The Administrative Fellowship Program at NGHS is led by a group of organizational leaders and executives:
Program Sponsors

Michael Covert
Chief Operating Officer, Northeast Georgia Health System
- BS, MHA, Washington University
- Responsible for administrative and operational functions of our acute care facilities.

Sonja McLendon
Chief of Operational Excellence, Northeast Georgia Health System
- BS in Biology, University of North Carolina
- MEd, Sports Medicine, University of Virginia
- MBA, University of South Carolina
- FACHE, Fellow, American College of Healthcare Executives
- Responsible for overseeing continuous improvement efforts including developing standard work, deploying breakthrough strategies, executing A3 problem-solving, applying lean methodology and enhancing daily visual management.
Program Preceptors
- Andrei Boyarshinov – Chief Legal Officer
- Elyse Gates – Vice President, Revenue Cycle
- Roy Griffin – Vice President, Financial Operations
- Steve Kelly – Chief Compliance Officer
- Kevin Matson – Vice President, Facilities, Support Services, and Oncology
- Chris Paravate – Chief Information Officer
- Brian Steines – Chief Financial Officer
- John Kueven – NGMC Gainesville President
- Melissa Tymchuk – Chief of Staff
- Tracy Vardeman – Chief Strategy Executive
- Diane Poirot – Chief Human Resources Officer
- Anthony Williamson – President, NGMC Braselton and Southern Market Leader