weeks of your fellowship, it is best to complete those at the start of each rotation so that you can meet the people you will be learning from during that rotation.
Site Visits
Fellows should start to get their feet wet by rounding at 9401 Southwest Frwy Clinics (Adult Mental Health, Child and Adolescent Services, Primary Care, and IDD).
It is best to complete site visits at the end of each rotation so that projects from the rotation can be completed. Having site visits at the end of each rotation will also allow for an enhanced application of knowledge gained through each rotation so that fellows will be able to see their learnings in action. If fellows complete all visits at the beginning of the fellowship, this might lend to an information overload.
If you have additional questions, please reach out to adminfellow@theharriscenter.org to learn more about the program.
Be proactive. Learn all you can about the company, your team(s), and how the team(s) affect the overall mission and values of The Harris Center. This way, you will be in a better position to help those you support to meet organizational needs and affect continuous improvement. Learn new applications and then teach others. Support others and never become complacent in your role.
Be open-minded. As an Administrative Fellow, it can be difficult to integrate into a new working environment and it is important to be sensitive to others' perspectives. It is important to understand the culture and history of an organization before going to new recommendations and suggestions. Thus, utilizing curiosity, observation, openness, and neutrality can support better relational development and successful engagement by others within a group.
Be organized. Administrative Fellows have many things to juggle at once, so being organized from the beginning is crucial. Having an organized desk, computer and calendar can help you complete administrative tasks in a quality and time-efficient manner. Healthcare administrators must have both big-picture organizational systems thinking skills plus an eye for managing small details.
Master time management. With so many responsibilities spread among different aspects, such as meeting with administrators, completing projects, and attending meetings, time management is a must to ensure deadlines are met, tasks are up-to-date, and those working with you are satisfied.
Effective communication. You must be able to communicate processes and information to others, respond clearly to questions, requests and more. You must also be able to use various types of communication including verbal, nonverbal, written, and visual communication to network with key stakeholders, complete projects, and accelerate your learning.
