Skip to Content
800-533-8762
UPMC
Skip to Content
UPMC

UPMC Insurance Services Division (ISD) Administrative Fellowship Track

About the UPMC ISD Administrative Fellowship Track

The two-year Insurance Services Division (ISD) fellowship is a leadership development program that serves as means to develop a broad experience in fellows' career that will foster their professional development within the Insurance Services Division of UPMC.

ISD Fellows will rotate through UPMC Insurance Services Division (UPMC Health Plan, Workpartners, and Community Care Behavioral Health Organization), have an externship to another UPMC location, and have an optional rotation in an area of the fellows' choosing.

Each rotation will serve as a learning experience for fellows by testing their abilities, as well as instilling applicable system and divisional knowledge related to the strategic plan and vision of the organization. Fellows will work with their rotation preceptor to develop goals and expectations for the rotation. Applicable project(s) work will be assigned within each rotation in order to ensure fellows' progress is meeting the expectations of the program. ISD fellows may also be assigned projects that span the entire two-year fellowship program.

In addition to departmental designated projects, fellows will also have the opportunity to seek out projects that meet their personal career objectives. At the end of the program, fellows will work closely with their preceptors in finding employment opportunities within the organization.

Supplemental learning opportunities

UPMC is highly committed to the training of administrative fellows, and offers opportunities to:

  • Gain an understanding of the core processes within the Insurance Services Division
  • Have broad exposure to operations of an Integrated Delivery and Financing System
  • Better understand clinical operations and finances
  • Strengthen health care experience through work on various in-depth projects
  • Be mentored by senior-level executives
  • Coordinate and participate in executive-level meetings
  • Establish a network of contacts throughout the health system
  • Improve management and leadership skills
  • Refine communication and analytical skills

Year One Opportunities: Core Functional Rotations

Fellows spend their first year rotating with the UPMC Insurance Services Division executive team. UPMC is the largest medical and behavioral health insurer in western Pennsylvania, insuring more than 3.9 million lives. UPMC Insurance Services Division serves as the centralized hub for a wide array of health insurance plan services and operates in the Downtown Pittsburgh campus located at the US Steel Tower.

Fellows participate in core functional rotations and an externship during their first year of the program and pursue a specific interest during their second year of the program. Upon completion of the program, fellows are prepared to move into highly competitive roles within the organization.

Rotation opportunities

The fellowship is comprised of rotations, in which the fellows will primarily be involved in project work. Key areas of focus may include (but are not limited to):

  • Government Programs
  • Commercial Products
  • Organizational Performance
  • Operations
  • Clinical Operations
  • Administration
  • Finance Quality Improvement
  • Network Development
  • Workpartners
  • Community Care Behavioral Health
  • Population Health
  • Center for Social Impact
  • Community Services
  • Digital Health Strategy

Externships

Examples of first year externships include:

  • The UPMC Health Plan Erie Office
  • UPMC in Central Pa.  
  • UPMC Susquehanna

Projects

Examples of projects that ISD fellows may work on include:

  • Developing strategic business initiatives
  • Issuing RFI and RFPs
  • Managing consultants or third-party vendors
  • Coordinating various task forces
  • Creating financial dashboards and budgets
  • Performing cost benefit analysis
  • Maintaining current Employee Engagement initiatives
  • Implementing quality-of-care improvement initiatives

Year Two Opportunities

The following roles are potential examples of a second year Fellowship role, including potential management opportunities:

  • Program Manager
  • Product Manager
  • Staff Associate
  • Network Manager
  • Business Development & Strategy Manager

Preceptors

Roles and expectations

ISD fellows are each assigned an advisor who serves as a mentor and an advocate throughout the entire fellowship. Fellows are also assigned a preceptor during each rotation. Preceptors are responsible for guidance and progress by:

  • Defining projects
  • Ensuring that fellows' needs are being met
  • Meeting with fellows regularly
  • Providing timely feedback regarding performance and progress
  • The fellows are responsible for providing their advisors and preceptors with all necessary information to ensure a mutually beneficial experience.

Current preceptors

Mary Beth Jenkins
Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, UPMC Insurance Services Division
Administrative Fellowship Executive Sponsor, Insurance Services Division

  • Ellen Beckjord – Vice President, Population Health and Clinical Transformation, UPMC Health Plan
  • Karen DePasquale – Vice President, Clinical Operations, UPMC Health Plan
  • Katie Domalakes – Senior Director, Clinical Affairs and Clinical Business Development, UPMC Health Plan Clinical Operations Administration
  • Brendan Harris – Vice President, Community Health Choices, UPMC Health Plan
  • Matthew Hurford – President, Community Care Behavioral Health, UPMC Insurance Services Division
  • Natasha Khouri – Associate Vice President, Telehealth Strategy Solutions, UPMC Health Plan Digital Strategy Solutions
  • John Lovelace — President, Government Programs, UPMC Health Plan
  • Angela Perri — Chief Medicare Officer, UPMC Health Plan
  • Ray Prushnok – Associate Vice President, Program Development and Social Impact, UPMC Health Plan Center for Social Impact
  • Dan Swayze – Vice President, Community Services, UPMC Health plan
  • Georgean Wielock — Vice President, Operations, Configuration, & Ancillary Products, UPMC Health Plan
  • Kim Zynn — Vice President, National Network Development & Strategic Expansion, UPMC Health Plan

Current Fellows 

Image of Paige Borst.

Paige Borst
Second Year Fellow
University of Pittsburgh
borstp2@upmc.edu

 

Image of Lysia Gehris.

Lysia Gehris
Second Year Fellow
University of Pittsburgh
gehrisl@upmc.edu

Image of Tola.

Tola Gbadamosi
First Year Fellow
Yale University
gbadamosiom@upmc.edu

Image of Shae.

Shae Wilson
First Year Fellow
University of Pittsburgh
wilsonse6@upmc.edu