Name: Cayla

Year: Junior

Major: Economics and Psychology

CFS Concentration: Field Studies in Public Health

As an economics and psychology double major, I’m not exactly sure what career path I want to pursue and thus I chose to do Chicago Field Studies to try a possible field. I’ve always had an interest in healthcare and wanted to find an internship that would give me experience in the field while also being more business-focused to use the skills I’ve developed in my academic courses. I found that mix in my internship for this quarter at Feinberg Medical School in the Department of Anesthesiology. I am doing healthcare administration and have had a variety of projects throughout the quarter, mostly working on finances and updating the budget.

My supervisor has been very helpful and has given me a variety of projects so I learn how to prioritize and budget my time. While there were times I was given something to do that I didn’t know how to start, I’ve found I can often figure things out on my own. Other times I need to ask for help and everyone in the office is very accommodating. It’s really rewarding when I successfully complete a project that I struggled with at the beginning. In addition, many of things I have worked on have built on each other so it helps to see the outcome of what I am doing. Throughout my internship I’ve also been able to sit in on several meetings and interviews, which has given me an interesting inside look at how groups collaborate within the larger company.

This quarter has been very different than others with interning three days a week and only taking one other class. While sometimes a little overwhelming, it was also a nice change of pace. I also feel like I’ve gained so much real world knowledge. The things I’ve learned in my internship aren’t theories that I need to memorize for an exam, but instead are valuable skills that can help me down the road. I’ve also learned so much about how a hospital and academic medical center are run. While I still don’t know if this is the career I’d like to pursue post-graduation, CFS has allowed me to see what a day in the life is like and figure out what types of skills are important to have. I have also gained skills and knowledge that will help me in whatever career path I choose. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in the Chicago Field Studies program and would recommend it to anyone!