Healthcare student internships

Business students like Chloe Jaeger who want real-world experience in healthcare management can get that now, thanks to the partnerships between the Ivy College of Business and area healthcare organizations.

The first formal agreement was announced in March with Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames. Leaders from the two organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding to help students combine their passions for business and healthcare and to open the door to paid healthcare management internships during college.

Jaeger, who majors in healthcare management, comes from a family of healthcare professionals who are on the front lines of providing care. She wants to pursue a career in healthcare but does not want to be a doctor or nurse. Thanks to the new partnership, she can combine her passion for business with healthcare. Heading into her senior year at Ivy, she has already completed two internships, both with Mary Greeley. Her first internship was with Story County Public Health, which is part of Mary Greeley and was completed during the school year. Her second internship was in the hospital and was held over the summer.

The new agreement between the hospital and college opens doors for many students to participate in healthcare management internships at a nationally ranked, high-performing hospital in Ames.

“Ivy is a great place to get a healthcare management degree because of our partnership with Mary Greeley,” said Natallia Gray, associate teaching professor of management and healthcare management program director. “While we don’t have a medical school or hospital on campus, we are collaborating with an outstanding hospital with a nationwide reputation for providing high-quality, cost-effective healthcare services located within a seven-minute drive from campus.”

“One thing I have been so impressed with is how everyone at Mary Greeley encourages the interns to job shadow people in other departments. This is giving me an incredible opportunity to learn about many departments and to network with other people in the hospital.” 

— Chloe Jaeger, performance improvement intern, Mary Greeley Medical Center

The partnership is good for Mary Greeley, too.

“We are thrilled to strategically identify business needs in our organization where internships make sense. Additionally, we know the importance of a quality internship experience and how that impacts both our organization and career choices for students,” said Tammy Stegman, workforce engagement program manager at Mary Greeley.

More internship partnerships coming

The Ivy College of Business is also making plans to offer business student internships with additional healthcare organizations, including UnityPoint Health in Des Moines.

“Internships are one of the most valuable components of a learning process,” said David Stark (’94 management), president and CEO, UnityPoint Health, Des Moines, Iowa. “The traditional classroom experience working on projects is how to communicate, how to learn those principles. Those are foundational and absolutely needed. What we haven’t always done a good job of in healthcare is creating that opportunity to actually see it in action. During an internship, you learn so many things about how an organization works.”

Stark knows how beneficial an internship can be.

“I was an intern here at UnityPoint, and here I am 27 years later,” he said. “I’m still in the same organization, so the internship was a very good success in my estimation.”

Business interns can experience all aspects of the hospital, including ride-along in the ambulance, observing surgery, learning about the hospital’s marketing efforts, learning the business aspects, human resources, and more.

“Interns see a whole host of things here,” Stark said. “I like to say their experience is from the boiler room to the birthing center.”

Internship partnership discussions are underway with additional healthcare organizations, too.

Veronika Larson (senior); Bettendorf, Iowa

Workforce engagement intern, Mary Greeley Medical Center

“The internship was very positive. I worked with an amazing, supportive, and caring team that expanded my knowledge of how a degree in healthcare management can be used in a hospital. I shadowed a director of outpatient services, toured and learned about different departments, and even had the opportunity to plan events for not only the interns, but I collaborated with another department for an organization-wide event. This internship has shown me that I am on the right path for my future. I see myself happy and successful in my field.”

Maci Wittrock (senior); Carroll, Iowa

Summer intern, Iowa Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center

“This internship made a positive impact. I feel like I grew in a professional sense and learned how to use the information gained from class in a work setting. Working alongside the clinic manager and business supervisor, I gained additional knowledge in the management of people and handling unforeseen situations and circumstances. It also showed me the possibilities of paths for my career after graduation in December.”

Anna Spahn (junior); Dubuque, Iowa

Health services operations and systems intern, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield

“I participated in intern development sessions, volunteering, meet-and-greets with people from different departments, and a professional development program for underclassman Iowa insurance interns called Insure Your Future. Wellmark has a wonderful internship program, and I learned so much about health insurance as well as working in a corporate environment!”