Our Fellows and Alumni

Current Fellows

AnnaVay Ellingworth, MHA (2024-2026)
AnnaVay.Ellingworth@OhioHealth.com

AnnaVay grew up in a small town outside of Rochester, Minnesota. She attended the University of Northern Iowa where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Gerontology: Long-Term Care, and Business Administration. She completed an undergraduate internship at a long-term care facility where she learned the ins and outs of nursing home administration. After learning about how complex healthcare is and all the opportunities to make a difference in the industry, she was inspired to pursue her Master of Healthcare Administration from the University of Iowa. During her time in the program, she worked as a graduate assistant at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics in the Heart and Vascular Center. Here, she was able to learn more about healthcare and clinical operations. She also served as a graduate assistant for the Age-Inclusive Management Strategies Project where she helped educate and consult with organizations on how to implement strategies that promote recruitment, retention, and empowerment of workers 55 and older. She completed her summer administrative residency at OhioHealth within their Human Resources department where she gained a unique perspective on the ‘business’ and people side of healthcare operations. These experiences combined bridged her interests between clinical operations and corporate operations and further fueled her passion for making a change within the healthcare environment. AnnaVay is thrilled to spend the first year of her fellowship in the Strategy department and learn more about healthcare through projects and mentorship while enhancing her leadership abilities. Outside of work, AnnaVay loves to spend time with her dog, Piper, explore all the restaurants Columbus has to offer, read, travel, and make new memories with family and friends.

Abbey Rausch, MHSA (2024-2026)
Abbey.Rausch@OhioHealth.com

Abbey grew up in Marysville, Ohio and attended Miami University, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Business with a minor in Human Capital Management and Leadership. She completed undergraduate internships in marketing and at a healthcare accounting and consulting firm, which increased her interest in healthcare. Immediately following graduation, Abbey pursued her Master of Health Services Administration (MHSA) at Xavier University. During this time, she worked as a Human Resources Consultant at Memorial Health, where she was responsible for projects such as implementing a nursing clinical ladder program, stay interviews, and a new hire survey. At Xavier, she served as the Health Administration Student Professional Society (HASPS) Co-Chair. She completed her administrative residency at OhioHealth Doctors Hospital, where she was tasked with identifying operational inefficiencies and providing recommendations for improvement in the CT department. Abbey is looking forward to spending the first year of her fellowship at Riverside Methodist Hospital and enhancing her leadership abilities. Her professional interests include healthcare operations, strategy, patient experience, and business development. In her free time, Abbey enjoys traveling, reading, playing volleyball, being outside, and spending time with friends and family.

Sarah Townsend, MBA (2024-2026)
Sarah.Townsend@OhioHealth.com

Sarah grew up in New Concord, Ohio, and found her passion for healthcare through her experiences with personal sports injuries and family members battling acute and chronic illness. This affinity for medicine, sports, and health led Sarah to attend Mount Vernon Nazarene University where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry. She pursued community involvement through the University’s Diversity Leadership Program and community service opportunities, including organizing local Red Cross Blood Drives. Through these experiences, Sarah discovered her interest in leadership and her passion for promoting health equity and increasing quality and access in healthcare. Subsequently, she pursued her Master of Business Administration with a dual focus in Healthcare Administration and Finance at Mount Vernon Nazarene University. While a full-time student, Sarah worked as a Graduate Assistant for student financial services and worked as an Accounting Specialist at Upsourced Accounting. Additionally, she continued to pursue professional shadowing opportunities in various areas of healthcare and maintained leadership positions in her extracurricular activities. Sarah is excited to spend the first year of her fellowship with the team at Grant Medical Center, learning more about clinical operations and enhancing her leadership skills. In her free time, Sarah enjoys reading, playing sports, crocheting, and spending time with friends and family.

Gitanjali Varma, MHA (2024-2026)
Anjali.Varma@OhioHealth.com

Gitanjali grew up in Orlando, Florida. She pursued a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a Pre-Health minor at Nova Southeastern University. Her interest in healthcare was sparked through volunteer and shadowing experiences at a local hospital. Witnessing the vital connection between clinical and administrative aspects, this passion led her to the University of Central Florida, where she earned a Master of Healthcare Administration degree. During her Master's program, Gitanjali gained valuable experience in credentialing at a teleradiology company, where she streamlined procedures and developed training videos to enhance departmental workflow. She further broadened her healthcare knowledge and honed her management and communication skills through active involvement in the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) and through participation in the UAB Case Competition. Her administrative internship at Orlando Health provided her with a comprehensive understanding of community hospital operations. Gitanjali is thrilled to spend her fellowship in the Clinical Enterprise in Surgery and Women's and Reproductive Health. She eagerly anticipates exploring operations, process improvement, and strategic initiatives while being able to network with other healthcare professionals and expand her leadership skills. 

John Bennion, MHA (2025-2027)

John grew up in Dallas, Texas and attended Brigham Young University, where he completed his undergraduate degree in Public Health. While at BYU, he helped to establish a healthcare leadership minor, an experience that sparked his interest in becoming a leader in the field. After graduation, John relocated to Ohio to pursue a Master of Health Administration at The Ohio State University.

While completing his graduate studies, John worked on OSU’s Inpatient Tower Activation Team as both an intern and summer resident. During this time, he discovered a strong interest in hospital operations and played key roles in many operational workflows and financial management projects. These experiences deepened his commitment to improving healthcare delivery through operational excellence and strategic leadership.

John is excited to be working with the System Nursing Team at the Blom Administrative Campus and looks forward to expanding his knowledge of operations, process improvement, and further developing his leadership skills. Outside of work, John enjoys spending time with his wife and baby girl, camping, reading, auto mechanics, and staying active through fitness.

Joko Bojang, MHA (2025-2027)

Born and raised in Lexington, Kentucky, Joko always knew she wanted to help make a positive impact in her community. Her passion for health equity was shaped by witnessing how her extended family in rural Gambia, West Africa struggled to access basic healthcare. Motivated to increase access to care, she pursued higher education, earning a BA in Health and Exercise Science with a minor in Psychology from Transylvania University. During undergrad, she served as Social Justice Chair and founded a student organization dedicated to mental health advocacy. She later earned her Master of Health Administration from the University of Kentucky, recognizing it as a path to fulfill her commitment to health equity and inclusive care. Through her graduate program, Joko developed strong communication and critical thinking skills, serving as team lead in the NAHSE case competition. She served on the University of Kentucky MHA student board as Inclusion Coordinator and Vice President of Inclusion in her first and second year. Joko also gained operational and strategic experience through hospital administration internships at Kentucky Children's Hospital, University of Kentucky, and University of Colorado Hospital. Alongside her studies, she worked as a research assistant for a diabetes prevention program serving underserved populations. In her free time, Joko enjoys hiking, watching documentaries, and spending time with her large, close-knit family.

Emma Klemanski, MHA (2025-2027)

Emma grew up in Delaware, Ohio and attended Mount Vernon Nazarene University, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences and Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration. During this time in north central Ohio, she gained early exposure to the critical healthcare access needs facing local communities and collaborated with the Knox County Public Health Department on several health improvement initiatives. These experiences sparked her passion for population health, effective care management, and impactful healthcare leadership, leading her to pursue a Master of Health Administration from The Ohio State University. During her graduate studies, she gained experience in strategic project management and supported process improvement initiatives at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Emma completed her administrative residency at OhioHealth Doctors Hospital, where she led an operations improvement project for the MRI department. She is excited to begin her fellowship at Marion General Hospital, where she will focus on expanding her knowledge of clinical operations and strengthening her leadership skills.  In her free time, Emma enjoys reading, trying new restaurants, being outside with her dog Bailey, and spending time with family and friends.

Roxana Paredes, MHA (2025-2027)

Roxana grew up in Columbus, Ohio, where her passion for healthcare was shaped by personal experiences navigating the healthcare system alongside her parents, particularly witnessing the barriers they faced in accessing care. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from The Ohio State University, where she gained experience working in the healthcare field through her volunteering and positions at various health systems in Central Ohio. Then she went on to complete her Master of Health Administration, at The Ohio State University. During her time in her program, she completed a summer residency with OhioHealth in the Sterile Processing Department. This experience provided valuable insight into the importance of operational efficiency and how critical support services are in delivering safe, high-quality patient care. Her time there strengthened her commitment to working in a health system that is continuously improving and enhancing the care delivered to all patients across different communities. Roxana is excited to spend her fellowship at Riverside Methodist Hospital and looks forward to engaging in meaningful projects that will deepen her understanding of the complexities of the healthcare system. Through this fellowship she hopes to contribute to initiatives aimed at expanding equitable access to care and ensuring that underserved communities are reached and supported effectively. Outside of her professional interests, Roxana enjoys spending time with her friends and family, exploring different restaurants and traveling.

Fellowship Alumni