University of Iowa Health Management & Policy

  Checking in from Southern Utah! Only 1,181 miles from Kinnick Stadium. This summer, I have been interning at Intermountain St. George Regional, in St. George Utah. I have spent my time working with the Hospital Executive Team and the Medical Oncology Clinic here at St. George. Intermountain Health is a not-for-profit health system made up of 33 hospitals and 400 + clinics over their 3 regions. Their mission, to help people live the healthiest lives possible is not just a statement but rather a lived value in all caregivers. The organization’s culture is one like no other. From the first time I stepped foot inside the hospital, I’ve been welcomed with open arms and have joined a new family.  I’ve had the opportunity to work under the guidance of Mark Evans, the Chief Operating Officer of the hospital. Mark has been an incredible leader and an even better person. He has not only made me feel welcome at work but also in the community. Mark has taken my co-intern, Dustin, and me...

  Hi from Iowa City, Iowa!   This summer, I’ve had the incredible opportunity to intern at Stead Family Children’s Hospital, the only comprehensive children’s hospital in Iowa. From day one, I was immersed in a culture that blends strategy, mission, and heart, where every operational decision connects back to improving care for children and their families. The experience has helped me grow professionally and deepened my understanding of what it means to lead in a pediatric academic setting. I work under Jim Leste, and at times John Heinemann, both of whom have modeled thoughtful, mission-driven leadership. Through regular meetings and project work, I’ve observed how leaders navigate complex decisions while staying grounded in service to patients, families, and care teams. Their mentorship has been honest, generous, and focused on exposing me to the real questions facing children’s hospitals today. One of the core projects I’ve supported is the early planning of a Pediatric Hea...

   Hello from Chicago, Illinois!   I am currently in a 10-week internship as a Summer Associate with Deloitte, a consulting firm that provides healthcare consulting services. My first week was filled with onboarding events for Summer Associates, where I had the privilege of meeting and learning about peers from across the United States. These sessions offered a crash course in core consulting skills, great food, and plenty of opportunities to network with Deloitte consultants and leaders, setting a strong foundation for the summer ahead. After onboarding, I joined a project with a large regional health system that was undergoing an Epic implementation to transform its clinical and operational processes. As a Summer Associate supporting both the Project Management Office (PMO) and Organizational Change Management (OCM) teams, I was able to roll up my sleeves and contribute to a variety of high-impact projects that are shaping the future of healthcare delivery. From the out...

Hello from North Liberty, Iowa This summer, I joined the University of Iowa’s brand-new UI Health Care Medical Center in North Liberty, a state-of-the-art hospital specializing in orthopedic care, rehabilitation services, and community-focused emergency care. As the first administrative intern at this campus, I played a hands-on role in shaping core operations and observed the hospital’s journey from just after its initial launch into accreditation readiness.   I have had the privilege to work under Bryan Garter, who has welcomed me to the fantastic leadership team here at North Liberty. On my first day, we had just started Day 1 of the Mock Joint Commission Survey. Within this week, I was tasked with escorting the surveyors around and serving as the scribe for all potential findings. This week, I have developed my core project, creating and implementing Action Plans. These Action Plans were designed to support our leaders in addressing the Mock Joint Commission findings, as well a...

 Hi Everyone!! Greetings from North Carolina!  This summer, I’m interning at UNC Health in Chapel Hill, working with their Children’s Outpatient Clinics. UNC Health is a not-for-profit health system made up of 16 hospitals across 20 campuses and hundreds of clinics statewide. Their mission, to improve the health and well-being of all North Carolinians, is at the heart of everything they do. From day one, I’ve been welcomed with more kindness and enthusiasm than I could have imagined. The organization’s culture of compassionate care and collaborative teamwork truly shines through in every interaction.   I’ve had the opportunity to work under the guidance of Jessica Simo, the Director of Children’s Outpatient Services. She oversees eight ambulatory clinics in the region, which include primary care, specialty services, and even a rare genetic disease clinic for patients with MPS. She’s an incredible mentor and leader, and I’m learning so much from her experience and insight....

Hello from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine (CCOM) in I ow a City! Brenton, Ramiro and I completed LEAN training through UI Healthcare I’ve had the pleasure of interning with the Office of Statewide Clinical Education Programs (OSCEP), alongside my co-intern and incoming first year MHA student, Brenton Shrock, under the mentorship of Lynette Lancial, Associate Director of OSCEP and a proud UI MHA alum. Established in 1974, OSCEP is a department within the CCOM and plays a key role in coordinating community-based medical education and service initiatives across Iowa Brenton and I worked on the July education board in the CCOM building This summer, my main project has been developing the Iowa Medical Opportunities Directory—a statewide resource designed to support healthcare workforce recruitment and retention. To build it, I helped design and distribute surveys to hospitals, clinics, and private practices across Iowa, focusing on identifying open positions for physician...

  Hello from Decorah, Iowa! This summer, I have had the amazing experience of interning at WinnMed in Decorah, Iowa. WinnMed is a critical access hospital located in northeastern Iowa and due to its location, it is a hub for healthcare. It not only provides access to healthcare for Iowans, but it reaches to patients in southern Minnesota. WinnMed is in a rapid state of expansion and since June they have brought on a general surgeon, rheumatologist, and a dermatologist. By the end of the summer, they will also have a urologist and a new family physician starting practice. Additionally, WinnMed is in the late stages of a clinic expansion set to open in the middle of September. My preceptor for this internship is the CAO of WinnMed, Steve Slessor, who is an Iowa MHA alumni and executive in residence for the program. Working under him and the rest of the senior leadership team has brought me immeasurable knowledge on leadership and the daily operations of a rural hospital.  I am i...

  Hello from Iowa!                                                                                                         View from the HSSB patio, and the path I walk after lunch! This summer, I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to intern with the University of Iowa Health Care, in their Finance and Accounting Services (FAS). Our team works out of the Health Care Support Services Building (HSSB) in Coralville. I have truly appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the essential role FAS plays in supporting strategic planning, operations, budgeting, and the broader goals of the organization. B...

Hello from Tomah, Wisconsin!                                                                                                Tomah's Health Hospital that they moved into in 2020 This summer, I have the incredible opportunity to intern at Tomah Health in Tomah, Wisconsin. Tomah Health is a critical access hospital situated in the heart of west-central Wisconsin, nestled between the major cities of Eau Claire and La Crosse. Its location makes it a vital healthcare hub. The hospital is affiliated with both Mayo Clinic and Emplify Health by Gundersen, creating a dynamic and collaborative healthcare environment that brings together top-tier medical expertise. My preceptor for this internship is Derek Daly, the CEO of Tomah Health, and a proud Iowa MHA alumn...

Hello from Minneapolis! This summer, I have the excellent opportunity to spend time at Allina Health as one of the organization’s Administrative Residents! Allina Health is based in Minneapolis, MN, but has 13 hospital campuses, over 60 primary care clinics, and over 100 specialty clinics in the Twin Cities and beyond. Allina Health delivers exceptional care everyday and is consistently recognized by U.S. News and World Report as having the top hospitals in the Twin Cities and Minnesota.  My 12 weeks with Allina Health are being spent specifically with the Continuing Care service line which includes hospice, palliative care, home health, rehabilitation services (inpatient and outpatient), senior care, community services, and more. Basically, any service needed after an acute care event, Continuing Care provides it! We have one of the top rehabilitation institutes in the nation, so seeing the level of care we provide has been so inspiring. I am very lucky to work alongside the leade...

  Hi everyone from Iowa City!   I’ve had a great experience so far this summer working as an intern with the Patient Access Center (PAC). The department is based out of HSSB in Coralville and mainly handles scheduling appointments for patients at UIHC. It’s split into two groups: PAC schedulers, who are non-provider staff, and ICC, which focuses on nurse triage. My preceptor is Keri Semrau, the director of the PAC and ICC, but I also work closely with other managers, including Michael Hesseltine (ancillary services), Neil Christiansen (operations), and Jen Boyd (nurse manager). We’ve been working on several projects aimed at improving workflow and productivity in the department.   One of the projects I’m currently working on is improving curbside provider-to-provider consultations. We’re tackling this from three angles: revisiting provider reimbursement, addressing legal concerns, and finding ways to improve the technology. This project is still in the early stages...