University of Iowa Health Management & Policy

Allina Commons – my home office for the summer I have the opportunity to join Allina Health in Minneapolis, Minnesota for the summer. Allina Health employes 30,000 people, is the fifth biggest employer in the state and had 2024 revenue of 5.8 billion dollars. Allina is in the middle of moving from contracted to employed providers. This places Allina in a unique position of both being a large organization while also leaving many areas that operate independently. At Abbott Northwestern, the system’s flagship hospital, a new inpatient building is under construction. The Richard M. Schulze Surgical and Critical Care Center is the largest project in Allina’s history. Earlier this summer, the interns were able to take a tour of what an inpatient room in the new building will look like. These rooms will feature a lot of new technology, like cameras able to determine pulse, oxygen saturation and blood pressure without physically interacting with patients. Other opportunities during the summer ...

  UI Health Care Downtown Medical Campus   Hello from Iowa City! This summer, I had the privilege of interning at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics Downtown Campus under the mentorship of Jennifer Miller, the hospital’s Chief Administrative Officer. I was immediately welcomed into an extremely collaborative culture. Each morning, I sat in on director huddle meetings, where I observed how the leaders across departments began their day with aligning on hospital operations, patient safety, and strategic goals.    A large portion of my work this summer focused on preparedness for the Joint Commission survey and quality assurance. I worked closely with Barbara Ditzler, the director of quality and accreditation , and joined Environment of Care rounds and conducted Joint Commission tracer audits. I was also able to observe teams during survey sessions during the week Joint Commission came. These experience s showed just how detail-oriented accreditatio...

  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...