Abby Juillerat ’25 has been selected for the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Health Administrative Fellowship, a competitive postgraduate program she will begin this summer.
Juillerat earned her Bachelor of Healthcare Administration from Samford University in 2025 and is pursuing her Master of Healthcare Administration through Samford’s fast-track program. She is completing her graduate internship and capstone project at UAB Hospital, gaining hands-on experience in hospital operations and executive leadership.
Juillerat said her experience at Samford, including its real-world curriculum and supportive faculty, helped prepare her for opportunities like the MUSC administrative fellowship. “My professors didn’t just teach classes, they mentored and supported me, ensuring I developed both the technical skills and professional confidence to succeed in complex healthcare environments and beyond,” she said.
Carol Ratcliffe, professor and chair of Samford’s Department of Healthcare Administration and Informatics, said Juillerat’s selection reflects the program’s emphasis on experiential learning. “This experience is especially valuable for those who have not yet worked in the field, as it provides direct exposure to healthcare executives and real-world operations,” Ratcliffe said.
She added that Juillerat’s upcoming fellowship at MUSC, paired with her internship and capstone work at UAB, demonstrates the kind of practical preparation that helps students enter healthcare administration with confidence and make an immediate impact.
As part of the fellowship, Juillerat expects to support projects focused on operational efficiency, patient experience and departmental initiatives within the oncology service line. Her work will include data analysis, process improvement and strategic planning support.
Juillerat said MUSC’s focus on patient-centered care, education and innovation aligns with her long-term career goals, particularly her interest in academic medical centers that integrate care, research and education.
“My career goal is to work in operations within an academic medical center where I can improve efficiency, support clinical teams and enhance patient outcomes,” she said.
At Samford, Juillerat served in leadership roles in her sorority, participated in Samford’s This is H.E.A.L.T.H. student organization and worked as an ambassador for the School of Public Health. She said those experiences helped shape her interest in healthcare leadership, service and advocacy.
