For Healthcare Management students, internships are more than a degree requirement — they are a formative step toward professional life. These hands-on experiences allow students to put classroom learning into practice while gaining a clearer understanding of the people, systems and decisions that drive healthcare organizations.
These internships have been launching points for two students nearing graduation. Through hands-on work, new responsibilities, collaboration and supportive colleagues, they sharpened their practical skills, expanded their professional networks and began to imagine (with confidence!) what their futures in healthcare management might look like.
As they step into the world of work, they reflect on what these experiences taught them and how their internships helped clarify the path ahead.
Samuel Jansen
Major: Healthcare Management
Minors: Leadership; Management, Carlson School of Management
Internship Location: United Healthcare
My time at United Healthcare was unforgettable. From making great friends to learning a great deal about the company and the healthcare management field, I can proudly say it was one of the best summers of my life. United’s recruiters weren't just looking for the 25 most qualified or smartest applicants, but 25 people who would gel and get along. And we did just that. I still talk to each one of my fellow interns almost every day.
Our boss told us on the first day that some of our future best friends were sitting next to us. We all looked at each other with doubt, but as usual, he was right. To be able to go to work looking forward to seeing everyone is a privilege not many people have, but it is one I will make sure to get the most out of for as long as I am with United.
Not only were the people amazing, but I also learned a great deal about the healthcare system. We discussed Medicare and Medicaid, as well as how the health insurance system works. We also had extensive training for our future positions because many of us received post-graduation job offers.
During the fall semester, I worked at a United help desk taking phone calls from insurance agents to help them with Medicare and Medicaid checks. Coming from the HM program was so helpful. The background information I had on government programs and the health system allowed me to be a leader in the classroom and help my fellow interns.
The internship felt like a training course for my future job as a full-time rotational sales agent. Having been an intern also will allow me to be a leader during new-hire training.
I think United was so thorough in selecting interns because they sought people who would fit into a full-time role and not just an internship. United is very intentional and I am proud to be continuing with them!
Addison (Addie) Lerfald
Major: Healthcare Management
Minors: Management, Carlson School of Management
Internship Location: Agiliti
My internship was a valuable experience that pushed me to grow both professionally and personally. I was a Benefits and Wellness intern with the Total Rewards and Human Resources (HR) team at the medical equipment company Agiliti. What stood out to me the most was the chance to see how human resources functions within a large organization and the important role it plays in balancing employee needs with business goals.
In the Healthcare Management program, I had learned about concepts like project management, patient safety/equality and human resources in healthcare. Being able to observe these concepts in practice made them much more meaningful. I was able to connect the academic side of HR to real-world tasks, which helped me better understand why these processes matter and how they directly affect people in the workplace.
I was excited to have my internship extended through the fall and spring semesters when I worked with the Learning and Development team, who are also a part of the HR team. This created a great opportunity for me to experience another department within Agiliti and continue to learn and broaden my network!
One of the things that surprised me the most was how much teamwork and collaboration go into even the smallest projects. I was able to participate in meetings, assist in employee benefit data analysis, contribute my ideas and work to redesign the benefits page on Agiliti’s career website. Each of those activities showed me how important communication and organization are for success. It was eye-opening to realize how many details go into projects that may seem super simple.
I also appreciated how willing my team and my manager Laura Zard were to answer my questions and share their own career experiences with me. Hearing their perspectives helped me think more about my own career goals and the different directions I could take within business and healthcare. They gave me great advice and helped me be successful during my internship.
Overall, this internship gave me skills and lessons that I will carry forward into both school and my future career. I gained more confidence in my ability to work in a professional environment, manage my time and take on tasks that allowed me to learn. Most importantly, I discovered how much I enjoy working with a team and contributing to meaningful projects that have a real impact on employees who work within a healthcare company.
This experience not only confirmed my interest in pursuing a career in business and healthcare, specifically within the medical device industry, but also gave me a clearer picture of the kind of work environment I hope to be a part of in the future.
Note: Following her graduation, Addie was hired by Agiliti as an Inside Sales Account Executive.
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