Dunneback 1 Maria Dunneback Doctor Davis AHS 490-01 16 November 2013 Looking Back As I pursued an internship site for

the Fall 2013 semester, I didnt quite know what to expect-Id heard comments from past students such as internships are a way to get out of going to class and how unfair it is to pay for a course that requires you to work for another facility. After being accepted into the Community Health and Wellness Department at Metro Health, I knew that I had to have an open mind and set aside any previous connotations. In doing so, my experience at Metro Health turned out to be a memorable and beneficial. I gained insight in how a professional department functions, attended community events, and evaluated what my personal strengths and weaknesses are. During my interview with Mishelle, the Director of the Community Health and Wellness Department, and Lindsay, a Community Outreach Specialist, they mentioned that they treat interns like they would an employee, meaning I wouldnt be stapling endless stacks of paper or cleaning out the storage cabinet. As I reflect back on the wide range of tasks I completed, their statement certainly proved to be accurate. I was given assignments such as filling out check requests, editing the rough draft of the Live Healthy Brochure, processing Running Club forms, and compiling class evaluations. I felt that in general, I was treated with the same respect and authority as an employee. After getting acquainted on my first day at the office, Lindsay asked me to write a list of goals Id like to accomplish by the end of my experience. This gave me a chance to really consider what it was that I wanted to get out of my time in the department. I gave it some thought and came up with four goals-to interact with a variety of professionals in various departments, to be a part of planning and

Dunneback 2 implementing an event, to gain an understanding of how my degree plays into the field of work, and to be exposed to as many aspects of the department as possible, including both the positive and negative. These goals were standards to give us both a clear idea of what I wanted to get out of my internship, as well as a check list for Lindsay to refer back to while filling out my final evaluation. One of the highlights of my internship was being able to interact with several different professionals from various departments. I got to meet nurses when I set up and took down the Blood Pressure Screen, interacted with the Marketing and Foundations departments because they share a suite with the Community Health and Wellness department, and met a Child Life Specialist and Diabetes Educator at the cooking classes. While working on the Open Enrollment project, I was responsible for contacting and meeting with a dietitian to get artificial food for our display, emailed Metro Healths Chaplain in regards to information he felt was imperative to include in our display, and met people during the meetings I attended. Overall, I believe that I was successful in meeting my first goal. As an inclusion of my first goal, one key component was to attend a meeting with various levels of staff members. Although I attended two meetings, they consisted of four people, three of which were Lindsay, Mishelle, and I. The first meeting was a wrap up of the Metro Way 5K and the other was about the Farmers Market .Both meetings were in regards to programs I was not a part of, and therefore at times it was difficult to understand the issues they were discussing. My intention with this goal was to gain insight into how various departments work together to build new programs and see how people of different professions interact. I dont feel that I was able to fulfill this goal to the extent that I had hoped to, but still enjoyed listening to how they worked together to highlight what went well and work on changes for next year. In correspondence with my list of goals, the Open Enrollment project I crafted satisfied my desire to be a part of a establishing and exhibiting an event. The Open Enrollment Fair was an event held

Dunneback 3 in the Lower Level Conference Rooms of the Professional Building that had vendors from all insurance plans that Metro Health employees have access to. The Community Health and Wellness Department had a display that demonstrated how their department encompasses all six dimensions of wellness. With guidance from Lindsay, I was able to create the display and attend the event, which interlinked my first goal because I got to talk to a variety of employees that stopped by our booth to inquire about various programs. By being exposed to various aspects of the department and completing a wide range of assignments, I was able to successfully achieve my third and fourth goals. I used what Ive learned from my previous courses at Grand Valley and applied it to the tasks I was given. A vast majority of the courses in the Allied Health Science major are centered on health and therefore correlated with what the department is focused on also. For example, my Anatomy and Physiology courses were helpful when I created a blood pressure hand out and tip sheet to quit smoking. As far as being exposed to all aspects of the department, working in close quarters with Lindsay and Mishelle gave me a clear understanding of that. A negative aspect I witnessed was when Lindsay was frustrated with a call she got from the Executive Offices. People had shown up a half hour early for a memory screen and were wandering around the Conference Room without supervision. They blamed her for this, although she had no control over the fact that the instructors hadnt shown up and security had already unlocked the doors. However, a positive aspect is the appreciation they receive from the community about how much people learn from attending various programs. As a person who enjoys working with people, the events that the Community Health and Wellness sponsored gave me a chance to interact with people from the community as well as within Metro Health. Not only was it an enjoyable way to complete my hours but also a good learning experience. Due to the fact that the department promotes health in the community, I went to various

Dunneback 4 cooking class and a vegan seminar that broadened my knowledge on healthy eating and veganism. Even in the cooking classes, I was able to sample foods that I otherwise may never have dared to try such as tofu and dates. Like I did with my internship, I went into these classes with an open mind and positive attitude. Along with being able to interact with a variety of different people, I was able to observe firsthand that it doesnt take an army to make a difference in the community. The Community Health and Wellness Department is essentially composed of two people-Mishelle and Lindsay. With the help from other departments such as marketing, they are able to make a substantial difference in the community by the programs they offer. They host events such as the Farmers Market and Metro Way 5K to generate physical activity and healthy eating, but also continuously offer programs to improve and educate the community on health and wellness. It is evident in the countless program evaluations I processed that people who attend these events are appreciative of the department and their purpose. With the economy so money-driven these days, it was refreshing to observe how the department strives to host these programs at little or no cost. Overall, it was rewarding to be a part of an organization that focuses on helping the community without demanding something, such as money, in return. Although there were many positive aspects of the Community Health and Wellness Department, there were also a few minor downfalls, the main one being the lack of individuality I was given with the Open Enrollment project and the documents I created. Any time I made a hand out, or worked on the display, it had to be checked and critiqued before it could be finalized. I understand that it is a professional setting and therefore grammatical errors and mistakes are a direct reflection of the department, but it seemed that it was more of a personal preference rather than a professional one. For example, when I typed the features, I was given which program to write about and what to include in the feature. Details as trivial as fonts and colors were also corrected, and at times I felt somewhat

Dunneback 5 childish to always have to get things inspected. However, it was never done in a crude manner, and my end piece was always accepted with gratitude and thanks. One significant benefit of doing my internship was that it opened my eyes to my personal attributes and weaknesses that will benefit and potentially hinder the success in my future career. The best way for me to show my appreciation of the opportunity I was given was through my positive assetsalways perform my best, show up on time and ready to work, and maintain a professional attitude and appearance. Understanding that it can be frustrating for the supervisor, I also strived to listen to the directions I was given the first time to reduce the number of times I had to refer back to ask questions. My perception of my weakness was my limited availability. Along with juggling two jobs and taking other classes, it didnt allow me to be very flexible with my schedule. Typically, I was there two days a week, alternating between Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays. When I was told I got the position, Lindsay mentioned that they prefer their interns to be there five to eight hours a day to get a full grasp on all aspects of the department. Knowing this, it made me more appreciative of the opportunity, but also made me question whether I was missing out on things that would allow me to get an even better perspective of the department. Personally, I feel that I was able to get a good understanding of how the department works, but due to never being there on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, may have missed out on meetings or events that could have improved my experience even more. I did complete the 150 hour requirement, but felt badly that I couldnt be more available or have put more time in. As I reflect back on my time at Metro Health, I am grateful of what it has taught me-insight into how a professional healthcare setting functions, the importance of encouraging healthy living to the community, and being able to recognize my personal strengths and weaknesses in my ability to work. I found my time to be beneficial by preparing me to succeed in a professional work setting. Aside from what Ive learned in the classroom, this requirement gave me an understanding into how I can apply

Dunneback 6 classroom based knowledge to the workforce and create a functioning and successful career. I couldnt have asked for a better place to do my internship and am truly grateful for being given the opportunity to work for Mishelle and Lindsay.