We are passionate about innovation in the supply chain industry. Our goal is to connect with and listen to healthcare professionals to identify unmet needs and use our expertise to imagine new solutions. For years, we have consistently heard that there is a decreasing amount of emerging talent in our industry and that there is a clear need to foster new members. That is why we created the Supply Chain Fellowship program.
How it works
Our fellowship program is the first of its kind. One of the most important aspects is finding a fellow new to the industry with no preconceived ideas, and without ties to either organization. We then partner with a healthcare provider, as the fellow can move freely between the two organizations. This allows the fellow to see patterns and connections that benefit both ends of the supply chain and create a tangible output.
This Cook-funded Fellowship provides a recent MBA graduate with the opportunity to work as a dedicated Fellow, between Cook and the provider organization, to complete a project or group of projects. Selected projects should identify scalable methods to improve supply chain efficiency, visibility, resiliency, and alignment, with the possibility of implementation during the Fellowship. The Fellow will publish a white paper about the project(s) and experience, and present findings at industry conferences. Upon completion, the goal is for the Fellow to gain employment at a healthcare provider organization.
The goal of each fellowship is to bring suppliers and providers closer together. Both organizations agree on a specific project in advance of finding a fellow who is best suited with the appropriate skills to problem solve. Fellows are responsible for finding scalable, real-world solutions and to share those solutions with the industry by creating a white paper. This is a way for their experience to continue to live on and foster innovation within the healthcare supply chain.
Below is a video showcasing each of our fellows and their experiences. Watch the video to learn more!
Fellowship recipients
The recipients of the Cook Medical Supply Chain Fellowship have had—and continue to have—amazing careers!
Resa Wise, 2023-2024 recipient
Resa Wise received the Cook Medical Supply Chain Fellowship in 2023. Resa Wise was Cook’s—and the medical device industry’s—very first Supply Chain Fellow. This program is a collaboration between Cook and BJC, a health system in St. Louis. Resa holds a BS in Operations Management and earned her MBA from Utah State University.
In addition to her education, Resa has prior supply chain experience in grocery retail. She’s also worked in a lab that manufactured satellites, which helped prepare her for the tight regulations in medicine.
In her free time, Resa likes to hike and camp in the Idaho and Utah mountains where she lives. She is now a Deployment Planner for ICU Medical.
Rajeev Rohira, 2024-2025 recipient
Rajeev Rohira, the 2024-2025 Supply Chain fellow, is a recent graduate of the University of Tennessee’s MBA program. He holds extensive experience in data analytics and automation due to past roles and internships. Although he possesses a vast array of analytical and technical skills, Rajeev Rohira sought to improve his knowledge on supply chain operations and processes. As such, he spent his fellowship working with individuals from a variety of positions ranging from sales to operations. By holistically exploring the ins and outs of both the supplier and the provider, he constructed his solutions with precise and updated knowledge of how the supply chains work on both ends. Starting in September 2025, Rajeev will be a consultant with a consulting firm called SLKone, where he will have the opportunity to continue to apply his skills to the healthcare industry.
Emma Strieter, current fellow
Bio: A recent M.B.A. graduate, Em seeks to apply her unique background in both biology and supply chain to improve efficiency and transparency within the healthcare industry. She, originally from Michigan, enjoys reading and spending time outdoors with her pup.
School: University of South Carolina; University of Tennessee-Knoxville
Area of study: B.S. Biological Sciences, B.S. Spanish; M.B.A. Supply Chain
Goal of fellowsip project: To partner with Mayo Clinic in evaluating the benefits and challenges associated with data sharing between suppliers and providers, highlighting use of the Surgence platform.
Paul Vang, current fellow
Bio: A life-long Wisconsinite and recent M.B.A. graduate specializing in supply chain management, Paul is focused on enhancing healthcare logistics to drive better patient outcomes and elevate customer satisfaction. In his free time, he enjoys training martial arts, watching documentaries, and trying new foods during his travels.
School: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Area of Study: B.S. Chemistry, Secondary Education; M.B.A., Supply Chain Management
Goal of fellowship project: In collaboration with Indiana University (IU) Health’s Operational Excellence team, the fellow will identify and assess opportunities for process improvement and efficiency across IU Health’s supply chain. The project will culminate in a set of actionable solutions supported by a detailed project plan and implementation timeline.
Published white papers
Each fellow creates a published white paper accessible to anyone. This is our way of ensuring the information can support future innovation for other suppliers and providers who may want to pursue similar solutions as to what our fellows have created.
2023: BJC Healthcare & Resa Wise
- Goal of creating an end-to-end value stream map to identify gaps, efficiencies, and cost-saving opportunities.
2024: Cleveland Clinic & Rajeev Rohira
- Goal of formulating a new demand planning approach between the two organizations as well as understanding the providers’ order behavior.
Let’s connect
Let us know if you are interested in working together on a future partnership through our fellowship program! Reach out to us at SCS-AMER@CookMedical.com, or you may also use this Calendly link to schedule time to speak to one of our supply chain solution managers to learn more about this program.