An Internship Today…Shaping the Health Care of Tomorrow
Each summer, Northwell Health hosts the Healthcare Management Program (HMP), an internship for college juniors interested in learning about the administrative side of health care. It’s an extensive and unique 10-week paid internship, 
offering a firsthand perspective on what it’s like to serve as an administrator for our many hospitals, service lines or departments. Samara Jefferson, one of this year’s participants, shared how this experience has shaped the direction of her studies and future career.
Samara learned about the internship through her school, Spelman College in Atlanta. She initially felt outside her comfort zone because of her minimal background in business and finance, but her mentor — Nora Brady, an administrative director at Katz Women’s Hospital — provided encouragement and boosted her confidence in understanding the many facets of hospital operations. There was constant guidance and no question was off-limits. “I’ve realized there’s no such thing as the perfect administrator,” Samara says. “We each have different ‘whys’ for entering health care and we bring varying skillsets to the job.”
Samara proudly notes that her knowledge in health care management now includes project management, building an infection control unit (such as those erected for COVID-19), data analysis, and more thanks to the projects she worked on during her time in the program. “I recommend HMP to other college juniors,” she says. “The skills I’ve learned during my internship at Northwell Health are invaluable and everyone I’ve interacted with is very invested in seeing you develop and grow.”
Her program complete, Samara’s career plans have evolved. “Prior to the mentorship, I was focused solely on becoming a physician. However, in this program I was afforded the opportunity to work alongside actual health care administrators like my mentor, Nora. I realized administrators can improve health care at a systemic level. I hope to now become both a clinician and a future administrator.” We are excited for all that Samara will offer to the future of medicine as she returns to her studies this fall as a senior with a whole new perspective of what it means to work in healthcare.
Interested in the HMP internship? Join our Student Talent Network to stay up-to-date on the latest student news and resources, including our future plans for the program in 2022.
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My experience in the HMP internship that led to a full-time job after college graduation
Written by: Megan McKenna, Georgetown University, Healthcare Management Program Summer Associate 19′
When I went off to college, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to be. I was going to be a doctor. However, I quickly realized that it wasn’t for me, so I pursued other interests in government and American studies. When it came time to start looking for a job the summer after my sophomore year, I took one with a home healthcare company, never expecting for it to start me down a path of healthcare administration. I found that I really enjoyed working with clinicians in a collaborative space to solve problems and help patients. I wanted to learn more about what it would mean to have a non-clinical career in healthcare, so I applied to the Healthcare Management Program (HMP) Internship at Northwell Health. I was ecstatic when I got the call that I had been offered a position as an HMP 2019 summer associate.
This past summer, I had the incredible opportunity to work at Phelps Hospital in Sleepy Hollow, NY. When I arrived for my first day, I didn’t know what to expect. I was excited and a little bit nervous – I didn’t know the first thing about hospital administration. When I found out that I would be working in the Emergency Department, I was really excited to be in a fast-paced and dynamic department that plays such a critical role in the hospital and the community.
During my time at Phelps, I had the opportunity to develop skills in project management, data analytics and learn about hospital operations. I was able to build relationships with clinicians and administrators who were really generous with their time and were invested in helping me learn and grow. Everyone was very welcoming and quickly I felt like I was a valued member of the team. Through my projects, I saw firsthand the complexities of hospital operations and the inspiring collaborative work that is essential not only to keep hospitals running, but also to power the entire health system.
Coming into this program, I wanted to be able to explore my interest in healthcare administration because it is not something that I study in school, but I was able to accomplish so much more than that. Not only has this program has allowed me to solidify my interest in healthcare and see the immense opportunity that there is in this field, but I was able to meet inspiring leaders, learn from my peers, and take on new challenges.
Megan has been offered and accepted a full-time position in the Management Associate Program as an Associate at Lenox Hill Hospital once she graduates from Georgetown University in May.
Submit your resume to become a Summer Associate in the 2020 Healthcare Management Program Internship.
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The 2019 Healthcare Management Program Internship Experience
When 34 Summer Associates started their first day at orientation in June of their 10 week Healthcare Management Program Internship, they didn’t realize how impactful their experiences this summer would be. Coming from all over the nation, junior college students joined Northwell to work across 23 hospitals, service lines and departments to be immersed into the day to day operations of a healthcare administrator. Mentored by Northwell team members and leaders, each Summer Associate had an unforgettable experience.
Working closely with their assigned mentor, our Summer Associates had the opportunity to work on real, meaningful projects that had a major impact on Northwell’s business operations. Projects that they were then able to present out to their fellow Summer Associates, Northwell leaders and executives during presentations at the end of their 10 weeks. This summer, over 100 projects were worked on by our Summer Associates, some examples include:
- OR turnover time analysis through processing mapping and SWOT analysis to implement process improvement ideas in the operating room.
- Helping to implement a new registration workflow for a new facility that is opening.
- Designing and implementing a brand-new, more efficient patient tracking system to reduce ambiguity of the patient progress and location and to minimize any delays in turnaround time between cases.
- Designing a scorecard to analyze EMS vs walk-in volume, EMS agencies who bring in the most patients, cardiac arrest, trauma and stroke patients, triage levels, and contribution margins in the Emergency Department.
- Compiling data to track the availability of beds in order to improve patient flow and communication by developing an automated dashboard.
- Helping to prepare for Joint Commission Certification surveys.
- Staffing analysis to determine the need to increase staff due to the opening of a new unit or service.
- Determining the idle bed time- time from when a patient has been cleared for discharge, to when the patient leaves their room- by looking at team member process efficiency.
Summer Associates also had the opportunity to participate in weekly Educational Sessions at various hospitals and service lines and team building. This summer they also attended the Nurses Night Yankee game along with Northwell nurses, had a team building session at the beach where they played Northwell trivia and beach games and cooked meals at the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island to feed families with sick children and give back to the community.
The 10 week experience was more than an internship, it was a stepping stone to help junior college students realize their full potential and career opportunities after graduating from college. Don’t just take our word for it, hear from some of our 2019 Summer Associates!
“The HMP has helped a lost Biology major find his way and believe in himself for his future career. This program is truly phenomenal. I have made connections that I believe will last throughout my entire career.”
“My 10-weeks at the Cancer Service Line flew by! From day one, I was given meaningful projects and assignments that had a direct impact on the patient experience. The Healthcare Management Program provided me the opportunity to explore Northwell’s extensive health system while also being a valued member of the team at my own site. I could not have asked for a better internship experience!”
“The Healthcare Management Program was an entirely unique internship that provided me with opportunities I wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else. From day one I was seen as a valued member of my team and given meaningful projects that had a tangible impact on the organization. Not only was I able to grow my professional and technical skillset, but I was able to form genuine relationships with my fellow interns that will last far longer than these 10 weeks!”
“The Healthcare Management Program was an incredible experience during which I had the opportunity to get hands-on project management experience, to build relationships with clinicians and administrative leaders, and learn something new every day about what it means to be a healthcare administrator. I was empowered to do meaningful work to make patient care better and better every day and this internship has inspired me to pursue a career in healthcare administration.”
“This internship is like no other. The amount I learned regarding hospital management and operations over these past 10 weeks is exceptional, and I have gained exposure that has strengthened my leadership skills.”
“The HMP internship gave me first hand insight into what the field of hospital administration looks like. I got a real feel for what healthcare management is and I can’t wait to continue my path in this field thanks to the HMP!”
“This summer has been a very rewarding experience for me. I was able to touch almost every aspect of healthcare administration, and my mentors were sure to give me exposure to whatever I was interested in.”
Unbelievable summer, great experience, great environment, best team! I learned so much this summer and grew so much professionally that I can confidently say I want to go into healthcare for sure as a result of this program.”
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Building blocks of success in Healthcare Management Program Internship
This summer in the Healthcare Management Program (HMP), 34 summer associates will work with Northwell Health professionals across and service lines such as Emergency Medicine, Health Solutions, Imaging and Cancer. These ambitious college juniors will work closely with their mentors over the next 10 weeks and contribute to operations, finance and patient experience projects while developing the foundation for a long-term career in healthcare.
The students are from schools across the country including Cornell University, University of Alabama, Colgate University, Binghamton University, University of North Carolina, and Hofstra University among others. They develop an understanding of healthcare administration through hands-on projects such as capital planning, throughput initiatives, utilization & costs effectiveness analysis, redesigning of hospital units, new facility process mapping, annual report creation and much more. Each associate has their own unique experience based on where they work while participating in a cohesive program.
Over the past few years, the program has grown and this summer is no exception. The success of the program has led to the number of summer associate positions increasing from 23 to 34, and by listening to the feedback from previous associates and their mentors, the program has also expanded from 8 to 10 weeks..
And the unique program goes beyond just these 10 weeks. At the end of the summer, interns are encouraged to apply for the HMP’s sister program, the Management Associate Program (MAP). This highly competitive two-year program gives new graduates the opportunity to enter healthcare administration after graduation. This year, approximately 80 percent of our MAP positions were filled by associates from the 2018 HMP class.
Hear from some of our 2019 HMP associates on what they’re most excited about this summer:
Jenna Pasternak,
Orthopedic Service Line
“I’m excited for the broad set of skills and to experience the breadth of Northwell as a health system. I’m also looking forward to working with the other interns because we have such different backgrounds.”
Shivana Seegolam,
Emergency Medicine Service Line
“I’m interested to learn the values of Northwell and I’m excited to see how the projects I get put on are able to help the long term goals of the health system.”
Brittany Steineke, Cohen Children’s Medical Center, Jessica Dobkin, Northwell Health at Home, Janice Kim, CTS/Cardiology, and
Aarshia Jain, Cohen Children’s Medical Center
“The HMP internship program is a unique opportunity for undergraduate students. We’re excited to live together, work together, and grow together.”
Matthew Ventre,
Northwell Health Solutions
“I’m looking to get hands-on experience in healthcare management. Being able to start networking while in college is important, especially in a health system that is continuously expanding.”
Abraham Polakunnil,
System Operations
“There’s so many people that work in a hospital, from the secretary to financial officer and I’m excited to get to know everyone. It’s the people that make the culture in healthcare from the first moment they interact with a patient and impact that experience.”
Yash Sehgal, Orthopedic Service Line, Megan Jean Louis, Brooklyn Region-Maimonides, Alicia Golyski, Southside Hospital and Katherine Hegermiller, Peconic Bay Medical Center
“We are most excited to work with the team to help improve operations within our locations. It’s a unique opportunity to lean how healthcare administration collaborate with clinicians within a hospital to create a positive change.”
Chasin Mizrahi, CTS/Cardiology
“Having previously been a long-term patient with Northwell, I’m so excited to see the other side of the care I received. I’m hoping to use my experience and history as a patient at Lenox Hill Hospital to enact change and even further improve the patient experience.”
Nicholas Vasquez,
Zucker Hillside Hospital
“I’m excited to find how engineering tools and applications can be integrated at Northwell within operations. I want to get a full range to experiences to all the ways I can apply my major within healthcare.”
Achyut Dasgupta,
Southside Hospital
“As a biology major, I was left wondering which direction I’d go after school. I still don’t know, but I’m excited to see how my skill set can help in the background of a hospital within administration.”
Jeremy Holden, LIJ Valley Stream Hospital
“This is an amazing opportunity to grow professionally while making a positive impact on the lives of those who need healthcare.”
Cameron Boswell,
MEETH
“I’ve previously worked in clinical healthcare and now being able to see the other side of it, and see how administration can directly impact the patients, will give me a well-rounded look on how to best improve healthcare operations.”
Lindsey Feuerzeig, Imaging Service Line and Sherri Gormon, LIJ Forest Hills Hospital
“We’re looking forward to learning how daily operations impact care, and seeing how what they do every day can make patient care more accessible and effective.”
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My Journey to Northwell Health’s Healthcare Management Program
Written by: By Hannah Friedman, 2018 HMP Intern
Northwell Health has been a part of my life since the day I was born…literally. I was born at North Shore University Hospital in December of 1996. Growing up on Long Island, I always felt the presence of the system around me. I grew up inspired by its tremendous reputation throughout my community, but I was unaware of all of the different career paths that could lead me to be a part of it.
As a Biometry & Statistics major at Cornell University, I have taken many math and statistics classes that have applications to both medicine and business. I was always interested in the healthcare industry, but I was also searching for a field that would allow me to apply both my analytical and leadership skills. During my sophomore year, I spent a day shadowing an associate executive director at Lenox Hill Hospital. My fate was sealed as we walked through the halls of the hospital, and he exchanged warm greetings with every employee we passed. That day, I saw firsthand how strong business and interpersonal skills, as well as a desire for helping others, uniquely combine in the field of healthcare management. The following summer, I decided to pursue my interest in this type of work as an administrative intern for Patient Care Services at Lenox Hill. My experience demonstrated how analytics can be translated into meaningful and tangible results that serve to improve patient care. I finally felt like I had found my calling.
There are no words to describe how excited I was when I was offered a position as a summer associate for the Healthcare Management Program at Northwell Health. When I found out that my placement was with the Emergency Medicine Service Line, I wasn’t sure what to expect. To be completely honest, I didn’t even completely understand what it meant. From the very first day, nonetheless, I was immersed as a member of the very strong team that worked in this quick-paced environment. It was so interesting to learn about the service line, which consists of 18 different Emergency Departments. The Emergency Medicine Service Line also partners with Northwell’s Center for Emergency Management and Northwell’s joint venture, GoHealth Urgent Care (GoHealth runs over 44 urgent care centers!). Together, all of these teams are dedicated to providing the highest quality of care to the surrounding communities. I participated in many site visits and worked on a variety of projects with the Service Line Development and Clinical Operations teams. We collaborated with IT to help create an app to standardize the flow of the Emergency Departments throughout all of Northwell’s hospitals, performed an operations review for Nassau University Medical Center’s Emergency Department, helped develop a plan to encourage philanthropy, and more.
My favorite project as a summer associate involved helping to prepare the service line for American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation. I did research on the factors that most significantly impact the quality of a geriatric patient’s Emergency Department visit. I then learned how to use Tableau to perform an analysis on the top diagnoses and admission rates for each particular Northwell site, so that they could develop specific policies and protocols that focus on the geriatric population. The team and I also used these analyses to explain the importance of geriatric care to each site’s leadership team and helped them to complete the application. Northwell Health could be the first system in the country to have Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation at all of its sites.
Throughout this summer, I learned so much about hospital finance, operations, and management through the hands-on projects, many networking events, and Lunch and Learn sessions. Leaders inspired us through their stories, taught us valuable lessons, and reminded us that they were once in our shoes. Furthermore, I was able to see the skills and qualities that make people successful in the field. Through Northwell Health’s Healthcare Management Program, I know that I truly learned from the best. I am so grateful for the opportunity and can’t wait to apply all I’ve learned as I continue to develop my career in healthcare management.
Submit your resume to become a Summer Associate in the 2019 Healthcare Management Program Internship.
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From exams to important meetings – my journey to becoming a Healthcare Management Program associate
Written by: Ryan Ott, 2018 HMP Intern
Coming into college, I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do. I chose to be an Economics major because I knew that it was broad enough, and it allowed me to explore exactly what my passion was. Being from Long Island, I had always been surrounded by Northwell Health. However, it never crossed my mind what a job in healthcare would really look like. How could you work for Northwell without a MD or Nursing degree? Fortunately, my friend’s father is a Cardiologist in the health system and strongly suggested that I look into healthcare administration.
During the summer of 2017, only a couple of months later, I was set up to shadow 5 different administrators in Cardiology, Internal Medicine, and Business Development. Upon starting, I immediately recognized how special this field was. I grew a passion for the behind-the-scenes work that needed to be done for a physician’s appointment to take place. It was something that I knew I needed to be a part of. After a little over a month of attending meetings, visiting practices, and soaking in the day to day operations of healthcare leaders, I set out to find a way to continue to work with Northwell.
I was briefly told about the opportunity to apply to be a Healthcare Management Program associate. After extensive research, it seemed as if the program was a perfect fit for me. I wanted to continue my healthcare experience, and I yearned for the ability to actually contribute value to a team. After a number of interviews, I finally got the call. I had just gotten out of soccer practice when I saw the voicemail left on my phone. Needless to say, I called back half a second later. I was ecstatic that I was going to have the opportunity to come back to Northwell and be a part of such a highly regarded internship program.
Fast forward to today, where I am just starting my eighth and final week of this program. This program far exceeded my expectations. I had anticipated performing all the stereotypical intern duties, such as running to get coffee and doing work others didn’t want to do. I was blown away by how welcoming the staff at the Clinical Call Center (within Health Solutions) was. Within the first few days, the Director gave me important responsibilities and allowed me to initiate my own projects. Some of my responsibilities ranged from drawing up project plans to designing workflows to be presented to leadership. Looking back on the past 2 months, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. I was constantly challenged to step outside of my comfort zone. In doing so, I feel like a more well-rounded professional, and more importantly, a well-rounded person. I can confidently say that this program solidified my goals to become a future healthcare leader
Update: Ryan has been offered and accepted a full-time position at North Shore University Hospital once he graduates from Bucknell University in May.
Submit your resume to become a Summer Associate in the 2019 Healthcare Management Program Internship.
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Healthcare Management Program Interns reach new heights
This summer, 24 talented college juniors and seniors had the opportunity to experience the operations and different roles that make a health system successful. Through our Healthcare Management Program (HMP) Internship, interns built their leadership skills and gained invaluable experience and knowledge in the dynamic healthcare field in this elite 8-week program. In between operations projects, learning from their mentors, and gaining experience at their site, our interns had a summer packed with activities.
The second half of the program included a day trip into New York City. The morning was spent with educational sessions and team building. And there’s no better way to end a day in the city than with a Broadway show! Interns had the chance to enjoy the Tony-winning musical, Come from Away and experience New York’s culture.
Our HMP interns also spent a day at Project C.A.R.E. (Cooperative Activities Ropes Experience) at South Oaks Hospital. Starting with team building exercises, interns worked together to tackle obstacles and climbed to unexpected heights. Problem solving games in this adventure-based workshop taught interns the importance of working Truly Together. And by the end of the day, they were cheering each other on as they overcame fear and nerves on the high ropes elements.
As the internship drew to a close, the HMP interns prepared to give their final presentations. These 15-minute presentations were given in front of their mentors and other Northwell senior leadership in a day-long session. Interns had the opportunity to showcase the different projects they worked on throughout their program. Not only did they get to reflect on what they’ve learned and accomplished, but they had the unique chance to share their insight on how Northwell can continue to improve our operations.
With the presentations successfully wrapped up, it was time to celebrate! The day ended with an HMP Alumni Dinner where interns were able to network with previous HMP interns, mentors, and some of Northwell’s executives.
The summer may be ending, but this isn’t the end of the road for our interns. Interviews for HMP’s sister program, the Management Associate Program (MAP), are currently under way. And many of our interns will go on to begin their careers with Northwell after their graduation. Last year, 12 interns were offered positions in the highly competitive two-year program that helps forge an early path into healthcare management at Northwell.
We asked some of our interns for their parting thoughts. Check them out below!
Interested in joining the 2019 Healthcare Management Program? Check back to our website or join our talent community!
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Students dive deep into health care administration in unique internship
Summer’s nearly here and that means it’s time for our Healthcare Management Program (HMP) Interns to arrive. Over the course of the next 8 weeks, 24 talented college juniors will work with Northwell Health’s professionals to gain invaluable skills to advance their careers.
With this year’s program received more than 900 applicants from across the country, only 24 of the nation’s most promising students were selected for the program. These ambitious juniors traveled from schools as far as Stanford University to as close as Hofstra University. Other students came from universities like Georgetown, UVA, Cornell, Colgate, Rochester, and UPenn to intern at our 18 participating sites. These locations offer diverse experience in tertiary hospitals, community hospitals, specialty hospitals and service lines across Long Island, Queens, NYC, Staten Island and Westchester.
Interns competed in team building challenges during orientation. Here’s our winning team celebrating their victory!
This isn’t your typical internship. Our interns will be pushed to fully immerse themselves in hospital operations. Nowhere else in healthcare will interns have the unique opportunity to work with senior leadership and finish projects that will help build efficiency for years to come. Students will learn to take initiative, how to work independently, and how to navigate the complexities of a changing health care landscape — no coffee orders and basic filing here!
Outside of their internship, the HMP interns will also receive key networking opportunities to fill their summer with powerful opportunities. Between events like informative lunch and learns to our Healthcare Management Program Alumni dinner, interns will grow their skillset on and off site. Interns are even scheduled to take on New York City as a whole in an exciting team building day trip!
And their unique Northwell Health experience doesn’t have to end with the summer. Interns from the Healthcare Management Program are the perfect candidates for its sister program, our Management Associate Program (MAP). MAP gives new post-graduates the full experience of healthcare management, with some HMP interns ending the the summer knowing they will have a full-time job after graduating. This highly competitive two year program helps talented individuals forge an early path into healthcare management and develops them into effective leaders. Last year, 12 HMP interns were hired into full-time MAP positions!
One summer can help set these ambitious interns up for long-term success. Take it from former HMP intern and current Sr Associate in Financial & Operations Management at North Shore University Hospital, Kate Van Der Sloot , “HMP provided me the technical skills, mentorship, and opportunities for professional development that I have always dreamed of having. By arming me with these resources and support early in my career, Northwell Health has given me the tools and path to become a future leader in healthcare.”
We checked in with some of our interns after their first week. Check out their first impressions below!
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From the Cancer Institute to a tertiary hospital – my internship experience
Written by: Alexa Bernardini, 2016 & 2017 HMP Intern
If it had not been for the Office of Undergraduate Biology at my university, I would have never been exposed to the opportunity to apply for Northwell Health’s Healthcare Management Program (HMP). After visiting the office to discuss career opportunities that would combine my passions for the biological sciences and business, a student advisor raved about her experience working for Northwell Health and mentioned I should look into the HMP program. As a sophomore, it was rare to find an internship opportunity that delved into the world of healthcare administration and enabled me to work with so many different departments throughout the health system.
I started my Northwell Health journey at Monter Cancer Center, where I was able to gather resources to build an internal website for Cancer Institute members across all sites. By leading this project, I interacted with many departments such as finance and operations, cancer research, and academic affairs among many others. One of my favorite parts about this project was being able to meet leaders throughout the facility who graciously welcomed me to the team and were happy to answer all of my questions to further my learning and engagement. Our goal was to develop the Cancer Institute as a unified and prominent entity for cancer treatment, research, and education. The first step to achieving this goal was having a place for all Cancer Institute employees to access to information regarding clinical trials, Continuing Medical Education events, cancer conferences, and community outreach initiatives. When my internship ended, I still followed up regarding the progress of my project, and loved knowing that I added value throughout my time at Monter Cancer Center.
Upon reaching my junior year of college, I was able to apply what I had learned at Northwell Health to my courses and campus organizations. As I reflected on what I had learned during my internship, I knew I wanted to return to Northwell Health the next summer at a different site to absorb even more information from a different perspective. Fortunately, I was given the opportunity to once again join the HMP program, where I am currently spending my summer in the hospital operations department of Long Island Jewish Medical Center. I have learned that I enjoy working in both atmospheres, LIJ as a large tertiary hospital and Monter Cancer Center as a smaller, outpatient cancer treatment facility. Something I love about the HMP program is that there are so many different sites throughout the health system that participate in the program, and I can hear about other interns’ experiences who are placed at different locations. While at LIJ Medical Center, our team has been collaborating with the team at North Shore University Hospital to work on a hypothetical business case regarding the Pre-Surgical Testing (PST) care model. Our goal was to design an off-site location that combined two of the region’s existing centers. This theoretical project has been a great learning experience to identify what goals a project of this size would want to accomplish, such as the desire to maximize operational efficiencies, standardize procedures, and ultimately create a more positive patient experience. We took the time to plan, shadow their processes on-site, and combine the best practices of both PST locations to create a care model that features an ideal blueprint of the new space, taking into account estimated patient volume and length of stay.
After spending two consecutive summers as part of the Northwell team, I have learned that working in healthcare administration across sites has the common theme of integrating departments and unifying their workflow processes and workplace culture.
Update: Alexa has been offered and accepted a full-time position once she graduates from Cornell University in May.
Submit your resume to become a Summer Associate in the 2018 Healthcare Management Program Internship.
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Experiencing health care through the Healthcare Management Program Internship
Written by: Ketrah Mugambe
When I first started my summer internship at Northwell Health in the Healthcare Management Program, I thought I had a sound idea of what I wanted to do in my career. Being a science major, it made perfect sense to want to pursue healthcare from a clinical standpoint. I had no idea of what an administrative job in health care could offer. I figured – why not go against the grain a bit? Why not see what else is out there?
So I spent eight weeks with a little yellow notepad and a ballpoint pen, trying to absorb every aspect of health care management I would encounter. From finance to operations to data analytics, my learning curve was intense. My projects were new and overwhelming. And unfortunately for me, my pure science course load in undergrad proved to be absolutely zero help.
Every day in the office was different, and the variety of projects that I had was a true testament to that. To name only a couple, I was tasked to give suggestions of improvements to an oncology lab based on my observations, as well as to create an internal employee survey measuring employee satisfaction and engagement. I was working with real-time data, and important information that was of great use to my preceptors. It was a bit intimidating, determining the best way to utilize it all.
What motivated me, though, was the trust my preceptors had in me to get the job done, despite me being an intern with so much to learn. Throughout each of my projects, I was expected to know exactly what was expected of me, but to also know what my limits were and when to ask for help. I was called on to report back the results I found, making me feel like an integral part of the discussions that took place in that second-floor conference room. And most importantly, I was held accountable for ensuring that my output was my absolute best effort. Each day brought a different challenge, but I had the guidance and the support I needed to meet each one.
So while I came into my internship not really knowing what to expect, I can happily say that this summer turned out to be an incredibly rewarding experience for me. I not only learned a lot about Northwell, and their commitment to their patients and employees, but I also learned a lot about myself, and about what my capabilities are. This summer I had the great opportunity to be a part of a team, a team that needed me just as much as I needed them.
For those of you wondering where I stand in terms of my career plans now, the administrative side of healthcare has definitely caught my eye. The hustle and bustle that occurs behind the scenes, and not on a care facility’s main floors is an experience like no other. But overall, I have come to learn that there is definitely a career for me in healthcare, regardless of what path I will ultimately decide to take.
Submit your resume to become a Summer Associate in the 2018 Healthcare Management Program Internship.
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My journey in the Healthcare Management Program Internship
Written by: Jimmy Yoder, 2017 HMP Intern
I got the call I would be working in the Big Apple this summer in the middle of my finance class. Filled with excitement, I was practically squirming the rest of class. Needless to say, I didn’t do too well on the quiz that day. Four months later, I was on the way to my dream city for the summer to work at Northwell Health in the Cardiothoracic Surgery and Cardiology Service Line.
I’ve always had this obsession with living in a big city. Maybe it’s because I grew up in a boring suburb or maybe I just love breathing sub-par air. Regardless, I was made for New York. Northwell Health was the perfect internship for me. However, Healthcare Administration hasn’t always been my path. The majority of college was spent preparing for medical school. This let me dip my toes in the water and see if this is the right choice for me.
Day 1 at North Shore University Hospital rolls around and it was a whirlwind. For starters, my boss LOVES the stairs and my body does not love the stairs. The campus was and still is, so incredible. Almost a tiny city filled with thousands of employees and patients surrounded by world-class healthcare. From the get-go we had assignments. Whether it was data analytics, operations or marketing, we were pushed out of our comfort zone. I literally spent a week staring at excel trying to figure out that beast. The panic of not knowing a single thing about what I was doing began to hit. I sat down with one of the Management Associate Program associates and she told me you’re not growing if you’re comfortable. So I kept on trucking and utilized all the people around me. We were given work that actually means something and can benefit the service line, which not a lot of interns at other companies can say.
My Northwell Health experience has been one for the books. Aside from learning perhaps more information than I have in the classroom, the other interns have pushed the experience from great to incredible. A group of us, the out of state “commuters”, have gotten so close. From after work dinner, Broadway shows, happy hour and so much more, we became closer than ever. I think that is going to be the hardest part, going back to our respective universities and not seeing each other for an absurd amount of time. You know us millennials though; we will stay in touch through one of our 20 social media platforms. Lastly, I am so thankful I had such supportive preceptors pushing me to grow and challenging me, but most importantly helping me learn.
Whether my journey with Northwell Health continues or I end up someplace else, I’ll look back and know I was Made for this.
Update: Jimmy has been offered and accepted a full-time position at Northwell Health after he graduates from the University of Texas in May.
Submit your resume to become a Summer Associate in the 2018 Healthcare Management Program Internship.
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Healthcare Management Program Interns Take On NYC
At Northwell Health it’s not a normal 9-5, so that’s why we gave our 26 Healthcare Management Program (HMP) interns an opportunity to take a break from their day-to-day work and projects, and experience New York City through an educational experience with a team building and critical thinking twist.
First, they started at City Hall with a tour exploring New York City’s culture since over 50% of our HMP interns live outside New York State. What better way to experience that than starting from the beginning with George Washington?
After the tour, they sat down with Deborah Brown, Chief Health Strategy and Innovation Officer for the NYC Office of the Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services to talk about the ever-changing landscape of health care and how the government is helping to cultivate plans for value-based care and population health, insurance reimbursement and more. Ms. Brown also shared her career journey in law that led to her current role in the governor’s office and opened the floor for a Q&A session with the interns.
With a quick trip on the subway, our interns went to Lenox Health Greenwich Village (LHGV), Northwell Health’s free-standing emergency department, which is a division of Lenox Hill Hospital. Receiving a personalized tour from Alex Hellinger, Executive Director at LHGV, the interns were provided an overview of the history of health care delivery in this community and the successes and challenges faced by Northwell Health over the last several years. They also were given a preview of the new operating room suites and physician offices currently being built at the site.
Last activity of the day, a surprise scavenger hunt in Greenwich Village park. Each team had to find a way to take unique pictures working together, thinking creatively, how to solve the tasks at hand. From getting a tattoo (not a real one.. or maybe?), treating someone in uniform with respect to somehow doubling your team size, the teams put their heads together to solve the mission at hand. The scavenger hunt reinforced Northwell Health’s company values of Truly Compassionate, Truly Innovative, Truly Ambitious, Truly Together and Truly Ourselves. One team came out victorious, receiving the most points for their creative pictures and earned gold medals for their triumph.
Although this was a fun day, these 26 individuals are hard at work at over 12 hospitals and service lines, taking on projects like reviewing financials for new hospital units, determining the most effective way to reduce readmission rates in population health, researching new tools in telehealth to implement, preparing for our annual philanthropy Foundation concert and more. The day after their teambuilding session, they were back to work where some of the HMP interns had the opportunity to take a selfie with our President and CEO, Michael J. Dowling during a session with Senator Elaine Phillips where she thanked thank our nurses for all they do in delivering care and to present Maureen White, chief nursing executive, with a state proclamation.
Does this sound like something you’re made for? Learn more and sign up for notifications about next summer’s program here.
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The next chapter in health care.
It’s becoming a summer tradition we’re very proud of at Northwell Health: Welcoming the newest talented college juniors who make up the largest class yet in our 8-week Healthcare Management Program (HMP).
This year’s program is going to be massive. We had 675 applications from college students all around the country, up from 516 in 2016, and we chose the 26 students who were ready for the challenge of their lives. We also have 15 Northwell Health hospitals and departments participating in the program, up from 10 last year.
This year’s interns come from as far away as California, Texas, and Utah, connecting the world of health care in the concrete jungle. And while they’ll spend their summer in hot, humid and slightly magical New York City and Long Island, they’ll get a real-life educational experience that you just can’t get in a classroom setting.
Our interns were made for this.
We don’t mess around at orientation — and this isn’t a place for paper pushers. This is a place for people who were made for challenges. Our interns set goals to accomplish before summer’s end, and they’ll get the opportunity to prove to themselves, and their mentors, that they were up to the challenge.
They’ll experience what it means to run a world renowned health care system. Bringing someone coffee isn’t part of the job description, though at times, they might wish for an IV of it themselves. They’ll get to know us intimately and they’ll discover themselves in the process.
And this is only the beginning of their Northwell Health experience. The internship is the perfect stepping-stone to our Management Associate Program (MAP), which is a full time position after graduation. The MAP gives grads a holistic understanding of the business of health care, as well as our overall mission.
It’s also one more way students can grow with us and show how they were made for this.
To help them get started, we put together some advice from our mentors:
Push boundaries. “Embrace new opportunities – even when (especially when) you are out of your comfort zone. That’s when you learn the most about yourself,” – Jenna Tevere, Administrative Director, Emergency Medicine & Surgery, North Shore University Hospital.
Ask for help. “When you start a new project, always make sure you understand what exactly you have been asked to do. If you are at all confused, clarify before starting. It’s better to be honest and ask questions than spin your wheels.” – Ariel Hayes, Sr. Administrative Director, Northwell Health Solutions
Learn from the best. “It is very important to build relationships early on when starting a role in a new department or organization. Success is a team effort and you can learn from everyone, from staff level to executive leadership.” – Gregory Bennett, Sr. Director, Strategic Planning & Business Development, Northwell Health Solutions
It’ll be a summer to remember, and one that will push our interns to a new level of performance and success. It won’t come without long days, hard nights and new challenges.
But hard work in pursuit of a dream is always worth it.
Interested in joining our team? Explore our opportunities for students today.
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Q&A with Adam Becker, HMP Mentor and Graduate
From pre-med to Financial & Operations Management Senior Associate, Adam moved from Chicago to New York to began his career at Northwell Health as Healthcare Management Program intern. His experience as an intern opened his eyes to health care and his experience solidified his decision to accept a full time position post graduation in the administration department at North Shore University Hospital.
Read Adam’s Q&A about being an HMP intern, now HMP mentor, and how the program was a foundation for his career.
Why did you want to participate in the Healthcare Management Program (HMP) and how did you hear about it?
When I began my undergraduate studies at Union College, my initial plans had been to pursue the pre-med track, with the ultimate goal of one day becoming a Physician. Upon taking Intro to Chemistry during one of my first classes at Union, and seeing the grade that I received at the end of the term, I quickly realized that this path would not be for me! Fast forward to my junior year, by that time a declared political science major, I remained eager to find opportunities and experiences that would allow me to pursue a role in healthcare, but in a non-clinical capacity.
While the majority of my internship search efforts were focused on opportunities related to health care policy, I stumbled upon a unique internship experience that was offered by Northwell Health (formerly North Shore-LIJ Health System). The Healthcare Management Program at Northwell Health is an internship designed to provide students with first-hand knowledge and insight into the field of healthcare administration. This seemed far-removed from my initial interests in policy, but also a far destination for a student originally from Chicago.
After speaking with members of the Northwell team, that unbeknownst to me would soon become my colleagues and mentors; I realized that applying to the Healthcare Management Program would be the perfect opportunity to explore my interests in the healthcare field. By participating in the Healthcare Management Program I could fuse my interests in healthcare, business, and policy in a way that no other program or opportunity could provide.
Can you tell us about your experience in the internship?
As a participant in the Healthcare Management Program I developed the skills required to succeed in a dynamic and fast-paced environment. The internship provided me with an opportunity to explore the field of hospital administration through real project work lead by executive mentors. From the relationships that I developed, to the foundational knowledge gained in both analytics and project management, the internship was a phenomenal experience for my professional growth. Furthermore, the opportunity to learn from, and engage with, executive leadership, clinical leadership, and others, afforded me a unique perspective into the daily roles and responsibilities of healthcare administrators. By gaining exposure to world-class professionals, combined with challenging and exciting project work, the Healthcare Management Program reaffirmed my passion for health care, but more importantly, the experience served as the onramp for my career in health care administration.
After participating in the HMP, what made you decide to take a full time position at Northwell Health in our Management Associate Program as a Financial & Operations Management Associate?
Through my participation in the Healthcare Management Program I gained the skills necessary to be able to succeed in a dynamic professional landscape. As a result, many of the tools that I developed in the internship provided me with the ability to engage with a variety of different organizations, including financial ones, about potential career opportunities. Although I was intrigued by entry-level positions offered by the other companies, I realized that these institutions could never offer the one component of working in health care that I enjoyed the most: the opportunity to impact the life of a patient.
My decision to join this organization in the Management Associate Program (MAP) was made for that simple reason: to wake up each morning knowing that in some way shape or form I could impact the life of another. The passion that I felt to continue to grow in the organization that had paved my professional foundation, combined with a desire to pursue a career in healthcare was the two main contributing factors towards my decision of joining the Management Associate Program.
How was it mentoring an HMP intern this summer after going through the program yourself?
After having been a participant in the program myself, the opportunity to mentor three Healthcare Management Program interns this summer was a phenomenal experience for me both professionally and personally. From a professional standpoint, just as the Healthcare Management Program provided me with an opportunity to learn a skill set in analytics and project management, mentoring students this summer allowed me to develop my own management skills and style. It was a great experience to be able to train others on the same tools that I had been taught when I had gone through the program just a few years prior.
On a personal level, the investment that I had in the program as a former participant made the dedication level to the success of the internship experience that much higher. My goal for the summer was to ensure that the students had as beneficial of an experience as I had, if not better. As one of their mentors, I wanted to provide them with as many opportunities to develop their skill set, form professional relationships, as well as encourage them to cultivate the same passion for health care that I had gained during my own internship experience. The mentorship experience was tremendously rewarding and I am glad that as a former participant I had the opportunity to help others begin their own professional journeys.
Our 2017 Healthcare Management Program is now open for submission. Become part of our 61,000 strong and submit your resume today.
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Northwell Health’s Healthcare Management Program Internship. The future of health care is in your hands.
This summer, our newly expanded, elite 8-week Healthcare Management Program (HMP) Internship, offered undergraduate students a unique opportunity to influence the future of health care. With over 500 applications nationwide, thirteen top students were chosen to participate at one of our ten participating facilities.
From day one, they were welcomed as a respected member of our team and immersed in real, meaningful project work with executive leaders and mentors- all working together toward the goal of transforming care. This program engaged and developed our future health care leaders by helping them realize their full potential, and giving them a hand on experience into health care administration and operations at various hospitals and facilities.
During the program, interns were given numerous opportunities to advance their skills and the Northwell Health mission through:
- Strategic, important project work. Opportunities like, new facility process mapping, annual report creation, hospital performance dashboards, venture capital planning, fundraising initiatives, product line financial reporting, redesigning of hospital units and so much more.
- Weekly educational sessions. Lead by our executives, our weekly Lunch & Learns from the best showcased topics such as Finance, Operations, Budgeting, Role of a Healthcare Administrator, Project Management, and Career Mobility.
- Networking opportunities. From chatting with past HMP interns and mentors at our Alumni Dinner to on-site visits & Lunch & Learns, the HMP interns were immersed in networking opportunities with various leaders and team members.
- Hospital and facility tours. To help students understand how their impact behind the scenes makes a difference to our overall operations they were given all access tours to our facilities.
- And yes….we even had time for fun events arranged specifically for the HMP intern group such as our Escape the Room team-building adventure!
As a stepping stone into our Management Associate Program (MAP) after graduation, the HMP internship teaches you that from bedside to the business offices, there is nothing more fulfilling than knowing that we each play an integral part of the care of our patients and the customer experience.
Don’t just take our word for it; hear from our 2016 HMP Interns….
“I came into this internship thinking that I would only do operations work, however I had the opportunity to work on various projects and people within the hospital. The biggest thing I learned is that there is so much coordination between departments and a huge focus on teamwork.”
“I can confidently say I have been very privileged and lucky to have had such an incredible opportunity. Since day one, I was immediately welcomed with nothing but smiles and guidance. Every single employee made it his/her business to ensure I was helped in any way I needed.”
“I learned the complexity of health care, the costs associated, and the importance of human connection. Healthcare is often overlooked, but few other industries allow people to conclude a work day with an immense feeling of satisfaction and I am fairly convinced it is an industry that I would very much like to participate in.”
“Northwell Health provided me with independence on many projects, allowing me to take the lead, while always having mentors and resources available for guidance.”
We are now accepting applications for the 2017 HMP program. Visit our Students page for up-to-date information.
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Learn more about our hiring experience.
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© 2021 - Northwell Health
Click here to view the “EEO is the law” poster.
It is Northwell Health’s policy to provide equal employment opportunity and treat all applicants and employees equally regardless of their age, race, creed/religion, color, national origin, immigration status or citizenship status, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, sex/gender, gender identity, gender expression, disability, pregnancy, genetic information or genetic predisposition or carrier status, marital or familial status, partnership status, victim of domestic violence, sexual or other reproductive health decisions, or other characteristics protected by applicable law.
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