SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (Edited Press Release/KY3) – Starting in the summer of 2023, CoxHealth is launching its first formal internship program for non-medical jobs across the organization.
Students seeking careers in a variety of fields, from information technology to human resources to finance, will have the opportunity to gain experience in areas crucial to a healthcare system.
“For some students in majors such as business or computer science, health care may not be a priority for a career option,” says Katelyn Lenhart, executive director of development, recruitment and retention at the workforce. “While in reality, it’s a great option because you can pursue a career you’re passionate about while giving back to the community. We believe it is important to expose these students to these opportunities and show them the difference they can make.
This will be a paid internship and can be considered part of an educational program in which students can earn academic credit from their university. This is a full-time program during the summer, and most positions will span ten weeks, from June to August. After the summer program ends, interns may have the option of participating in an extended internship program in their final year.
“There has been a lot of thought and consideration in this program to ensure that students grow and learn. Interns will work on meaningful projects directly with CoxHealth leaders, professionals and business partners to gain relevant experience and prepare them for their careers after graduation,” says Lenhart.
Internship opportunities for this year include positions in the following departments:
Clinic operations
· Data analysis
· Finance
· Human ressources
· Computer science
CoxHealth plans to expand the program in future years to other departments.
This program is collaborative across the community. CoxHealth works directly with schools and local organizations, such as the efactory, to encourage students to apply. It also builds on existing internships in some departments that have served CoxHealth over the years.
Joanna Snyder is CoxHealth’s Chief Financial Officer who began her career at Cox Hospital when she was 16 years old.
“When I was in high school, I would leave track practice and come and help patients in the intensive care unit,” Snyder recalled. “I often helped feed or transport patients and sat with them if they were unwell. I’ve been here for 23 years, so I’ve been able to really develop my career here.
Now, she hopes to help others gain that valuable early experience by teaching them that healthcare jobs aren’t just for doctors and nurses.
“I have a 17-year-old daughter and when she thinks of healthcare, she thinks of needles,” Snyder said with a laugh. “So I’m like, ‘It’s so much more than that! “”
Next time you’re driving along Springfield’s Medical Mile, remember that all of those hospitals, clinics, and specialty centers not only need medical staff, but also someone to do the many jobs that enable that help. medical to take place. Of CoxHealth’s 12,500 employees, about 5,000 are in non-medical roles.
“You have the clinic and you have the support,” Snyder pointed out.
“There are a ton of opportunities and there are a lot of different careers,” added Ryan Morris, director of the CoxHealth Center for Professional Development. “But from the outside, healthcare is a very broad field and people don’t know how to navigate what those opportunities might look like and find a specific niche they’re qualified for.”
That’s why CoxHealth offers internships.
“A goal of this internship program is to show students that health care is everything,” Snyder said. “We have engineers, painters and plumbers. But you must understand that our primary objective is to take care of our patients. And everyone is working towards this common goal.
These jobs, from IT to finance, are available just about anywhere.
So why choose one in the field of health?
“Our job is to change lives and be the best for those who need us,” Morris replied. “So making sure that students who really want to know that they’re having an impact with their work in those support roles is really important.”
CoxHealth is currently accepting applications from undergraduate college or university students in good standing between their junior and senior years to work up to 40 hours per week during the summer months. Interested students can visit //coxhealth.com/careers to apply.
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