Inside the MHA Summer Internship Experience: Shaping Future Healthcare Leaders

In this episode, Lauren talks with second year MHA students Hayden Malven and Gracie Petersen about their summer internships and the lessons they carried forward from those experiences. Hayden spent her summer working in finance and service line strategy at University of Iowa Health Care, while Gracie completed an operations internship at UNC Children’s in North Carolina. They share how they chose their placements, what surprised them once they arrived, and how stepping into real health systems helped them connect classroom theory with day to day leadership challenges. The conversation covers everything from navigating uncertainty on large projects to discovering leadership styles they admire and hope to emulate. Hayden reflects on gaining confidence through early trust from her preceptor and finding meaning in work she never expected to enjoy. Gracie describes the value of being welcomed into a leadership culture that views interns as contributors and how intentional mentorship shaped her understanding of effective operations. Together, they offer thoughtful advice to first year students preparing for their own searches and a grounded look at how internships help future healthcare leaders grow. A transcript of this episode is available at https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/news-items/plugged-in-to-public-health-inside-the-mha-summer-internship-experience/ Have a question for our podcast crew or an idea for an episode? You can email them at [email protected] You can also support Plugged in to Public Health by sharing this episode and others with your friends, colleagues, and social networks. #publichealth #healthmanagement #healthadministration #MHA #internships #leadership #mentorship #continuingeducation #graduatedegree