This summer Audubon County Memorial Hospital and Clinics (ACMH) began a new summer internship program. This program is designed to give college students in the area an opportunity to learn various aspects of working in a rural critical access hospital. The goal of the program was to combine the interests of the students with job positions within ACMH. Depending on the students selected, their skillset, and the needs of the organization, internship assignments are created.
Interested students interviewed with a committee of ACMH professionals led by Human Resources Director, Haillie Bruch, SHRM-CP. This year two college students were selected Kerrigan Larsen (Audubon, IA) and Eleanor Greving (Elk Horn, IA). The students worked throughout the summer within the Department of Administration and the Marketing/Communications Department.
ACMH Administration Staff are eager to share insights from their interns with the community. This week the ACMH Student Intern Spotlight is on Kerrigan Larsen. The staff applaud the exceptional work Kerrigan performed at ACMH this summer.
The following is a Question and Answer with Kerrigan.
- Where do you go to school? What do you go to school for?
I am currently a student at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, majoring in Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in Educational Studies. After receiving my bachelor’s degree, I plan to attend graduate school to pursue a career in Speech Language Pathology. Someday, I would absolutely love to work as an SLP in the medical setting at a rural critical access hospital.
- How was your experience with ACMH’s new internship program?
I have absolutely loved being an intern at ACMH! During this internship, I assisted the administration office, human resources, and marketing department in a variety of projects. I entered quality data, prepared mock DIAL survey documents, and organized files for the administrative team. For human resources I filed employee documents, copied orientation binders, and prepared staff cards. I helped plan events, sort promotional items, and organized binders for the marketing department.
- What type of experience and skills did you learn during your internship?
I had a very positive experience during this internship program and have learned many lifelong skills. I have developed stronger organizational techniques, learned the value of communication in a professional setting, improved my time management skills, and advanced my critical thinking abilities.
- What was the most important lesson you learned during your internship?
The most important lesson I learned during this internship is the importance of effective teamwork and how essential the behind-the-scenes work is in keeping a hospital running smoothly. During my time at ACMH, I worked with the administrative team on a variety of projects, which opened my eyes to all of the coordination, planning, and communication involved to support patient care. This experience gave me a deeper appreciation for the professionals who contribute to the hospital’s overall success.
- What advice would you offer to students about internships?
My advice to students is to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way! If you have the chance to take on an internship, absolutely go for it. Being an intern is the perfect way to explore your interests, discover your strengths, gain clarity for your future career path, and find what truly fits you. This experience has taught me what I want in my professional future. For example, I am now certain about my passion for working in a hospital setting in the future.
- What is something (advice, knowledge, etc.) from this experience that you will take with you and use in your future?
One of the biggest takeaways from this experience is the importance of continuous learning and growth. While observing and assisting the administration team, human resources, marketing department, and other areas at ACMH, I saw professionals who have spent years in their careers, but still actively embrace learning and change. This showed me that in every role within a hospital setting, it requires a commitment to keeping up with the constant changes in healthcare.
