Army-Baylor MGH Administrative Fellows
Learn more about the Program's Fellows.
Past Fellows
Michael J. Kehoe, MHA, MBA
mjkehoe@mgh.harvard.edu
Baylor University
Mike developed a passion for healthcare after enlisting as a combat medic in the Illinois Army National Guard. Following his undergraduate studies, Mike was commissioned as a Medical Service Corps Officer in the Active Duty Army. His first encounter with administrative operations was at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, where he learned what a manager in a clinical operations department does to set themselves apart by improving the well-being of their patients and staff. Throughout his time in the military, he has honed his focus on administration and systems improvement through various experiences around the world. His favorite work experiences include working in small teams to ensure that the group’s supported patient population gets the best, most efficient care possible. Most recently, Mike led a team of medics, technicians, nurses, and physicians supporting evacuees and servicemembers through the evacuation of Afghanistan.
Mike completed the second year of the Army-Baylor MHA/MBA program, which includes a one-year fellowship at hospitals around the country. Mike chose to come to Massachusetts General Hospital for his fellowship because of the hospital’s reputation as a leader in education, research, and community health.
David Attanasio
dattanasio@mgh.harvard.edu
Baylor University
David commissioned as a Medical Service Corps officer after a few years as a human resources specialist in the Army reserve. His command acknowledged his expertise, professionalism, and attention to detail, recommending him to pursue being an officer. He has served at multiple echelons with a diverse background in medical logistics, medical operations for armored brigades, patient administration at both operational and hospital levels. One of the greatest assignments was as the commander of the brigade medical support company followed by the battalion rear detachment commander. For more than a decade he has been motivated to bridge the gap between patients and administrative/command vision. This inspired him to earn his MHA and MBA from Baylor University.
David graduated from Weber State University in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. He consistently strives to learn and help with system improvement. He was drawn to MGH because he wants to understand what makes them the best and the birthplace of the Affordable Care Act to take these attributes back to military healthcare. “If you want to learn who put the care in healthcare, come to MGH.”
Mark Wesseler, LCSW, BCD
Baylor University
Mark has been a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army for 15 years. He began his career in an Infantry Airborne unit in Alaska as a medical Platoon Leader and later as the senior medical Operations Officer. His military career continued to develop as a Company Commander, Senior Behavioral Science Officer, and as the Chief of Family Advocacy and an Intensive Outpatient Program. Some of Mark's assignment locations have included Iraq, Japan, Hawaii, and across the U.S. Over the course of his career, Mark recognized the need for providers to better understand the administrative functions in healthcare. This led him to return to school to pursue his MHA.
Mark Graduated from Radford University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and obtained his Master's in Social Work from the Army-MSW program. Mark completed his licensure internship at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and is now a Board Certified, Independently Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Mark is completing the residency phase of the Army-Baylor MHA program as an Administrative Fellow at MGH. This is an incredible opportunity to learn from one of the industry's leaders and Mark is incredibly grateful and excited for this unique assignment.
Elizabeth Carpenter
Baylor University
Elizabeth began her career in healthcare administration when she commissioned into the U.S. Air Force Medical Service Corps. After commissioning her first assignment was at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, where she was able to grow and lead as the Group Practice Manager, Executive Officer, and Resource Management Flight Commander for the clinic. She came to the fellowship program after completing the didactic year of her master’s degree program in San Antonio, Texas. Elizabeth is passionate about healthcare administration and improving the delivery of care in the military health system.
Elizabeth graduated from the United States Air Force Academy with a bachelor’s degree in Economics. She is currently completing the residency phase of the Army-Baylor Graduate Program in Health and Business Administration. She is thrilled to be a part of MGH and looks forward to learning as much as possible from the diverse opportunities the fellowship affords.|
Peter Yusckat
Baylor University
Peter’s interest for healthcare started young as a military dependent receiving care in the Military Health System. The outstanding care given to him by uniformed service members inspired him to pursue a commission as a healthcare administrator in the United States Air Force. His first assignment at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota gave him opportunities to grow as a leader and administrator with roles such as medical emergency manager and Medical Logistics and Resource Management department head. Through his various roles in assisting his facility in successful Unit Effectiveness and Joint Commission Inspections, Peter was afforded the opportunity to further his education in healthcare administration at Baylor University.
Peter graduated from Methodist University with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business Administration, and Financial Economics. He is currently completing the residency phase of the Army-Baylor Graduate program in Health and Business Administration. Peter is excited to be a part of Mass General and looks forward to learning all that he can to improve processes and operations in his future military assignments.
James (Andy) Neipp
Baylor University
2017-2018 Fellowship Class
Andy’s interest in healthcare started at a young age with both parents practicing pharmacy. After commissioning in the U.S. Navy as a Medical Service Corps officer, his passion for leadership and process improvement began to develop. He has had the opportunity to work at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Virginia and U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan. During this time, he has been the Pharmacy Division Officer, managing the outpatient and inpatient areas, as well as the Assistant and Interim Pharmacy Department Head for the hospital and six outlying clinics. His motivation for ensuring the best delivery of patient care is evident in his efforts resulting in the previous command receiving the Department of Defense’s – 2015 Defense Health Agency Patient Quality and Safety Award. This led Andy to apply for further education in Healthcare Administration and Business Administration through the Army-Baylor MHA/MBA Program.
Andy received his Doctor of Pharmacy from the Medical University of South Carolina: College of Pharmacy. He is currently completing the residency phase of the Army-Baylor Graduate program in Health and Business Administration.
Andy is ecstatic to be a part of the MGH family and understands the unique and important skills the fellowship will bring to ensuring world-class processes for quality and safe care are shared and delivered to active duty personnel and their families around the globe.
Timothy L. Switaj, MD
Baylor University
2016 - 2017 Fellowship Class
Tim’s career in healthcare started over 20 years ago when he began working as an Emergency Medical Technician while in college. As a Physician in the U.S. Army, Tim was initially focused on healthcare delivery, but quickly began to take on administrative and leadership roles within the Army Medical Department. Tim has enjoyed assignments as a Battalion Surgeon, Clinic Commander, Chief of Cadet Health at West Point, and Chief Medical Officer. Tim’s Army career has taken him to assignments in Germany and Korea as well as deployments across Europe, Africa, and Afghanistan. Tim returned to school through the Army to pursue further education in healthcare administration landing him at MGH.
Tim graduated from Muhlenberg College with a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and obtained his Doctor of Medicine degree from the Uniformed Services University. Following medical school, Tim completed an internship in Child Neurology and residency in Family Medicine. Tim is a Board Certified Family Physician and a Fellow in the American Academy of Family Physicians. He is completing the residency phase of the Army-Baylor Graduate Program in Health and Business Administration.
Christin Burrows
Baylor University
2015 - 2016 Fellowship Class
Christin began her career in healthcare administration when she commissioned into the U.S. Air Force Medical Service Corps. After completing an internship at David Grant Medical Center in Fairfield, CA, she commanded both the Resource Management and Medical Logistics flights at an Air Force clinic in New Mexico. She came to the fellowship following the didactic year of her master’s degree program in San Antonio, Texas. She loves working in healthcare administration and is passionate about supporting both military medical readiness overseas and patient care providers at home.
Christin received her bachelor’s degree in Economics from the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO. She is currently in the residency phase of the Army-Baylor Graduate Program in Health and Business Administration.
Jim Brown, D.O.
Baylor University
2014 - 2015 Fellowship Class
Jim’s career in healthcare began with a focus upon health care provision and, more recently, healthcare administration. Following medical school and residency, he joined the United States Army Medical Department as a Medical Corps officer. Jim has served in a variety of assignments to include staff internist, battalion surgeon, clinic medical director, and regimental surgeon, with deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and assignments in Germany. He is a recent graduate of the United States Army’s Command and General Staff College resident course, where he further cultivated an interest in leadership development and administration.
Jim received his bachelor’s degree in Biology from Rivier College. He completed his Doctor of Osteopathy degree at the University of New College of Osteopathic Medicine followed by an internship and residency in internal medicine at Saint Vincent’s Hospital in Worcester, MA. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and is currently in the residency phase of the Army-Baylor Graduate Program in Health and Business Administration.
John Lavoie, M.Eng
Baylor University
2013 - 2014 Fellowship Class
John’s dedication to healthcare began as an engineer at Bayer HealthCare, where he assisted with the design and development of medical diagnostic equipment. Following graduate school, he joined the United States Army Medical Department as an Environmental Science Officer. While serving in a medical company during a tour with the 101st Airborne Division in Iraq, John developed an interest in administration and a passion for the care of soldiers and their families. Since the deployment, he has served as a deputy CIO for a medical brigade in Germany, a CIO for a medical task force in Afghanistan, and company commander at the US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine in Natick, MA.
John received his bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY. He completed his master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and is currently in the residency phase of the Army-Baylor Graduate Program in Health and Business Administration.