Rush University student named 2026 Joint Commission fellowship recipient

By AI, Created 11:06 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – Joint Commission and CAHME selected Rush University’s Sydney Schultz for the 2026 Fellowship in Sustainable Healthcare Leadership. The yearlong, paid fellowship starts July 1 and is designed to build future leaders focused on healthcare quality, safety and system improvement.

Why it matters: - The fellowship gives an emerging healthcare leader direct exposure to accreditation, certification and system-level improvement work. - The program is designed to build leadership talent focused on quality, patient safety and sustainable healthcare operations. - Schultz’s placement also underscores the role of graduate training programs in preparing the next generation of healthcare executives.

What happened: - Joint Commission and the Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education named Sydney Schultz, a Master of Science in Health Systems Management student at Rush University, the 2026 recipient of the Joint Commission Fellowship in Sustainable Healthcare Leadership. - Schultz’s yearlong fellowship begins July 1, 2026. - Schultz will work with Kathryn Spates, Joint Commission executive vice president for public policy and government relations. - The announcement was made May 6, 2026.

The details: - The fellowship recognizes a graduating student from a CAHME-accredited or certified program. - The award is a one-year, paid fellowship. - The fellow works across Joint Commission on initiatives tied to healthcare quality, patient safety and system improvement. - The fellowship includes cross-organizational collaboration, research and applied project work. - The experience also exposes the fellow to accreditation and certification processes at Joint Commission and CAHME. - Schultz has experience in healthcare operations and systems improvement through Rush University Medical Center’s Office of Environmental Sustainability. - Her work has touched clinical operations, supply chain and environmental performance. - Joint Commission President and CEO Jonathan B. Perlin said the organization is committed to developing tomorrow’s healthcare leaders through systems-based thinking and real-world experience. - CAHME President and CEO Maureen Connelly Jones said the fellowship is in its third year and is an investment in emerging leaders at a pivotal point in their careers. - Schultz said the opportunity will deepen her hands-on learning and professional growth in healthcare leadership.

Between the lines: - The fellowship reflects growing emphasis on sustainability as part of healthcare leadership, not just traditional administrative or clinical performance. - The collaboration between Joint Commission and CAHME links education, accreditation and practical leadership development in one pipeline. - Schultz’s background in environmental sustainability suggests the fellowship is looking for candidates who can connect operational decisions with broader system outcomes.

What’s next: - Schultz will begin the fellowship on July 1 and spend the year working with Joint Commission leadership. - The fellowship will continue to serve as a career pathway for students from CAHME-accredited or certified programs. - Joint Commission and CAHME indicated continued interest in using the program to develop future healthcare leaders.

The bottom line: - Joint Commission and CAHME are betting on structured, hands-on leadership training to shape healthcare’s next generation of quality and safety leaders.

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