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Graduate Healthcare Administration Training Program (GHATP): Administrative Residents/Fellows

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​Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) Administrative Residents/Fellows Program under the Graduate Healthcare Administration Training Program (GHATP) supplements the teaching component of health services administration graduate programs. Opportunities are provided for fellows to apply knowledge gained through coursework.

Through this program, VA provides in-hospital experiences for students who are receiving or who have just received their master's degrees, such as Master of Health Care Administration (MHA), Master of Health Services Administration (MHSA), Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Public Administration (MPA) or Master of Business Administration (MBA). MBA and MPA candidates must have had coursework in health care administration to qualify. The 12-month program is offered at the GS09 to GS11 grade range.​​​​​​​​​

Eligibility Requirements

There are two types of administrative training positions:
  • Residents – Graduate students who have completed the instructional portion of their accredited graduate program and are seeking practical experience for up to 12 months prior to receiving their degree.
  • Fellows – Graduates who recently received their master's degree from an accredited program and are seeking advanced practical experience for up to 12 months.

Qualifications

To qualify, your master's program must be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME), the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA), the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), or the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

In addition, you must have completed a minimum of 40 hours of temporary paid or without compensation (WOC) clinical education at a VA site with an affiliation agreement prior to university graduation.

General Training & Development Experiences

​​Residents/fellows receive a salary, benefits, training and travel. Training is provided by experienced VA professionals known as preceptors.

Application Process

Medical center and network directors annually apply to become a GHATP preceptor, so the GHATP sites change annually. Each medical center is responsible for the recruitment of their resident or fellow; therefore, interested candidates should apply directly to the VA medical center in which they are interested. Recruitment typically begins in late-November and can run until the end of May.

Program Information

Website:
http://www.vacareers.va.gov/va-you/students/GHATP-residents.asp

Program Contact Information:
For more information about the Graduate Healthcare Administration Training Program contact: VHAGHATPProgramManager@va.gov

FAQs

Program Size:
VA sponsored 54 employees in 2010 and 46 employees in 2011 through the GHATP Administrative Residents/Fellows Program.

Service Obligation:
There are no service obligations for this intern program.

Current Career Fields: Health care administration professionals

After Program Completion

Upon successful completion of the training program, residents/fellows are eligible for placement in a position within the VA health care system. Preceptors work with residents/fellows to find a position that best fits their skills, needs and circumstances.

VA Internship Programs :