McNeese Internships Prepare Students for the Future

McNeese State University students are career ready not only because of the quality education they receive inside the classroom but also for the hands-on experience they receive as interns.

Internships allow students to apply their knowledge to real world situations while learning from top professionals in their chosen field. Many academic programs require students to complete an internship before graduating.

Hope Hamilton, a health systems management student from New Iberia, is interning this fall with Autism Services of Southwest Louisiana. She believes this experience will have a direct impact on her career goal to confidently lead a clinic or hospital staff in order to provide the highest quality care to patients.

“I may not work directly with patients, but as a management professional, it’s my responsibility to make sure the day-to-day operations of the workplace are continuing in order for the patients to focus on their health or that of a loved one,” Hamilton says.

The health systems management program began in 2015 and addresses the growing demand for healthcare administrators and consultants and offers students a Bachelor of Science degree in one of three academic concentrations—healthcare management, healthcare quality improvement and healthcare services coordination.

“According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the health systems management field is expected to grow by 23% over the next three years,” says Dr. Amy Bufford, the program’s coordinator. “Our students are fully prepared to enter their career with the communication, research and critical thinking skills they need to not only provide for patients and families but to also keep an eye on how the field is continuously evolving.” Hamilton is working towards becoming a hospital administrator and encourages students considering health systems management to make McNeese their First Choice because of the personal connections and quality education the university provides.