4 | “This rekindled my drive to make a difference and
Fosu made it as a finalist at three major hospital
do something in the healthcare field,” said Fosu.
systems,
Based on his experiences, he chose to emphasize
Health, University of Kansas Health Systems and
his Master of Business Administration degree
Providence in Washington. Fosu explained that the
toward healthcare administration, and in the
University of Utah had at least 100 applicants and
spring of 2021, began the process of applying for
five finalists. “Just four of those finalists attended
fellowship programs. After extensive preparation
and one position was awarded,” said Fosu.
and a thorough application process, Fosu was
As part of the program, Fosu will work alongside
recently accepted into the University of Utah Health
senior executives at the University of Utah Health
Hospitals and Clinics Administrative Fellowship
for one year as a mentee, namely working with CEO
program.
Dan Lundergan.
“The process of preparing to apply began in May
“They really cater the experience to the things that
with an internship at Portneuf Medical Center
you are interested in,” said Fosu. According to the
(PMC),” said Fosu. Here, Fosu was introduced to
University of Utah Health, the Fellowship program
PMC’s Chief Operations Officer, Nate Carter, from
allows candidates to choose from and work on
Leaders in healthcare
whom he received the mentoring and experience
a variety of operational activities in strategic
he needed to be a successful candidate for a
planning, finance, business development, quality
Joachim
fellowship.
improvement, health insurance operations and
“Joe” Fosu came to the United
Dr. Daniel Kim, PMC Endowed Master of Healthcare
more. After completing the program, fellows are
States from Ghana, West Africa in 2016 to study
Administration (MHA) Director at Idaho State and a
often placed into leadership roles either within the
management and finance at Idaho State University.
huge proponent of fellowship programs, provided
Hospital and Clinics or elsewhere.
Fosu was first exposed to healthcare systems as
Fosu with resources, contacts and encouragement
“This Fellowship will give me the most opportunity
a child while spending a lot of time in Ghanaian
throughout the process. “Fellowships are a great
and exposure for growth,” said Fosu. “Utah
hospitals battling malaria, a very serious and
way for students to fast-track their career into
University Health is an organization that is
prevalent illness in the region. In 2018, he suffered
a leadership position,” said Kim. “Idaho State
employee-centered, that focuses on developing
an injury playing soccer in the United States, but
University has the infrastructure to be in the top
their people from within. Working in a system
was unable to correct the injury through surgery
50 MHA programs, and being Idaho’s only MHA
like that will give me the opportunity to grow as a
for three years due to struggles with transferring
program, it is our responsibility to grow the future
leader and learn from good mentors.” Fosu said that
health records and obtaining insurance.
of healthcare leaders throughout the nation.”
his goal is to grow within the healthcare industry,
Photo: Joachim “Joe” Fosu
including
the
University
of
Utah
