Within the OpenWater application, the student will enter the name of the Program Director or faculty member that will be providing the Letter of Recommendation. The OpenWater system will then reach out to the Program Director or faculty member and request the Letter of Recommendation. No further action is needed by the student. The student may inform the Program Director or faculty member of their request.

We suggest creating a word document with essay responses prior to entering them in the online application in case of technical difficulties. All questions must be answered in 100 words or less (approximately 500 characters).

1. Describe how accreditation serves to ensure and enhance healthcare quality.
2. What inspired your interest in sustainable healthcare, and how have you demonstrated a commitment to sustainability in your academic, professional, or personal life? 
3. Provide an example of a sustainability initiative in healthcare that resulted in measurable cost savings. What were the key factors that contributed to its success? 
   1. If you have not had direct professional experience, please provide a researched case study in short form.
4. Describe a research project you conducted during your master’s program that relates to healthcare quality and safety, sustainability, and/or process improvement.
   1. Optional to include PDF or a link to the research project.
5. What do you hope to gain from the Sustainable Healthcare Fellowship, and how do you plan to contribute to the fellowship community and the broader field of sustainable healthcare?

• Complete all employee new hire orientation and corporate compliance training, as well as mandatory employee training throughout the year.

• Meeting with the Corporate Compliance Officer to understand the processes for maintaining the confidentiality of all organization-specific information, including PHI.

• Understand the components of Joint Commission accreditation surveys and certification reviews and observe one accreditation survey and one certification review (program TBD).

• Understand the components of a CAHME site visit survey and observe one CAHME site visit at an institution of higher learning.

• Observe meetings of Customer Advisory Councils, e.g., Hospital Advisory Council and HSCL, as well as all Strategic Business Unit-specific advisory councils.

• Support Strategic Business Units, Governance and Corporate Affairs and Joint Commission Resources staff in facilitating applicable in-person meetings, conferences and other educational events.

• Work with the Standards Interpretation Group to understand the process for responding to standards-related inquiries, both clinical and Environment of Care/Life Safety Code.

• Work with the Department of Standards and Survey Methods to understand the standards development process, including supporting the work of Technical Expert Panels and summarizing field review input on proposed new or revised standards.

• Work with the Department of Performance Measurement to understand the measurement development process, including doing research on potential new or revised measures.

• Work with the Office of Quality & Patient Safety to understand the process for reviewing de- identified potential adverse or sentinel events, including attending weekly case review meetings.

• Work with the Corporate Compliance Office to understand potential threats and risk management activities, including attending a meeting of the Corporate Compliance Council.

• Work with the Department of State and External Relations to understand activities related to state government and payor advocacy, including conducting research on proposed bills and regulations. Accompany staff on meetings with state officials or state legislative committees.

• Work with the DC Office to understand activities related to federal government relations, including conducting research on proposed bills and regulations. Accompany staff on meetings with federal officials or Congressional committees.

• Work with Business Development staff to understand the new customer life cycle.

• Work with Marketing staff to prepare collateral for trade shows and conference exhibits.

• Work with Market Research staff compiling data and trends for various business unit strategic plans.

• Work with JCR staff to understand the publication development process, including e- products such as AMP with Tracers, accreditation manuals, Perspectives and other monthly newsletters.

• Work with JCR staff to understand the process for securing domestic and international consulting engagements.

• Work with the Department of Corporate Communications to understand the process for developing news releases and responding to requests from media outlets.

• Work with staff from the National Quality Forum on activities supporting its mission and goals.

• Complete the white paper summarizing key learnings from the CAHME/TJC Fellowship.

• Complete other duties as assigned.

• Appear on CAHME and The Joint Commission website and social media.
• Honored at the 2026 CAHME Awards Ceremony at ACHE Congress and receive complimentary registration and travel.
• Featured in joint press release.
• Opportunity to be featured in additional media vehicles, including but not limited to the CAHME Digest, CAHME website, CAHME Master Your Healthcare Career Podcast, LinkedIn, etc.