University of Iowa Health Management & Policy

Hello from Des Moines, Iowa! This summer, I completed a 12-week internship with Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS). Wellmark Inc. is a mutual health insurance company, with policyholders throughout Iowa and South Dakota. As a market leader, Wellmark’s mission is to make healthcare better and improve the health of the communities that they serve. Throughout the summer, I experienced Wellmark’s positive culture and contributed to its mission.     My Community Health Research Internship was housed under Wellmark’s Division of Health Equity, Access, and Improvement. The division’s strategy is to improve the health of all Iowans and South Dakotans, not just Wellmark’s policyholders. To improve the health of all Iowans and South Dakotans, the division focused on improving community health, addressing health equity, and improving rural health. My project focused on improving community health, in which I analyzed community data for Iowa and South Dakota, conducted evidence-based research,

Hello from the beautiful Cache Valley! I had an amazing summer completing my internship with Intermountain Health at Logan Regional Hospital. Intermountain is a nonprofit health system comprised of 33 hospitals and 385 clinics across 7 states (U UT, NV, ID, CO, MT, ​KS, WY). Logan Regional Hospital (LRH) is a 148-bed Level III trauma center and is recognized as a  top 100 hospital . Logan is in the Cache Valley of Northern Utah with a population of around 150,000. My preceptor, Brandon McBride, is the CEO/Administrator of LRH. Brandon has been with Intermountain Health for 15 years, and was recently named as a top leader as part of Becker’s Hospital Review’s ‘ Community Hospital CEOs to Know ’.  Throughout the summer I engaged in a well-balanced array of projects providing me with a high-level understanding of hospital operations. I took on several projects including process improvements in the emergency department and with volunteer services. I also completed a qualitative analysis of

Hello from Chicago, Illinois! This summer, I completed a 10-week associateship with Deloitte Consulting in my new favorite city. I lived in the Central Loop, about a 20-minute walk from the office, and explored as much of the city as I could during my time at Deloitte. I experienced a summer full of traveling, connecting with full-time practitioners of every level, networking with fellow summer associates across the nation, and learning what it means to be a part of a team within a large consulting practice.     Deloitte Consulting is a global consulting firm that houses various businesses and employees specialized in a variety of fields. They have over 100 offices nationwide, and I had the pleasure of working a hybrid schedule out of the Chicago location. Their healthcare and life sciences practice is widespread and includes commercial clients such as health systems, health plans, and provider networks. This summer, I was staffed on an account with a large health plan who has undergon

Konnichiwa from Japan!   As I sit down to write this blog post, I am filled with a sense of gratitude and accomplishment as I reflect on my time as an intern at Nihon Keiei Consulting Group in Osaka, Japan. This summer has been nothing short of remarkable, offering me a unique blend of professional development and cultural immersion that I will cherish forever.   During my time at Nihon Keiei, I had the opportunity to engage in in-depth research and analysis, creating comprehensive market profiles for the healthcare sectors in the Philippines and India. These profiles laid the foundation for strategic expansion plans, and it was an honor to present my findings and recommendations to a senior consultant during insightful one-on-one meetings. These interactions were not only professionally enriching but also allowed me to witness firsthand how strategic decisions shape the course of an organization's growth.   One of the most rewarding experiences during my internship was the develop

Hi from Iowa City! I am now exploring more of what Iowa City offers this summer. I took a spring semester course about project management and engagement of stakeholders, which is why I wanted to see it come to action. I am positioned with the project managers, and I got introduced to various projects going on within the organization. I have been able to sit in on some discussions this far for specific projects and have been “working” with partnered consultants in them too. The work environment has been relaxed. I work with 6 project managers that are fierce and flexible. I have gotten to “shadow” how they initiate, plan, and act on the many distinct types of projects and overall, their knowledge about healthcare management. What is fascinating is that all, if not the majority, come from diverse backgrounds and can transform success together as a team and with the organization. My preceptor is Heather Kingston who has a fascinating journey in project management and can discuss many care

Hello from Iowa City!  I spent my summer at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, completing my administrative internship in Ambulatory Care Operations. Ambulatory Care consists of around 20 areas, with generally the most complex conditions being treated on the main campus. The team is comprised of approx. 1,200 FTEs, most of whom provide direct care or support for in-person visits. The main campus clinics provide post-visit support for encounters that occur at Iowa River Landing (IRL) and the community clinics. This area is responsible for more than 1 million in-person primary encounters per year and additionally provides secondary services including procedures and ancillary visits. My preceptor was Grant Worthington, Director of Ambulatory Operations (Main Campus). Grant is also an Iowa MHA Alum, and a great resource if you’re interested in the outpatient space! I had the opportunity to involve myself in a variety of projects and observations this summer. My two non-clinic pr

Hello from Salt Lake City!   This summer, I was fortunate to complete an administrative internship with the System Planning Department at the University of Utah Health Hospitals and Clinics. The University of Utah Health system includes 5 hospitals and 11 clinics and serves patients throughout Utah and its surrounding states. I worked at the main hospital, which is a Level 1 Trauma Center located in the mountains just outside of downtown Salt Lake City (the mountain views from the hospital were unbelievable!). U of U Health ranks highly for quality among academic medical centers in the U.S., making the internship a great opportunity to learn from a forerunner in care quality.   System Planning houses the Operational Project Management Office (OPMO), Strategic Integration, and Space Planning teams, and I had the opportunity to work with all three teams.   My preceptor was Ischa Jensen, Associate Executive Director of System Planning. I learned so much from Ischa about strategic planning

  Hello from Rochester, Minnesota! This summer I had the privilege of completing my summer internship with Mayo Clinic in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (DLMP). The Mayo Clinic Enterprise serves those from both across the United States and across the world treating more than 1.4 million patients annually. The original, and largest site, Mayo Clinic Rochester is made up of 40,000 employees, numerous medical specialties, and over 100 years of providing some of the most complex care. Downtown Rochester is made up of predominantly Mayo-owned facilities to support the growing number of employees and patients who seek care here each day with plans to expand by 2030.   The Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology is based in the Hilton Building and is the second largest department at Mayo Clinic comprised of 11 different divisions and over 66 operating laboratories. I had the opportunity to work closely with two Operations Administrators (OAs) on my two main projec

Greetings from the hidden gem of Decorah, Iowa! This summer I have the privilege of serving as the Administrative Intern at WinnMed.  WinnMed is a 25-bed critical access hospital in Northeast, Iowa, and serves as the regional hub for healthcare services. WinnMed is the largest and most specialized hospital in the region with an active medical staff of over 35 Mayo Clinic Health System and Gundersen Health System physicians. In 2005, WinnMed signed a management and professional service agreement with Mayo Clinic, making WinnMed an affiliate hospital within the Mayo Clinic Health System. The primary service area population is estimated at over 56,000 people, with a broader population base for surgical specialties and for Mayo Clinic medical outreach services. WinnMed’s Administrative Internship is project-based and provides full access to work with and learn from executive leadership. My preceptor, Steve Slessor, is the Chief Administrative Officer and an alum of Iowa’s MHA program. When

My name is Kyle Ellenberger, and I am a current 2nd-year MHA student. This summer, I had the privilege of completing my administrative internship with HCA's MidAmerican division at Overland Park Regional Medical Center, situated about 15 minutes south of downtown Kansas City. This comprehensive internship encompassed both administrative and clinical operations, offering me a multifaceted understanding of the inner workings of a healthcare institution. Throughout my time here, each day presented new opportunities for learning, from shadowing healthcare professionals in clinical settings to assisting with crucial administrative tasks. Interacting with doctors, nurses, administrators, and other staff members provided invaluable insights into their roles and responsibilities, allowing me to gain a holistic perspective of healthcare operations. As part of the operations team, I had the opportunity to engage in a diverse range of projects, such as supply chain optimization, physician eng

Checking in from Denver, Colorado! This summer, I’ve had the opportunity to complete my administrative internship with UCHealth. UCHealth is a Colorado-based health system comprised of 12 hospitals and several clinics spanning from Colorado to Wyoming and western Nebraska. At the core of the system is the University of Colorado Hospital (UCH), where I have been located for the summer. UCH is the largest academic medical center in the Rocky Mountain region and therefore provides highly advanced and comprehensive to its patients.   I’ve been fortunate enough to have two preceptors this summer—my formal preceptor, Jamie Nordhagen, is the Senior Director of Patient Flow and Capacity Management for UCHealth. I’ve also worked closely with Dr. Darlene Tad-Y, the CMO of Patient Flow for UCH. Their guidance and mentorship have been invaluable in navigating my project work and continuing to develop my skillset as a leader. I ’ve spent the majority of my time focused on two projects during my int

Hello from Iowa City! This summer, I have had the opportunity to work as an Administrative Intern for the Office of Statewide Clinical Education Programs (OSCEP) within the Carver College of Medicine. I have been fortunate enough to work under Lynette Lancial, Assistant Director of OSCEP. Lynette is a 1990 graduate of Iowa’s MHA program. She has provided unwavering professional, and personal support since the start of my internship in April.  My main project this summer has been working on the Opportunities Directory. This is a survey sent out to every hospital and clinic in the state of Iowa to collect data on recruitment needs for various specialties and for advanced practice providers. After collection, a book with all available opportunities will be distributed to resident programs throughout the state and posted online with the intent of retaining providers in Iowa. Additionally, I have had the opportunity to participate in several pieces of training and rounding events to gain br

Hello! My name is McKenna Raimer and I am a JD/MHA student. This summer I am an administrative intern with Finance & Accounting Services at the University of Iowa Healthcare. It has been a great experience and from day one, I have been welcomed into a warm and supportive team of professionals who have been more than willing to guide me through the ins and outs of healthcare finance. I am incredibly lucky to be mentored and guided by my preceptor, Beth Jaggers (Director of Decision Support), and intern with fellow MHA student, Roderick Pierce II.   The healthcare industry is constantly evolving, with new technologies, reimbursement models, and patient expectations and this internship has exposed me to the challenges and opportunities that come with these changes. As an accounting and finance intern, I’ve been able to learn how to navigate the unique challenges of this dynamic environment, balancing the need for quality care with fiscal responsibility. Many of the projects I have bee

 Greetings from Columbus, Ohio!  I have been spending my summer in OhioHealth’s Corporate Human Resources Department and have absolutely loved my time in Columbus and with OhioHealth. OhioHealth comprises 14 hospitals throughout the state of Ohio with 30,000 associates and 5,000 providers. I am one of six administrative residents this summer and have had the opportunity to fully immerse myself in the OhioHealth family and culture. My preceptor, Sara Craig, is the Director of HR Shared Services, including the HR Resource Center (HRRC), the Associate Advocacy Center, Mergers and Acquisition Support, HR Compliance, and Leave Benefits. My focal point project has been creating and implementing an associate experience survey for the HR Resource Center. The HRRC is a team of 14 HR professionals who provide resolutions on a wide variety of HR-related inquiries such as policies, compensation, benefits, tuition reimbursement, and so much more. I have had the opportunity to utilize a lot of the s

 Hello from Steamboat Springs, Colorado! This summer I have had the lovely opportunity of completing my summer internship through UCHealth with Yampa Valley Medical Center. My preceptor is the President/CEO of the hospital, Soniya Fidler. Yampa Valley Medical Center is a Level III trauma center with 34 beds, serving the Northwest Colorado region. Steamboat Springs is a small mountain town with a high tourist population, known for skiing and winter sports but becoming increasingly known for its gorgeous summers. From day one, I have been welcomed and accepted with open arms. When it comes to project work, I have been so thankful for the leadership team here is so willing to hand projects off to me with ample guidance along the way. My main project work has been case costing using tools like procedural analytics to identify opportunities to reduce costs for total knee, total hip, and select spinal cases. Additionally, I have had the opportunity to manage a workforce aimed at addressing t