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.”
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!”
