By Ryan Clark
CHS Communications Director

Networking. Experience. And figuring out just exactly what you want to do.

It’s the importance of interning.

And in the College of Health Sciences’ Clinical Leadership and Management major, it is greatly emphasized. That, paired with the classroom experience, can give students a full picture of what the professions are like.

Last January, Sarah Kercsmar, PhD, program director and director of undergraduate studies in Clinical Leadership and Management, and her partners at the Stuckert Career Center (namely Rachel Brand and Beth Hanneman) continued their idea to help students get in front of those folks who need interns most.

It's like speed dating. Sort of.

But in this version, there’s no romance; however, there are relationships.

Kercsmar spread the word, and her students gathered to speak to local healthcare employers in a round-robin style fashion where each got about five minutes with one another before moving to the next.

“The skills and connections our students gained this summer as a result of their internships are invaluable,” Kercsmar said. “They were able to explore additional areas of healthcare and see if they fit their interests and goals in a short-term experience while building their professional networks.” 

She’s now looking forward to hosting the third annual Speed Dating Summer Internship Event in January, and registration is now open for employers.

And now there are tangible results why these relationships are important, as the second batch of students have come back to school fresh off their internships — and they’re reporting what they’ve gotten out of the experience.

“I love it! I am learning so much about how the hospital operates, and all the different positions involved,” said Emmanuel Dhemby Moussabou, a 22-year-old from Libreville, Gabon. He interned at St. Joseph Hospital Main in Lexington, with Adam Gossom, Market Vice President of Operations. “For example, (one day) I spent the entire day with the radiology department, sitting in and observing while they support in surgical Operations.”

Kaile Alford, a 19-year-old junior from Murfreesboro, Tenn., says she’s found her passion.

“I (worked) as an intern with Novartis Pharmaceuticals,” she says. “I (was) a Sales Representative in the Neuroscience department, informing clinicians about Mayzent and Kesimpta (two Multiple Sclerosis products). I got the internship by applying during winter break through the Novartis website.”

For Jacob Yeray, the summer was about gaining experience outside the classroom, learning about new career paths and stepping outside his comfort zone.

Yeray, a 20-year-old from Columbus, Ohio, interned in Sales Operations with IVX Health in Nashville.

“I have been able to shadow our field reps each week, coordinate market research, present data to our C-Suite and executives, and ensure accurate documenting of accounts in our customer relationship management programs,” he said.

And after a great experience last year as an intern at Pinnacle Treatment Services, Hallie Smith was ready for another internship this summer.

This year, during a speed dating-style setup with her major, the 21-year-old Taylorsville native got interested in UK HealthCare’s Office of the Executive Vice President for Health Affairs. It seemed to mesh quite well with her interests.

“I got this internship by speaking with Jill Hunter, who was representing the EVPHA Office at the CLM Speed Dating Internship Fair,” she said. “I demonstrated interest in the internship and emailed Jill. From that point, I was interviewed and waited a few months until I got the email from Jill saying I got the internship!”

Each week of the six-week long internship focused on a different area within UK HealthCare.

“The internship has been very educational and experiential for me,” said Hallie, who will graduate in the Class of 2024. “Each week I (was) with a different department/area within UK HealthCare observing leaders in their everyday work lives.”