Governance Fellowship

October 21 & 22, 2026

Examine the principles and skills needed to be an effective leadership board, and develop skills to adequately assess and analyze the quality of care and patient safety in the organization. Fellows will explore in depth:

March 10 & 11, 2027

Explore and discover the importance of clinical leadership in safety, health equity, teamwork, continuous learning, and the value of partnership to the healthcare enterprise. Fellows will gain a better understanding of:

June 22 & 23, 2027

Investigate, analyze and learn how to develop personal capacity to lead and drive change at a pace that keeps the organization relevant. Fellows will learn to:

With smartphones, tablets and apps changing the face of modern life, it’s only natural that these technologies would change educational opportunities too. Fellows will meet in 90-minute virtual sessions in the months they are not meeting in person. Fellows must have access to a computer with high-speed internet. The fellowship virtual sessions will be broadcast on Zoom, a platform compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android.

Virtual sessions allow fellows to explore critical issues and approaches to challenges. Content experts and experienced leaders will address topics like:

The success and value of the MHA Excellence in Governance Fellowship is embodied in the committed and highly qualified faculty involved in the program. The fellowship uses expert faculty in the areas of healthcare delivery, governance, legal issues, quality and patient safety, and leadership.

Fellows are expected to invest the time and energy needed to complete all of the activities planned for the fellowship. This learning experience is designed so that significant peer-to-peer learning will occur. Therefore, fellows should plan to attend all in-person and virtual meetings throughout the fellowship. Homework assignments will require a small amount of additional time.

Many hospitals use the fellowship to develop board members and, in particular, those moving into officer positions. We think that is a rousing endorsement! Multiple board members from the same organization are invited to apply to become fellows. Tuition is discounted for more than one board member enrolling from the same organization. Your organization wins both financially and through the ongoing development of skilled board members — that’s just one more solid reason to nominate board members for this outstanding program!

For organizations that are not members of the MHA, contact Erin Steward for fees.

Tuition covers the three in-person sessions, all virtual sessions and the registration fee for the 2026 MHA Annual Membership Meeting (a $1,000 value). Individual travel, lodging and other related expenses are not included in the tuition. Tuition is due no later than Sept. 1, 2026.

All cancellations and withdrawals must be submitted in writing. For cancellations and withdrawals on or before July 31, 2026, tuition will be returned, less a processing fee of 25%. Alternates may be accepted following review.

In-person retreats 1 and 2 will be held at the MHA headquarters, 2112 University Park Dr., Okemos, MI. If needed, hotel accommodations can be made at the Courtyard by Marriott Okemos, 3545 Meridian Crossing Drive, Okemos; or the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Okemos, 2350 Jolly Oak Rd., Okemos.

Retreat 1: Oct. 21-22, 2026

Retreat 2: March 10-12, 2027

Retreat 3: June 22-23, 2027

Retreat 3 and Graduation Details

Fellowship concludes and graduation occurs during the 2027 MHA Annual Membership Meeting at the Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island.

2025-26 Cohort