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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730+ Nursing students go virtual for our 2021 Golden Ticket Nursing Showcase
Though this year’s Northwell Health Golden Ticket Nursing Showcase may have looked different due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our commitment to educating and impacting future nursing careers was stronger than ever.
To ensure the safety of our team members, students and communities, the 2021 Nursing Showcase pivoted from our traditional in-person format to an exciting and engaging virtual event. But this wasn’t your typical zoom meeting – the more than 730 junior and senior nursing students from 50+ schools had a full day of interactive events to choose from!
Students used our virtual lobby to navigate through the day’s events.
The morning started in our auditoriums where students heard from senior leadership, including Northwell’s President and CEO Michael Dowling who had a candid conversation with four of Northwell’s nurse heroes. After learning about our culture of nursing excellence and discovering how they could prepare for their own career journeys, students attended panels to learn about our Nurse Externship Program and new graduate nursing careers including our Nurse Fellowship Program with live Q&A. Depending on their year of study, panels connected students with fellow nurses who had worked as externs over the summer or new nurses who had been in their shoes not long ago.
After the morning sessions, students had the opportunity to explore our virtual Careers Expo and Culture Center. In the Careers Expo, students could virtually chat one-on-one with nurses across 24 specialties at our booths. It was a unique opportunity to learn about specialties that aren’t taught in nursing school, such as Perioperative, Teleheath and Home Care, or to discover what it is like to work in areas such as Emergency, Critical Care, Pediatrics, Float, Case Management, Women’s Health, and many more.
But at Northwell, we know a great nursing career goes beyond just specialty. In the Culture Center, students could see what makes Northwell Health unique – and why we’ve been ranked on the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For® list. Here nursing students could explore 13 booths, connecting with Northwell team members to learn about the offerings of our Institute for Nursing, our commitment to diversity, inclusion and health equity, employee wellness, our Magnet© journey and more through presentations, live interactive trivia, videos and more.
And that’s not all! Throughout the afternoon, students were able to attend 11 Breakout Sessions. These optional sessions offered an in-depth look at some of our specialties such as the Perioperative Information Session, informed students how to optimize their resume and interview tips from our recruiters, or explored nursing career journeys from bedside nurse to leadership and more. Our final Breakout Sessions of the day also gave students the unique chance to earn Contact Hours. Through a partnership with our Institute for Nursing team, juniors and seniors alike could earn credits for attending the Navigating as a New Graduate Nurse or Caring through COVID-19 including Emergencies and Codes sessions.
Throughout the day students could also interact with other elements in within the platform. Whether it was visiting our robust video library to watch our team members talk about what it is like to work at Northwell or bringing Northwell leadership directly into their home through augmented reality, there were so many ways to explore nursing within our event. And every action helped students earn points as they competed to win prizes, including gift cards. Additionally, students could submit their photo to our virtual mosaic of attendees – a way to be together despite the unprecedented circumstances.
No matter what the next year holds, at Northwell Health we know the future of nursing shines bright!
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The best healthcare careers for your personality type
When it comes to students deciding on what career to pursue, the amount of choices can seem daunting. With that in mind, psychologist Dr. John L. Holland invented a set of personality types. These types, known as Holland Codes, work under the belief that people work best in an environment where they enjoy their tasks and might provide some insight into the best career option for you.
As the largest private employer in New York State, Northwell Health has a diverse selection of careers for every path and personality type. We listed the different Holland Code personality types alongside the healthcare careers that might best fit each.
Take the Holland Code assessment and see which personality type you are by clicking here and then match your results to the careers below.
Realistic Holland Code: The Builders
Those who fall under the realistic interest profile are classified as builders. These individuals tend to be practical, sensible and mechanical, while enjoying hands-on tasks that are concrete or fixed such as building, repairing or using machines. Independent work is preferred and they tend to be action-based while focusing on solutions.
Healthcare careers for builders may include:
- Environmental Services
- Materials Management
- Engineering and Mechanical Services
- Security
- Radiology
Investigative Holland Code: The Thinkers
If you have an investigative interest profile, you’re classified as a thinker. Thinkers are analytical and scientific, preferring to work with research, exploration and intellectual pursuits. These individuals may prefer to work with theories, enjoying gaining knowledge and exploring the possibilities in the world.
Healthcare careers for thinkers may include:
- Medical Research
- Clinical Laboratory
- PeriOperative Services (Surgical Technologists, Operating Room Nurses and Surgeons)
- Teleheath
- Information Technology
- Pharmacy
- Clinical Informatics
Artistic Holland Code: The Creators
Those who identify with having an artistic interest profile are known as creators. Creators usually prefer to work in an unstructured environment where they have the freedom to come up with new ideas and expressive work. These individuals thrive in flexible jobs without much repetition or routine and they can use their imagination to influence their work.
Healthcare careers for creators may include:
- Marketing and Communications
- Video and Photography
- Culinary
- Music Therapy
- Art Therapy
Social Holland Code: The Helpers
Individuals who identify as having a social interest profile are known as helpers. Helpers are supportive and healing in nature, enjoying teaching and working in collaborative work environments. They enjoy working with people and being helpful, whether it’s through service or education.
Healthcare careers for helpers may include:
- Nursing and Nursing Support
- Child Life Services
- Social Work
- Advanced Clinical Providers
- Rehabilitation
Conventional Holland Code: The Organizers
If you identify as having a conventional interest profile, you’re known as an organizer. These individuals tend to thrive in methodical and procedural work where they find success with their accuracy and precision. They’re detail-oriented and enjoy working with data and numbers in a systemic approach.
Healthcare careers for organizers may include:
- Finance
- Administration
- Human Resources
- Revenue Cycle
- Clerical
Enterprising Holland Code: The Persuaders
Those who find they relate to an enterprising interest profile are known as persuaders. Persuaders thrive in a competitive environment where they feel their work is able to influence process. They are ambitious and unafraid to take risks while enjoying strategizing and being in positions of leadership.
Healthcare careers for persuaders may include:
- Management
- Operations
- Business Development
- Law
- Public Relations
While the Holland Codes are a great starting point for students to explore careers, it’s important to remember that you may be a combination of more than one interest profile. To further explore all the career opportunities that exist in healthcare, join our Student Talent Community today!
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Meet the winners of this year’s Spark! Challenge
Northwell Health’s Spark! Challenge is an annual program for high school students across the New York area that brings together educators, schools and lots of passionate Northwell team members. Students who participate in the Spark! Challenge have the opportunity to learn about careers directly from our team members, igniting their spark for healthcare careers. The Spark! Challenge plays a vital role in helping reach, engage and inspire tomorrow’s healthcare leaders.
With this year’s Spark! Challenge bigger than ever, approximately 1,000 students from more than 50 schools participated in hands-on site visits with Northwell team members across more than 81 departments, hospitals and facilities to have a immersive learning experience about healthcare careers. After their Northwell site visit, students are given the challenge to create a poster featuring one healthcare career they learned about and then present on that career as a team.
Meet the winners from this year’s poster competition below!
First Place: John F. Kennedy High School, Bellmore-Merrick
The students from John F. Kennedy High School, Bellmore-Merrick visited the trauma team at Cohen Children’s Medical Center and learned about an electroencephalogram (EEG) and how placement of sensors on the head produces outputs. They also met patients who have experienced head trauma, including one patient who has a 3-D printed skull. Students then visited the morgue to learn about the brain post-mortem.
After meeting with the team, the students chose to have their poster focus on the child life specialists who help make pediatric patients more comfortable during their hospital visit.
Second Place: Valley Stream South High School
When the students from Valley Stream South High School visited the Department of Family Medicine, they were presented with four simulated cases in Family Medicine. Working together as a team, students had to learn and decide how to care for patients such as a pediatric child in urgent care with a sore throat and an elderly patient who needed an ultrasound. Through these simulations, students left with a better understanding of the variety of cases a Family Medicine care team might see in one day.
These students chose to highlight doctors in their poster and showcase the diverse care they deliver to patients.
Third Place: Baldwin High School
Baldwin High School students spent the day with Northwell’s Corporate Business Development team to discover healthcare careers within business strategy. During the field trip, students were presented with the challenge to form a capital cost estimate for a physician practice based on an outline of a practice assessment. Using a previous example, the students worked through the capital process with a defined budget to discover how business strategy is used to improve the care our patients receive.
Their poster focused on the role of a practice transitioner who is using their knowledge to implement improvements in our practices.
Honorable Mention: Patchogue-Medford High School
Students at Patchogue-Medford High School learned that it takes talent to fill our health system with the right people in the right roles. After meeting with the Talent Acquisition team, they learned how to find candidates who embody the Northwell values from thousands of applicants through attracting, vetting and hiring candidates.
Choosing to highlight a healthcare recruiter, they wanted to showcase the integral role that Talent Acquisition plays in identifying top candidates who are “Made for this.”
Facebook Favorite: Great Neck South High School
Great Neck South High School students traveled to LIJ Forest Hills Hospital to learn about the innovation with healthcare. Arriving at the hospital, students took part in an interactive exercise with the Assistant Director of Environment of Care Compliance/Safety before being split into groups to learn about the different areas of care. The teams learned about safe patient handling, MRI Safety, Operating Room/Delivery Room, basic life support, and wound care. The day concluded through sharing the team’s career journeys.
For their poster, the students chose to highlight the career of an obstetrician and gynecologist. Winning the Facebook Favorite award means that their poster was voted on by hundreds of Northwell team members!
Rookie Poster Award: Plainedge High School
Plainview Hospital hosted the Plainedge High School students and taught them about all of the careers that exist within our Imaging Departments. After attending a lecture and receiving a tour, the students then scrubbed into a procedure in interventional radiology, where they used the ultrasound machines and spoke with team members.
Their poster showcased the role a nuclear radiologist plays within our hospital to help diagnose and treat patients.
Watch our video announcement of the winners below!
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Nursing Students get a Golden Ticket to Northwell’s Nursing Showcase
The future of nursing is golden at the Northwell’s Golden Ticket Nursing Showcase! This year, more than 630 junior and senior nursing students from 50+ colleges attended to learn about Northwell’s nursing careers and culture. Our invitation-only event at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, NY is an important way to identify and engage with nursing students for New York State’s largest health system.
At the Golden Ticket Nursing Showcase, students attended presentations from Northwell’s nursing leadership to hear about our careers including our externships and fellowships, advanced careers such as becoming a nurse practitioner and the future of nursing at Northwell . Panel sessions were also held featuring previous nurse externs and current team members to allow students to ask questions and hear about their experiences.
In addition to the panels and presentations, students explored the Nursing Careers Expo and Culture Center where they could meet and interact with our registered nurses and nursing leaders and learn what makes Northwell’s culture and careers so unique. Here students also had the chance to learn about more than 23 specialties in nursing such as PeriOperative, Emergency, Critical Care, Pediatrics, Home Care, Case Management, TeleHealth, Mother/Baby and many more.
Don’t miss this inside look at what it’s like to attend the Northwell Golden Ticket Nursing Showcase in our video recap:
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Investing in the future of nursing with our Nurse Extern Program
Our Nurse Extern Program is providing junior BSN students with a unique experience at the bedside within a Northwell Health hospital. Every summer, selected nursing students have the opportunity to participate in our rewarding eight-week paid program. Guided by preceptors, these future nurses develop a strong skill set all while strengthening their passion for delivering care.
This unique experience is a powerful stepping stone for nursing students. Nurse externs spend their program shadowing nurses to see first-hand what it’s like to work in a hospital setting. By introducing them to specialties they won’t see in their clinical rotations, such as the operating room, students enter their senior year with more confidence and a better understanding of which specialty they want to develop their career in.
Beyond learning how to deliver bedside care, students participate in educational in-services presented by our nurse educators and leadership, while building lasting relationships with their peers. Externs also work together to complete a final project to present to nursing leadership at the end of their program.
The 2019 program hosted 91 nurse externs at 15 hospitals in over seven specialties, a 30% increase in nurse externs since 2018.With the growth of our program, more students are able to gain an invaluable foundation to build their nursing career.
Are you Made for the future of nursing? Learn more about our Nurse Extern Program here!
Hear from 2019’s summer Nurse Externs on why they loved our Nurse Extern Program:
Amanda Steinberg,
University of Michigan
“Not only did Northwell’s externship program provide me with the tools to enhance essential nursing skills, but it also allowed me to understand that the smallest act of caring is the true vulnerability of nursing.”
Caroline Turansky,
Boston College
“This summer I had the opportunity to work as an extern in the OR. In just eight short weeks, I learned more than I ever thought possible through both my time on the floor and educational sessions. Every aspect of this program fostered my growth as a nursing student, and it was truly an invaluable experience.”
Chris Peppe,
St. Joseph’s College
“My externship was the most informative eight weeks of nursing knowledge and practice that I have experienced thus far in my career. The Southside Hospital nurse educators and staff provided me with education, engaging experiences and knowledge that I will utilize throughout my entire nursing career.”
Dana Galgano,
Villanova University
“This has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. You not only gain experience in both clinical practice and critical thinking, but you also get to form a relationship with your preceptor who quickly becomes an incredible mentor and role model. I was able to learn the intricate inner workings of what life is like being a bedside nurse on the floor.”
Eizle Bianca Salonga,
Molloy College
“My experience in the OR externship at Long Island Jewish Medical Centeris truly unforgettable. The action I’ve seen, the knowledge I’ve gained, and the confidence I developed is unparalleled to all my clinical rotations combined. The staff also welcomed me with open arms since day one and I truly felt like I was a part of the team.”
Erin Pasquale,
Villanova University
“My experience at Zucker Hillside Hospital as a nurse extern was extremely rewarding. This program has given me added confidence in my nursing abilities as I enter my senior year at Villanova University.”
Hannah Giannico,
SUNY Farmingdale
“This was an amazing opportunity that will not be forgotten. Every day I learned something new as I worked hands-on with my preceptor. I gained so much knowledge, critical thinking skills, and imperative lessons that will help me excel as a future registered nurse.”
Jaime Lambrinon,
Sacred Heart University
“The Nurse Extern Program not only provided me with the tools to succeed but guided me along the way. I received hands-on experience, which allowed me to utilize the skills I’ve learned with the support from an amazing preceptor. I will take this with me throughout my nursing career.”
Jessica Koch,
Mount Saint Mary College
“My experience this summer boosted my confidence and provided me with countless learning opportunities. As I progressed through my eight weeks I adapted, gained confidence and saw what nursing really is. This experience introduced me to an amazing hospital staff who enhanced my clinical skills.”
Jillian Arrigan,
Molloy College
“My externship will forever have an impact on the way I approach my career in nursing. For eight weeks in the Pediatric ICU I worked alongside the most welcoming preceptors. Not only has this increased my clinical and practical experience and confidence, but it has shown me the true importance of caring for families, in both good times and in bad.”
Katie Campilii,
Fairfield University
“This program not only made me a better nurse but a better person. With the entire staff wanting to help and teach you everything they know. I am so lucky I was able to spend this summer working in the emergency program at Northern Westchester Hospital.”
Mackenzie Nyitray,
Saint Joseph’s College
“The externship program allowed me to further build up my nursing skills. It taught me time management and efficiency. This program proved to me why I love nursing so much. Getting to do what I love at an earlier stage encouraged me to keep learning and do my best for the people I will caring for in the future.”
Nicholas Whelan,
Towson University
“The externship allowed me to build myself as a professional and prepare for employment following graduation. I have this externship to thank for skills I was able to develop this summer, and hope to return to Northwell as a registered nurse.”
Nikki Mangialino,
Molloy College
“I had an amazing opportunity as an extern working with fantastic nurses in the PACU. This program has helped me gain lifelong knowledge and confidence in my skills, how I care for my patients, and my communication with other healthcare professionals. I feel so much more confident entering my senior year of nursing school.”
Selena Sabu,
Adelphi University
“Working as an extern in the OR I got to learn what it was like to connect with patients and help them stay relaxed during their procedures. The staff was super welcoming and made my learning experience so great. I felt confident walking away with the knowledge I’ve gained and the new skills I’ve learned. ”
Check out some of our nurse externs on location:
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Develop cutting-edge applications in Software Engineering Internship
Do you have an insatiable curiosity for new ideas and building innovative software? Then you might be Made for Northwell Health’s Software Engineering Internship!
This year Northwell launched a new Software Engineering Internship where our interns worked at the forefront of building new technology for healthcare as part of the Northwell Health Information Technology Innovation Center. With over 400 applicants, five top candidates with varied skill sets were selected to form our first elite summer cohort.
Our summer interns had the opportunity use the latest technologies to build advanced modern software that will deliver real value to our patients, clinicians and organization. Operating like a startup, the team incubated new ideas and worked collaboratively in an agile environment like a commercial software development team.
Joining the team of software engineers, product managers and UX designers, our interns are bringing new ideas to life with the goal of having a pilot-ready software for deployment at our hospitals at the end of their internship. Each intern was mentored by a software engineer to ensure their success throughout the summer.
During their first week, interns attended a Coding Boot Camp, followed by the kick-off of two full stack projects. After presentations from stakeholders outlining important requirements, the interns were off and running in two small teams creating architecture to review with their mentors, running daily stand-up meetings and presenting to stakeholders for feedback.
While delivering projects, students learned about cutting edge technologies and work with the latest development methodologies and frameworks, including self-organizing to create their own development boards and run their own Scrum stand-ups. “The working environment is great,” says Xuliang Sun, a dual Masters student at Carnegie Mellon studying Civil Engineering and Technology Innovation Management. “We work in an open space and our mentors are there to help us. We can easily jump into the huddle room and whiteboard the solution together.”
Nic Lorenzen, senior development lead for the Innovation Software Engineering team believes in giving interns the opportunity to push their comfort zone. He adds, “By the end of summer, they will have created continuous deployment pipelines that push out Microsoft Azure function microservice backends, progressive reactive front end applications and leveraged SignalR for real-time communication. Our interns won’t just ship code like every intern yearns to do; they will ship clean, maintainable code that they can be proud of and we can use and build off of for years to come.”
Ready to gain experience for your future career? Applications are now open!
Let’s hear what our interns have to say about their summer so far:
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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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Photo: Joshua is on the left. As a computer science student at Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey, I began searching for a summer internship opportunity where I could enhance and apply my software engineering skills. I was excited when I found out that Northwell wanted to have an interview with me for the Software Engineering internship. While many in the tech field lust after the likes of Google and Facebook, or dream of working for the next big startup and IPO, the chance to use my skills on tangible problems in healthcare, to positively impact the lives of clinicians and patients was exactly what I was looking for. During the interview with the Northwell Emerging Technology & Innovation (NETI) team they explained that they are tasked with and given the freedom to find and explore innovative solutions to the most pressing problems in healthcare, primarily through technology and software solutions. When I was offered the internship, I made one of the soundest decisions of my young career by saying yes. When I started the internship, I was immersed into a week-long extensive orientation and acquainted with the Nora Standalone App, my project for the summer. The Nora Standalone App was envisioned to allow clinicians quicker and easier, secure mobile-based access to patient’s clinical results, reducing the burden and complexity of electronic medical records using modern, and cutting edge technologies. Placed entirely under the internship program, the intern as a whole would own the project from inception to pilot, an unbelievably unique and valuable experience for an intern. Starting my second week, I had the chance to participate in every part of the software process, beginning with sprint planning and writing user stories. I wrote both back-end and front-end code, as well as unit and integration testing. Skilled and helpful software engineers were available at every step of the process, encouraging best practices, helping me to resolve blocking issues, and suggesting ways to write cleaner code. I particularly enjoyed the weekly code reviews, which packed nearly limitless amounts of useful tips into less than an hour’s worth of time. From our comfortable and modern office conveniently located in midtown Manhattan, we made visits to several Northwell facilities. I saw clinicians in action at the Lenox Health Greenwich Village, operators taking 911 calls at the Center for Emergency Management and nurses and doctors checking in on patients at Northwell’s eICU hub in Syosset, NY. Frequent Lunch and Learn sessions also afforded me the valuable opportunity to hear from leadership. These engaging and collaborative discussions allowed me to ask questions, make professional connections, and present my work. I could not have asked for a better internship experience. I had the chance to own my own project, touching every part of the software development process, all while learning more about the organization and healthcare. The incredible experience I had with the NETI team has opened my eyes to the boundless opportunities open to software engineers at Northwell. I think it is safe to say that Northwell should absolutely should be on your list for the next internship or job search!
A Summer with Northwell – My Journey in the Software Engineering Internship Program
Written by: Joshua Zeitlinger, Software Engineer Intern, Stevens Institute of Technology
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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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My summer as a Hospitality in Healthcare intern
Written by: Valerie Pelling, High Point University Graduate ‘19
I was introduced to playing sports from a young age. Playing soccer, lacrosse and everything in between, I saw my fair share of podiatrists, neurologists, and orthopedists for sports related injuries that were often interrupting my athletic career. Although I didn’t realize it at the time, dealing with these injuries and seeing numerous doctors would lead me to my future career path.
In 2015, I headed off to college to major in Business Administration and to play Division 1 Lacrosse at High Point University. While my academics were going well, I faced a season-ending injury in my sophomore year. I was in need of ACL reconstructive surgery which was a tough pill to swallow, considering I would be out for the next 10 months!
While working with physical therapists to get back on the field, it gradually dawned on me that I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare. With this new passion, I began volunteering at a local hospital. I connected connecting with patients by conducting surveys on how they felt about their hospital visit. My time spent interacting with patients taught me about the importance of customer service and empathy, which are necessary skills in order to work in this field.
Fast-forward to 2019 when the Hospitality in Healthcare Internship Program at Northwell jumped out at me. I was ecstatic about the opportunity to be a part of the patient experience team in the system that repeatedly got me back on my feet. The hospitality internship has opened my eyes to how Northwell truly differentiates themselves from other healthcare systems. The thought and care that goes into improving its patient and customer experience is impressive and the culture the organization prides itself on is sincere and one of a kind.
My experience at Patient Access Services (PAS), a centralized call center for patients and providers, taught me the importance of respect, customer service, and communication skills. PAS is the patient’s first impression for certain practices, and the thoughtfulness and empathy that the customer service agents provide is the reason why Northwell is so great. From the point of view of a long time Northwell patient, any facility that is associated with the Northwell name gives the greatest quality of care. They treat everyone as if they are family, and I am so thankful for the opportunity to work alongside the personnel who make the Northwell patient experience so remarkable.
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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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2019 Spark! Challenge Awards Ceremony. And the winners are…
Last week, more than 900 people including Northwell team members, faculty and 11th and 12th grade high school students from Long Island, Staten Island, Westchester and New York City gathered to participate in the 5th annual Spark! Challenge Awards Ceremony.
The Spark! Challenge offers high school students a unique opportunity to join one of the 74 participating Northwell departments for a day in the fall and learn hands-on about clinical and non-clinical healthcare careers from our team members. After the students’ Spark! visit, they were asked to design a poster that represents the career they learned about. This year students learned about careers such as:
- Athletic Trainer
- Biomedical Engineer
- Clinical Laboratory Specialist
- Colorectal Surgeon
- Construction Project Manager
- Corporate Lawyer
- CRNA
- Hospital Executive Chef
- Medical Simulation Tech
- Paramedic
- Patient Experience Director
- Pharmacist
- Physician’s Assistant
- Research
- Talent Sourcing Specialist
- Ultrasound Technician
- And so much more!
During the spring Awards Ceremony, students gave a two-minute presentation to Northwell’s senior executives and answered questions on one career they learned about during their site visit. Students were also able to test out their surgical skills with the da Vinci Xi Surgical System Robot, which is used in Northwell’s operating rooms for minimally invasive surgeries, play with therapy dogs and try their hand in a life-size Operation game.
After presentations, judges deliberated and more than $30,000 in prizes were awarded to the winners for student posters and presentations. We’re proud to announce that the winners of this year’s Spark! Challenge are….
Poster Awards (picked prior to the Awards Ceremony)
- First Place: John F. Kennedy – Bellmore-Merrick- Glen Cove Hospital – Operating Room
- Second Place: General Douglas MacArthur High School- Corporate Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO)
- Third Place: Valley Stream Central High School- Orzac Center for Rehabilitation
- Facebook Favorite Poster voted on by thousands of Northwell team members: Baldwin High School – LIJ Valley Stream – Operating Room
- Poster Rookie Award: Division Avenue High School, Corporate Legal Affairs
- Poster Honorable Mention: Stella K. Abraham High School - North Shore University Hospital – Pharmacy
- Poster Honorable Mention: Baldwin High School- Corporate Risk Management
Presentation Winners:
Presentation Award
- Baldwin High School- LIJ Valley Stream- Operating Room
- Tottenville High School- Staten Island University Hospital: South Campus
- Holy Trinity High School- Community Health
- Amityville High School - South Oaks Hospital
- Glen Cove High School- Plainview Hospital: Emergency Department
- Patchogue-Medford High School- Southside Hospital
Presentation Award- Honorable Mentions
- Uniondale High School- Stern Family Center for Rehabilitation
- Baldwin High School - Northwell Health Physician Partners: Urogynecology at Bay Shore
- Valley Stream South High School - Equity of Care
- Patchogue-Medford High School – Northwell Health Venue Development
- Massapequa High School - LIJ Medical Center: Emergency Department
- Bay Shore High School- Family Medicine Department
Congratulations to all this year’s winners! To see all careers and schools that participated click here.
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5 STEM healthcare careers for students to explore
The need for students to pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) careers is greater than ever and for good reason. Between 2000 and 2010, STEM-related jobs grew three times as fast as non-STEM jobs – a rate projected to increase.
You may be left wondering what STEM jobs you can pursue. STEM careers go beyond just being a doctor or an engineer – the opportunities are endless! So what are some of the major STEM careers you should be exploring?
1. Imaging
Imaging technologists are Allied Health professionals that complete a two or four year program from accredited college. Graduates are licensed by the NYS Department Of Health or registered or certified in a sub-specialty area to perform diagnostic imaging examinations. Using the most advanced imaging equipment, imaging professionals are trained to produce high-quality images that enable the Radiologist (physician) to make a critical diagnosis. Without their expertise, care teams wouldn’t be able to diagnose and treat patients effectively.
You can enjoy the flexibility to choose additional specializations such as computed tomography (CT), ultrasound, nuclear medicine, mammography and more. And as an imaging professional, you’d have the ability to work in a variety of settings such as hospitals, diagnostic labs, and ambulatory centers.
Careers to consider:
- Ultrasound Technologist
- Radiology Technologist
- CT/MRI Technologist
- Mammography Technologist
- Nuclear Medicine Technologist
- Special Procedures Technologist
2. Certified Surgical Technologist
Surgical technologists have the important task of prepping patients for surgery and ensuring the operating room’s equipment has been sterilized and properly stocked with supplies. Your job as a surgical technologist doesn’t end there – you’d remain in the OR to assist surgeons throughout the surgery and then help to dress wounds. At Northwell, Registered Nurses and the Certified Surgical Technologist function as a subunit within a team, interacting through a unique, dynamic relationship—one sterile role and one nonsterile role, working in collaboration.
Job opportunities for surgical technologists are on the rise as the growth in population and technology leads to an increase in the frequency of surgical procedures. Completing a surgical technologist certification program usually takes around two years, allowing you the unique chance to quickly scrub into your first surgery after school.
3. Research
Becoming a doctor or nurse isn’t the only option for science majors to join the healthcare industry! Research careers enable professionals to work in programs and partnerships that help study, test and improve clinical breakthroughs. Medical research also includes working on some of the most exciting technology to treat disease and injury, such as bioelectronic medicine. Not all research careers are clinical either – as a medical researcher you can work in engineering, statistics, and more.
Join together research and technology as part of a team working on cutting-edge discoveries in areas such as health outcomes research, translational science, behavioral science and more. As a member of the research team, you’d also have the ability to work on breakthroughs in major diseases from cancer to lupus to sepsis. Your work could help discover new treatments, therapies and technologies for patients to live a healthier life.
Careers to consider:
- Associate Research Statistician
- Post Doc Research Trainees
- Investigator
- Research Coordinator
- Electrical Engineer
- Computer Scientists
- Neurophysiologists
4. Telemetry Technicians
Telemetry technicians, also called monitoring technicians or electrocardiograph technicians (EKG or ECG), are important allied health professionals. These technicians use non-invasive electrocardiographic equipment to monitor patients’ heart rhythms and alert nurses and physicians to changes in the patient’s rate, rhythm and the occurrence of dysrhythmias while on the Telemetry Unit.
Working as a telemetry technician allows you to work within a hospital using advanced technology. There are also increasing opportunities for you to deliver compassionate care to patients within a hospital or ambulatory setting. And training programs prepare you for entering the healthcare industry in just a few months!
5. Clinical Laboratory Scientist
To become a clinical laboratory scientist you must obtain your bachelor’s degree from an accredited clinical laboratory science program, pass your ASCP national certification exam and then become licensed by New York State Education Department (NYSED) to practice. As a clinical laboratory scientist, you can work in exciting fields such as:
- Microbiology
- Hematology
- Cytogenetics
- Chemistry
- Molecular Diagnostics
- Blood Bank
- Immunology
- Flow Cytometry
Fun fact, Northwell has two brand new, state-of-the-art labs. Our Core Lab/Automated Lab is the largest health system-based lab in the region with the largest Roche automated line of its kind in North America, and one of the largest in the world. Our new Microbiology Lab that has the largest Kiestra Micro automated line in the U.S!
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The Spark! Challenge: Educating high school students for future healthcare careers
The 5th annual Spark! Challenge was larger than ever with 74 Northwell teams, and 900 students participating throughout the year! Students from high schools across Long Island, Staten Island, Westchester and New York City were able to directly experience and explore the wide variety of careers available in healthcare. By connecting students, educators, and Northwell Health professionals, the Spark! Challenge is helping to reach, engage and inspire students to consider some traditional and non-traditional healthcare careers.
We talked to Northwell team members who hosted students at their sites, as well as the teachers of the visiting schools to hear how the Spark! Challenge makes an impact on our students.
Emergency Services
Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) – North Campus
At Staten Island University Hospital’s (SIUH) North Campus, students from St. Joseph Hill Academy participated in a mock trauma with life-like mannequins. After exciting tours of the OR and ICU, students also had the opportunity to meet and talk with the surgical team.
Jennifer Pla, St. Joseph Hill Academy teacher, was impressed by the engagement the students had with the doctors and nurses, “It gave students insight into the ongoing education that is necessary for healthcare practitioners to keep their skills sharp and improve patient care. The hands-on activities in the simulation lab allowed students to learn firsthand how difficult and technical these life-saving skills are to perform correctly.”
“The mock trauma scenario provides the ED staff with necessary simulation drills and the students love the realness of the mannequin,” says Anne Marie McDonough, senior director of Rehab Services at SIUH, “Students had an in-depth opportunity to talk with the trauma surgery staff, and they asked some fabulous questions!”
Syosset Hospital
Students from Mepham High School partnered with local EMS services for a demonstration of a distracted driver with an overturned vehicle. With help from the EMS team and Syosset staff, students extracted “patients” in a hands-on scenario, then toured the emergency department and ambulance.
“We had an amazing experience that started with a simulated car accident. The fire department actually cut a ‘driver’ out of the car and followed him through the emergency department,” says Peter Steckle, Mepham High School teacher. “Students got a chance to interact with doctors and healthcare professionals to perform tasks like casting and a laparoscopic procedure. It was an experience they will never forget.”
Debra Clifford, BSN, RN, MHA, director of Patient Care Services has participated in the Spark! Challenge at Syosset Hospital for the past three years, “The Spark! Challenge provides students an opportunity through hands-on simulation to learn about careers in healthcare and has opened pathways for students to volunteer with healthcare professionals, and pursue fields that they may not have previously considered.”
Culinary
Plainview Hospital
Plainview Hospital’s Spark! Challenge visit gave Bellmore-Merrick CHSD students an interactive experience in the Food & Nutrition Department. From culinary arts and menu design to clinical nutrition and planning, students received an introduction to the culinary world in healthcare before ending the day with a cooking competition.
“Nothing ever becomes real until it is experienced,” says Michael DiGiovanni, CTE teacher and chef instructor at the Culinary Hospitality Applied Management Program (CHAMP) at Bellmore-Merrick CHSD, “The lessons that our students learned from the chef, cooks, and nutritionists at Northwell made their knowledge of culinary arts real and enticing. The Spark! Challenge experience demonstrated the enjoyment and sensibility of this ever-growing industry.”
Eric Sieden, director of Nutrition and Food Services at Glen Cove, Plainview and Syosset Hospitals agreed, “Our Food & Nutrition team was so excited to be able to host and share their experiences with the culinary students. Through their interactions with the cooking staff, students were able to see how Northwell is providing nutritious-restaurant quality meals to a population that deserves and appreciates it. When I was their age, the Spark! Challenge is something I would have loved and definitely benefited from.”
North Shore University Hospital
At North Shore University Hospital, students from Baldwin High School learned about all of the different career opportunities that exist within nutrition and culinary. Team members led them in a tour of the department before challenging them to cook a healthy meal.
Donna Prager, the Family and Consumer Science teacher at Baldwin High School says, “The Spark! Challenge provides an amazing opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a hospital atmosphere. Students have benefited from interacting with professionals in the culinary and nutrition fields and has helped many students solidify their anticipated career path.”
“The Spark! Challenge is always a great day for our team and the students. We all look forward each year to see the future of healthcare in these passionate students. They get so invested in the cook-off that we host each year,” says Michael Kiley, director of Nutrition and Dining Services at North Shore University Hospital, “It is so gratifying to hear a student determine their career by this program, and we have been fortunate enough to have students tell us that because of the Spark! program they made the decision to go to culinary school. What more can you ask for?”
Hear from our students on why they love the Spark! Challenge:
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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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Nursing students gain invaluable experience in eight week Nurse Extern Program
Each summer, our Nurse Extern Program provides Junior BSN students with a rewarding 8-week paid preceptorship. These future nurses gain invaluable knowledge daily to build the strong foundation necessary to launch a great nursing career.
At Northwell, we’re dedicated to helping our nursing externs develop the skills they need to help deliver the best care possible to our patients. “I learned and practiced essential nursing skills but most importantly, I gained confidence in my ability to care for and advocate for my patients,” says Toni Barbarino, an extern at North Shore University Hospital this past summer. “I will carry the lessons I learned this summer with me throughout my entire nursing career.”
The education doesn’t stop at the bedside. Throughout the program, there are educational in-services presented by our nurse educators and leadership. “Nurse externs spend eight weeks of the summer working with the best nurse educators, RN preceptors and team members gaining knowledge and confidence as the begin their Senior year,” says Ellen Lorenz, RN, BSN and program manager of nursing fellowships and recruiting. And the externs agree! Mary Ellen Zarriello, an extern at Long Island Jewish Hospital, adds, “From the first day of the summer program through the last, the nurse educators made every effort to ensure that I, and my fellow externs, had exceptional opportunities for professional and personal growth.”
This isn’t just a summer externship, it’s a stepping stone. “Our goal is to hire our externs at Northwell when they graduate,” says Ellen. Students in the extern program not only develop a strong skill set while they’re still in school, but they’re building lasting relationships with future peers. Most importantly, their passion and commitment to patients is only strengthened as they gain unique experience in real life settings.
And the program’s only growing! This year’s 2018 program hosted over 70 nurse externs at 13 hospitals, more than 2017’s 60 externs and nearly double the number from 2015. As it continues to expand, our Nurse Extern Program is helping more and more nursing students achieve their full potential to start a great nursing career.
By investing in our students today, we’re helping to redefine health care for years to come. This program not only allows for externs to learn from nurses with years of experience but introduces them to settings they won’t see in their clinical rotations. Nursing students finish their summer with a better understanding of the full spectrum of nursing, and an ignited passion to finish becoming a registered nurse.
Are you Made for the future of nursing? Learn more about our Nurse Extern Program here!
Hear from 2018’s summer Nurse Externs on why they loved our Nurse Extern Program:
“Being a nurse extern at North Shore University Hospital was truly a once in a lifetime experience. My favorite program feature was working one on one with my preceptor. My preceptor was patient with me as I learned, took time to teach me all that she could, and helped me gain confidence in my skills and myself! At the Golden Ticket Event a statement was made that this program transforms you from a student to a nurse, and that is exactly what it did! Thanks to Northwell I know that I am made for this!”
“I was a nurse extern at North Shore University Hospital for the Summer of 2018 where I worked one on one with a nurse in the Operating Room. I truly got to see what it is like to work as a nurse by working three 12-hour shifts per week for the first time. I loved being in the operating room because this area is not a part of my clinical rotations in nursing school. Being placed one on one with a nurse made the experience feel so personal and gave me so much time to ask questions. The nurse educators always went out of their way to make sure we were getting the best experience possible. This was a learning experience unlike anything else I have ever had, and I cannot be more thankful for what it has done for me. Going into my senior year of college, I feel more prepared and motivated than ever before to finish nursing school with this background.”
“The Northwell Health Summer Nurse Externship was an invaluable experience that provided me with the opportunity to work alongside and learn from the most exceptional educators, preceptors, and staff. Each shift I was challenged to grow my bank of knowledge and skills, all of which will be imperative in my future career as a registered nurse. This externship gave me the opportunity to be a part of simulation experiences, as well as be a member of the healthcare team. I am so grateful for the confidence and practical experience this program provided me with.”
“This summer I had the opportunity to be a Cohen’s Children’s Medical Center Nurse Extern. This externship provided me the skills and confidence that no other opportunity would have given me. I made amazing memories, met incredible people and worked with some of the best pediatric health care providers. Being in the pediatric intensive care unit has always been a dream of mine and this externship experience has only reinforced my dreams of being a PICU nurse. I look forward to the amazing experiences Northwell has to offer and I am extremely grateful for this past summer.”
“This program helped me further prepare for the transition from a nursing student to an RN. I was truly submerged into the all-around patient care from team meetings with other health care professionals, to hands on nursing care working side by side with my RN, and independently communicating with patients and families. Entering my final semester of nursing school, I am feeling most confident about my skills and feeling that I have tied together everything I have learned in school from this externship.”
“The Northwell Health Summer Nurse Externship Program can only be described in one word…invaluable. Every moment of my summer was filled with experiences that cannot be matched by any other healthcare system or clinical site. My time in the Surgical ICU at Long Island Jewish Medical Center was transformative in my nursing education. I am excited for my last year of nursing school and for my career ahead knowing that I have been exposed to such a high standard of healthcare as a part of this program. This program has transformed me from a nursing student to a confident nurse professional.”
“The Nurse Extern program was a deeply rewarding experience that has not only helped me develop and strengthen clinical skills, but most importantly taught me the value and significance of patient and family centered care. Northwell Health, especially Long Island Jewish Medical Center, is filled with dedicated employees who were beyond supportive and welcoming throughout the duration of the program. As I move on within the nursing profession, I will always value the opportunities the externship has provided and treasure the memories it has created.”
“Northwell Health’s Summer Nurse Extern program is the perfect combination of education and on the job experience. I found myself applying prior knowledge learned in school, as well as new knowledge I acquired from my amazing preceptor in the clinical setting at Glen Cove Hospital. The training and education I received completely prepared me for my future endeavors as an RN. This Nurse Externship left me feeling like I really made a difference and contributed to the well being of the patients who I cared for. The best part about this program was the one on one collaboration it offered to each and every student! I feel super confident entering my final year of nursing school, and I am so grateful to have had this opportunity with Northwell Health.”
“The Northwell Health Nurse Externship was truly a life changing experience. The program has changed me not only as a nursing student, but as a person as well. This past summer I gained skills, knowledge, and developed competency as a nursing student, but what I am most thankful for is the confidence this program afforded me. With the support of my preceptors, nurse managers and nurse educators I was able to conquer competencies that I never thought possible as a student. Thanks to the Northwell Health Nurse Externship I begin my senior year of nursing school confident in my skills and with an even more intense passion for the nursing profession. This program has left me both excited and eager to begin pursuing a career in nursing and has made me sure that I am made for this!”
“I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to work as a Northwell Health Summer Nurse Extern at Southside Hospital. The guidance and clinical expertise that I received from my preceptors and educators were invaluable. I truly enjoyed my experience and I look forward to using the knowledge and skills that I learned this summer in clinical this year.”
“At the beginning of the externship program, I thought that I knew what nursing was about. Being in the emergency room opened my eyes to a completely new side of nursing, and led me to having experiences that I had never imagined taking part in. I will be a better nurse because of this. Thank you Northwell health for this amazing opportunity.”
“I fell in love with this externship as well as Lenox Hill Hospital and Northwell Health and I hope to return as an RN. It was the most educational and enlightening experience I have received throughout nursing school and has strengthened my passion for the nursing profession.”
“The summer Nurse Externship program at Northwell was a wonderful experience. The program encouraged critical thinking skills and helped me advance my clinical nursing skills. My preceptor fostered a learning environment and helped me gain confidence in the clinical setting. I had many optimal learning opportunities and by the end of the program I felt like I had become part of the Northwell nursing team.”
“Being a Nurse Extern at LIJ Valley Stream was truly an experience I’ll never forget. Before the program, I remember feeling anxious about becoming a nurse and the high expectations that are required of nurses, but after the 8 weeks, I have definitely felt more confident and excited to be an RN in the Northwell System. The entire staff of LIJ Valley Stream were incredibly welcoming and as genuine, I felt like a part of their family very quickly. This experience had validated all the information I learned in nursing school and it was awesome to see what I learned put into practice. I am truly glad I got the opportunity to be a Summer Nurse Extern at LIJ Valley Stream.”
I entered this externship knowing I would learn, of course. I learned about the nursing career, witnessed interprofessional communication, performed and observed skills, and practiced speaking to patients and professionals. But what I am most grateful for are the relationships I made with everyone I encountered at Plainview Hopsital. I am also immensely grateful for the abundance of knowledge I’ve learned about myself through bedside nursing. I’ve realized it’s not always about what you can teach patients, but what patients can teach you. I’d like to specifically thank all of the wonderful people on the telemetry unit. The experience I’ve had with Northwell are memories and lessons I will never forget, and they are helping me become the nurse I strive to be. I am honored to have been part of this program, because now I truly know I am made for this.
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If you are an individual with a disability requesting an accommodation for the application process, please click the contact us link above to request assistance.
Learn more about our hiring experience.
Read answers to common questions about the application process.
© 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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