DNP Student Accepted to the
Samuel H. and Maria Miller Postdoctoral Fellowship

Santino L. Estrera, DNP, MBA, MHA, RN, NEA-BC, CNOR, has been accepted to the Miller Postdoctoral Fellowship Program for Nurse Executives at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University.

The Samuel H. and Maria Miller Postdoctoral Fellowship is a non-degree program within the esteemed Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University and stands as a beacon of excellence in grooming the next generation of nurse executives and academic leaders. Fueled by the growing need to address the glaring shortage of nursing leaders in pivotal positions within healthcare, this program is meticulously crafted to equip its participants with the acumen and skills requisite for catalyzing positive transformation in the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare delivery and academic nursing. 

Under the guidance of esteemed alum and faculty luminary, Dr. Linda Q. Everett, the program radiates with her wealth of experience garnered from her tenure as a Vice President, Chief Nursing Executive, and illustrious presidency at the American Organization for Nursing Leadership. The curriculum, meticulously designed to instill a comprehensive understanding of leadership dynamics, encompasses a spectrum ranging from the intricacies of strategic decision-making processes to the profound impact of societal and global forces on healthcare systems. Through a blend of asynchronous and synchronous virtual classes, participants delve into topics such as transformational leadership, organizational culture, corporate ethics, and the intersection of healthcare policy with cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence. 

Previous cohorts of the Samuel H. and Maria Miller Postdoctoral Fellowship Program have witnessed the ascension of accomplished individuals who have gone on to spearhead transformative initiatives across diverse healthcare settings. For aspiring nurse executives, the fellowship serves as a springboard towards navigating the complexities of executive leadership roles, fostering innovative strategies, and cultivating a robust network of industry connections. Moreover, for those envisioning a future in academia, the program nurtures the pedagogical prowess essential for shaping the minds of the next generation of nursing professionals. With its emphasis on mentorship, practical experiences, and scholarly engagement, this fellowship stands poised to not only bolster your career trajectory as a nurse executive but also fuel nurses' aspirations as a future stalwart in nursing education and scholarship. 

Santino will be joining the program in summer 2024, after graduating from the UCLA School of Nursing's Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program.

Santino's advanced nursing practice specialty is in Nurse Executive Leadership. Santino has extensive experience spanning various leadership positions in Perioperative Services, where he has demonstrated his expertise in operations management, strategic planning, quality enhancement, and resource management within surgical programs. Santino is currently the Director of Perioperative Services at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) and has also worked for other academic institutions such as the Department of Veterans Affairs, Mount Sinai Health System, Keck Medicine of USC, UCLA Health System, UC Irvine Health, and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. 

Santino is a native of Los Angeles and a U.S. Navy Veteran, where he served as a Construction Mechanic in the prestigious Construction Battalion (SeaBee) of the U.S. Navy. Santino earned his Master’s Degree in Health Administration at the University of Southern California (USC) and a Master of Business Administration from the University of California – Irvine (UCI). He will graduate from the UCLA School of Nursing's Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program in Spring 2024.

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