Alexa Martinez, a senior at Muhlenberg High School, has always been passionate about helping others. To her, a career in healthcare offers the opportunity to do just that, while also being a part of something that directly improves a person’s well-being.
Last year, as a Health and Medical Professions student at Berks Career & Technology Center, she learned about Reading Hospital’s High School Internship Program when members of the Community Wellness team came to the school to share information about the program and application process.
Today, Martinez interns with A4 Outpatient Services where she sets up patient exam rooms and helps to prepare patient charts. She is also able to observe certain medical procedures like ultrasounds, as well as various instrumental healthcare positions, including nursing, medical assistant, reception, and patient services representative.
“This internship is about so much more than getting coffee and making copies,” said Desha Dickson, Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and Community Wellness. “These students are an integral part of the team and have important responsibilities within their assigned department.”
Real-World Internship Opportunity
The Reading Hospital High School Internship Program is designed to provide students with practical experience through the hospital work environment. They will enhance their academic, professional, and personal development, as well as apply their knowledge and skills through hands-on activities, interact with patients, and network with hospital staff.
With the success of the program growing during the past 10 years, space is limited for the coveted internship. For example, the program received 152 applicants for 50 available spots last year, according to Dickson.
To be considered for the program, students must fill out an application, submit a personal statement and letters of recommendation, provide a transcript, and complete a virtual interview. According to Dickson, the students go through a very similar process as all others who are employed at the hospital. “We want to give them as many ‘real-world’ experiences as we can, and that starts with the application process,” Dickson said.
When selected, each student is assigned to a department supervisor who they report to, and with whom they will work. This manager assigns their tasks, mentors them, answers questions, and helps acclimate them to the team.
The Intern Experience
Martinez was interested in pursuing a career in forensic pathology, so she applied to the internship program to receive added experience and exposure to the healthcare field.
She was paired with Christi Pelko, RN, MSN, a nurse manager for outpatient services and Children’s Health Center, who is mentoring Martinez. Pelko and her team enjoy taking part in the program to help the growth of the community’s young adults and show them the satisfaction one gets from working in healthcare.
At one of their first meetings, Pelko and Martinez discussed areas of interest and things Martinez hoped to experience while working at the hospital. Through that discussion Pelko learned that she was hoping to learn more about careers in ultrasound technology. Pelko arranged for her to shadow one of the hospital’s sonographers for an afternoon in the Women’s Health Center.
“I wanted to see new things and different parts of healthcare,” Martinez said. “Thanks to Christi, I had the opportunity to shadow a coworker and fell in love with ultrasound and working in women’s health.” In fact, she enjoyed it so much that shortly after the experience she applied to the Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences Diagnostic Medical Sonography Program.
Martinez encourages others to consider the internship program because it’s a great opportunity to experience many areas of healthcare to help forge a future path.
“It’s more hands-on than I expected,” she said. “I don’t provide direct patient care, but regularly get to interact with patients. I get to see how doctors and nurses interact and communicate with patients and each other.”
Martinez says that even in the short time she’s been at the hospital she has gained valuable insights and has better understanding of how the facility operates on a day-to-day basis. The program continues to help her build confidence and refine her time management skills.
“In general, I’ve gained so many real-world and practical skills,” she said. “I’m learning to work with people from other backgrounds, which is such an important skill for everyday life.”
She also said the experience solidified her decision to pursue a healthcare career path and provided a clearer sense of the skills needed to develop for her future.