Southern Miss Graduate Student Clancy Slay Selected for Prestigious Ochsner Fellowship
Mon, 04/07/2025 - 10:21am | By: Bailey Harris Shoemake
From Hattiesburg to the heart of New Orleans, Southern Miss graduate student, Clancy Slay, has been selected as one of only two Finance and Administration Fellows with Ochsner Health. Slay is dually enrolled in both the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program and Master of Public Health (MPH) program at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM). She earned the coveted spot into Ochsner鈥檚 highly competitive program after several rounds of interviews and looks forward to the immersive experience with one of the nation鈥檚 leading integrated healthcare systems.
鈥淚 feel so blessed to have been trusted with this opportunity, and I am excited to see how this experience kickstarts my career in healthcare administration,鈥� said Slay. 鈥淚 have known since I was an undergraduate student that I have wanted to make a meaningful impact on healthcare, ensuring patients receive high-quality care. Through this fellowship, I know I can make an intentional difference in the lives of others.鈥�
This highly competitive fellowship follows a 24-month rotational program in New Orleans, Louisiana, designed to provide fellows with extensive training and experience in hospital, clinical and corporate financial operations. As part of the program, Slay will contribute to healthcare innovation by engaging with top executives, attending leadership development events and working on innovative projects.
鈥淭he Ochsner鈥檚 Finance and Administrative Fellowship program is an ideal next step for Clancy,鈥� said Dr. Kelli King, assistant teaching professor in the USM School of Marketing. 鈥淭his opportunity will give her a strong start in her career and will allow her to build on the knowledge and experiences she has gained at Southern Miss. With her outstanding critical thinking and organizational skills, this fellowship will pave the way for her future as a leader in healthcare.鈥� Dr. King has been mentoring Slay since she was an undergraduate student in the Healthcare Marketing program.
Ochsner鈥檚 Administrative and Finance Fellowship programs are designed to mentor top graduate students as they emerge into future leaders in healthcare. Fellows gain hands-on experience working projects that shape financial and administrative decision-making. This tailored program provides a rich and successful experience to students while prioritizing the development of fellows.
"I am grateful to the leaders and past fellows of Ochsner's Administrative and Finance Fellowship program for recognizing what we at Southern Miss Business have long known: Clancy's remarkable talents and potential,鈥� shared Whitney Branch, USM assistant dean for student success. 鈥淭hroughout her time as an undergraduate and graduate student, Clancy has been an integral part of our business student body and collegiate operations. It has been a pleasure to watch her grow academically, professionally and personally. Despite facing significant challenges, Clancy has persevered with unwavering determination, and I have been honored to support, encourage and mentor her along the way. Clancy鈥檚 moral compass and resilience will make her an invaluable asset in the modern business world. I am incredibly proud of Clancy and excited for Ochsner鈥檚 to experience all that she is capable of now, as well as her professional evolution made possible through this transformative opportunity."
Slay鈥檚 selection for this fellowship is a testament to her talent, hard work and perseverance. As she takes on New Orleans, she brings with her the grit, skills and passion that consistently set Southern Miss students apart.