Jeanne U.
From Occupational Therapist
To Director of Rehabilitation
Jeanne, MatchDay Health Fellow — Occupational Therapist to Rehab Director
A 4.8 out of 5 Trustpilot rating

Project & Program Management

"I finally have a normal schedule with no nights or weekends... I’m so grateful for this experience and thankful to enjoy going to work again."

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Every care plan you built, every discharge you coordinated, every team you kept aligned — that's project management.

Clinicians make natural project managers. You've been managing timelines, coordinating across disciplines, juggling competing priorities, and driving outcomes under pressure your entire career. MatchDay helps you make that case — and land roles that pay you for it.

You've been managing projects your whole career

Clinicians who move into project management aren't starting over — they're getting recognized for work they've always done.

MatchDay helps you reframe your clinical experience in the language of project management so hiring managers see your background as the advantage it is.

One of the broadest career tracks in healthcare

Project and program management skills transfer across every corner of the industry — health tech, health systems, consulting, life sciences, and beyond.

Fellows who enter this track rarely find themselves limited — they find themselves with options and opportunities.

A proven process for a competitive market

Landing a PM role as a career changer means competing against candidates with traditional business backgrounds.

MatchDay's coaching builds your resume, LinkedIn, and interview presence specifically for the non-clinical hiring process — so you walk in positioned as a PM, not a clinician looking for a pivot.

Clinicians are a natural fit for Project & Program Management — and the market knows it.

Demand is climbing, salaries are strong, and the skills clinicians already have are exactly what these roles require. MatchDay helps clinicians reframe their experience and step into these positions with confidence.

8%
Projected growth rate for Healthcare Project Managers specifically (Research.com / BLS, 2026)
$112K
Average salary for a Healthcare Project Manager in the U.S. (Salary.com, April 2026)
66%
Projected rise in demand for project professionals in healthcare through 2035 (PMI Global Project Management Talent Gap Report, 2025)

What is the Project & Program Management career path?

Project and program managers are the people responsible for making sure complex initiatives get done — on time, within scope, and with the right people aligned at every stage. In healthcare, that means managing EHR implementations, overseeing clinical program launches, coordinating care delivery redesign initiatives, or running cross-functional projects that span clinical, operations, and technology teams.

The distinction between project and program management is one of scope: a project manager typically owns a single initiative with defined start and end points, while a program manager oversees a portfolio of related projects with longer-term, strategic objectives. Both require the same foundational skill set — communication, coordination, risk management, and an ability to drive results across teams that don't directly report to you.

Clinicians are exceptionally well-suited for this path because they've already done the work. You've managed discharge timelines, coordinated care plans across multidisciplinary teams, navigated competing priorities under pressure, and communicated across hierarchies from floor staff to attending physicians to administrators. Project management gives those skills a title — and compensates them accordingly.

Four business professionals in a meeting room, discussing work at a desk with documents and phone.

Where can your Project management training take you?

Healthcare Project Coordinator

Supports project managers in planning, tracking, and executing healthcare initiatives. The natural entry point for clinicians stepping into the PM track for the first time.

$66,000

median salary for
Project Coordinators

Implementation Specialist

Manages the rollout of clinical technologies, workflows, or programs across healthcare organizations. Draws directly on clinical knowledge to bridge the gap between product and practice.

$80,000

median salary for
Implementation Specialists

Program Manager

Oversees portfolios of related projects, manages cross-functional teams, and ensures strategic initiatives stay on track and on budget. Where most MatchDay Fellows in this track land first.

$107,000

median salary for
Program Managers

Director of Program Management

Senior leadership role responsible for overseeing the full program management function across an organization or business unit. The long-term destination for strong performers in this track.

$150,000

median salary for
PM Directors

Sourced from Glassdoor and Salary.com

Real career advancement means real salary progression.

$66,000

Median starting pay

$94,000

Median pay in 1–3 years

$150,000

Senior positions

This career path is built for you

You already have the translational skills, the soft skills, and the clinical experience. All you need is the story, the resume, and the interview skills to make the transition. Take a peek at your future self:

A LinkedIn profile picture of a Program Manager

Program Manager

LinkedIn
$112,000
Expected salary
Hard Skills
Project Scoping
Timeline Management
Stakeholder Alignment
Change Management
Status Reporting
Risk Management
Resource Planning
High Agency
Values Variety
Soft Skills
Networking
Time Management
Stakeholders Management
Business Thinking
Cross-Team Collaboration
Problem Solving
Education
The MatchDay Health logo
Matchday Data Analytics
Bootcamp
Clinical Background
6 years of patient care / 2 years of management experience
You gained leadership experience and took pride in owning your outcomes. You’re primed for a fast track to leadership in operations.

Project & Program Management Program

Sprint 1: Clarity
Sprint 2: Confidence
Sprint 3: Career Success
Sprint 4: Community & Connections
Sprint 5: Preparation
Sprint 6: Career Success

Will I get a certificate? Of course! All Fellowship Graduates will get to share their experience on LinkedIn :)

Certificate of completition
Your name here
graduate from the Project & Program Management Fellowship Track with a complete set of career-start skills
Skills mastered
Networking
Time Management
Stakeholders Management
Business Thinking
Cross-Team Collaboration
Problem Solving
May 25, 2026
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Resources

Find out if this path is right for you

Your dream job is a match away

Frequent Asked Questions

Do I need a PMP certification (or any formal PM credentials) to land a role?
How is healthcare project management different from PM in other industries?
Are these roles remote?
How long does placement typically take?
Will I take a pay cut to make this transition?
Is it really possible to break into these non-clinical roles with my clinical background?
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