Current Administrative Fellows

Alexis Pickrell, MHSA – Henry Ford Health, Office of the President, and CEO

Alexis Pickrell was born and raised in Monroe, Michigan. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from Michigan State University. Throughout her undergraduate studies, Alexis pursued opportunities in public health and healthcare administration. She started her career while pursuing her undergraduate degree as a Patient Care Coordinator in a physical therapy clinic. This role not only deepened her understanding of health insurance intricacies but also fueled her commitment to patient-centered care. She also witnessed health inequities through this role, and this drove her to pursue a career in healthcare administration. Following her undergraduate studies, Alexis went on to receive her Master of Health Services Administration (MHSA) from the University of Michigan. While in her Master’s program, she was appointed to be a Class Representative where she expanded her leadership skills through being the eyes and ears between the student body and faculty. During her graduate studies, Alexis interned with Health Alliance Plan (HAP) where she worked with the Program Development team. This role allowed her to complete project work involving vendor implementation, customer integration, departmental playbooks, and DEISJ. Outside of work, Alexis enjoys working out, reading, baking, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

Shelby Ward, MBA, MS, OTRL - Henry Ford Health, Office of the Care Delivery System and CCO

Shelby Ward grew up in White Lake, Michigan. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Science and Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) from Saginaw Valley State University. As a part of the program curriculum, Shelby conducted a focus group study on Perceived Impacts of Simulations on Professional Skills in Healthcare Professionals. Throughout the research project, Shelby realized the vital importance of utilizing evidence-based practice in healthcare. During her graduate program, Shelby studied abroad in Mwandi, Zambia where she gained insights into international healthcare practices in rural communities. The MSOT program curriculum also required two Level II placements lasting three months each after completing her coursework. Shelby completed her first Level II rotation at the VA San Diego Healthcare System. During her rotation, Shelby worked under the supervision of an occupational therapist treating veterans on the acute medical floors and conducting outpatient sessions for veterans experiencing mild traumatic brain injuries. Her second fieldwork placement was at McLaren Oakland, where she had the opportunity to treat patients in outpatient orthopedics, inpatient rehabilitation, and acute medical floors. After graduating from the MSOT program, Shelby worked for over 3 years as an occupational therapist on the Behavioral Health unit at Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital. In this role, Shelby provided therapeutic groups focused on educating patients on coping skills. Outside of direct patient care, she participated in unit council meetings, process improvement initiatives, and completed training in Lean processes. Through these experiences, Shelby became interested in healthcare leadership. In 2023, Shelby earned a Master of Business Administration from Capella University. Shelby is also an alumnus of HFH’s Davidson Fellowship, where her team proposed a coping skills mobile application for patients waiting in queue for a mental health provider. Outside of work, Shelby enjoys yoga, reading, and spending time with friends and family.

Lem Cartman, MHA - Henry Ford Health, Office of the EVP and CFO

Lem Cartman is a dedicated healthcare professional with a deep commitment to serving marginalized communities. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Lem grew up in a large family with 18 siblings in an impoverished neighborhood on the south side of Chicago. This upbringing exposed him to the significant challenges of insufficient healthcare, subpar education, and unjust authority figures, instilling in him a profound sense of purpose to make a difference by helping others. Lem earned his Master of Health Administration from Valparaiso University in May 2024, following his Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Leadership with minors in Public Health and Biology. His academic journey was marked by his dedication to addressing healthcare disparities and his consistent presence on the Dean’s List. Throughout his career, Lem has held various impactful roles, including positions at Northwestern Medicine and Rush University Medical Center. At Rush, he spearheaded the development and implementation of the Hospital-Based Gun Violence Prevention Program, collaborating with key stakeholders to provide trauma-focused care and resources to survivors and their families. His innovative approach led to the program's replication across departments, ensuring its sustainability and broader impact. Lem also leads two consulting groups focused on health equity and community well-being, demonstrating his leadership and commitment to improving lives. His work at Northwestern Medicine involved comprehensive data analysis on housing instability and the successful implementation of an effective social determinants of health screening tool and referral process. His international experience includes a healthcare service trip to San Jose, Costa Rica, where he worked with an interprofessional team to provide healthcare services in rural areas, and participation in the Caravan for Democracy Student Leadership Program in Israel, engaging in constructive dialogue about Middle East foreign affairs. Outside of work, Lem enjoys reading, working out, traveling, and spending time with his family.

Samiskhya Behera, MHA – Henry Ford Health, Office of the EVP and CEO

Samiskhya Behera was born and raised in Jamshedpur, India. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Health Sciences with a focus on Biological Sciences and Healthcare Management from the University of South Florida, Tampa. During her undergraduate years, she volunteered at Advent Health, gaining firsthand insights into hospital operations, which sparked her passion for healthcare. Motivated by this experience, Samiskhya pursued a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (UNC). At UNC, she served as the Events Coordinator for Womxn in Healthcare Leadership, organizing professional development opportunities for students. She has also been a big advocate for international students and provided support to enhance their career paths. Samiskhya is deeply committed to quality improvement and promoting health equity. In 2023, she completed a summer internship at Norton Healthcare, focusing on system-level projects that impacted approximately 18,000 employees. While this was an independent project, Samiskhya gathered all the inputs and data from different departments to prevent any silos in the future. During her final year of graduate studies, Samiskhya served as an academic coach for undergraduate students, where she cultivated an environment for students to explore and develop their potential. These coaching skills, combined with her teamwork experience, proved invaluable during her final capstone project. Together with her classmates, Samiskhya proposed an educational initiative for a local continuing care retirement community (CCRC), creating career development pathways for its employees. Outside of work, Samiskhya enjoys watching movies, swimming, exploring new restaurants, and spending quality time with friends and family.