Children’s Minnesota was thrilled to host 20 interns this summer as part of our equity and inclusion (E&I) internship program!
The goal of the E&I internship program is to expose high school and college students to different career options at Children’s Minnesota, as well as to allow students the opportunity to learn and engage in areas that they see as potential career opportunities.
About the E&I internship program
By 2050, one out of two eligible workers in Minnesota will be people of color and Native American. This is why enhancing Children’s Minnesota’s existing internship program to include even more opportunities for diverse high school and college students will significantly impact our ability to recruit and retain a diverse workforce today and in the future.
“We want all who engage with us to feel valued, included, respected and supported. That means having a workforce and partners who reflect the diversity and rich backgrounds of the communities we serve,” said James Burroughs, senior vice president, government and community relations, chief equity and inclusion officer. “Having the equity and inclusion internship program creates a pipeline of talent that ensures that those from diverse backgrounds have access to future employment opportunities at Children’s Minnesota. This, in turn, ensures best-in-class care for patients and families.”
Nearly 60 students have completed the E&I internship program since it launched four years ago.
Our 2023 E&I interns
- Arian Ghafoori, talent acquisition operations intern
- Celena Yang, revenue management intern
- Anisa Abdi, ambulatory care intern
- Gaojia Xiong, foundation intern
- Julia Maurice, equity and inclusion intern
- Amelie Doying, operational development and learning intern
- Darartu Elemo, equity and inclusion
- Jakari Hunnecook, pain, palliative care and integrative medicine intern
- Paw Hser, pain, palliative care and integrative medicine intern
- Hlina Tessema, information technology solutions intern
- Jann Pallazhco Pineda, physical medicine and rehabilitation intern
- Olympia Mongo, talent acquisition and compliance intern
- Lenn Kong, safety and security – environmental sustainability intern
- Jozlyn Nacipucha, music therapy intern
- Siboney Brambila Villalobos, communication intern
- Natasha Ovalle, EMS – child resources center intern
- Riley Stichter, safety and security – emergency preparedness intern
What our interns had to say
We are grateful for the amazing work of our 2023 E&I interns. Hear from some of them about their internship experience at Children’s Minnesota!
“I worked with Achieve Twin Cities this past school year to find an internship and what drew me to the position at Children’s [Minnesota] was how friendly and welcoming everyone was during the interview process and beyond.”
“While working at Children’s [Minnesota], I’ve loved meeting the people and different teams within the Foundation and noticed how much they love their work. They are passionate and hard-working people who embody the values of Children’s [Minnesota] even though they are not patient facing.”
“This summer, I have been able to develop my technical writing skills by updating and creating different security, safety and severe weather procedures for the hospital. I have really enjoyed interacting with other departments as well as the leadership training provided through this internship.”
“As the talent acquisition compliance intern with HR, I really enjoyed the ongoing leadership development while being surrounded by driven and like-minded people!”
“I became interested in equity and inclusion since I think it’s crucial for every patient, staff and community to have the best experiences at Children’s [Minnesota] in a non-clinical role. Having a background in clinical roles, I wanted to experience what a non–clinical role would be like at a hospital. I also love Children’s Minnesota; I think it would be wonderful to work here, hopefully in the future, as a pediatrician.”
“My internship at Children’s [Minnesota] has been helpful with my career exploration, it has allowed me to connect with different therapists, observe inpatient/outpatient work and get involved with the patients. I am also working on a project that focuses on determining places the rehab department could improve in equity, and what steps can be taken to get there. My overall experience at Children’s [Minnesota] has been amazing!”
“My interest in the internship program is gaining real work experience, as well as getting more familiar with the health profession and improving my communication and creative skills. So far, my experience at Children’s [Minnesota] has been eye opening. I’ve met wonderful providers in the pain, palliative, and integrative medicine team and learned about the wonderful things they do.”
“I have met tons of great people here at Children’s [Minnesota] including some of the other interns. I learned a lot of medical and non-medical information. Overall, my experience here at Children’s [Minnesota] is amazing.”
“I was interested in this program because I wanted to explore the different branches of E&I and how they all work together to create a welcoming place for everyone at Children’s [Minnesota]. I am working with the Collective for Community Health and the equity and inclusion team. It is exciting to see everything Children’s [Minnesota] plans for the community and how they are involved outside of the hospital. So far, I love my internship so much and I am grateful for this beautiful experience and the connections I have built.”
Our internship partners
Step Up is a collective of support that unites businesses, schools, nonprofits and the city for a common goal: to build and strengthen our future economy and the talented youth who will power it. They help organizations—like Children’s Minnesota—diversify their workforce and build a competitive pipeline of young, skilled workers for the entire region. Step Up is a partnership of the City of Minneapolis, AchieveMpls, CareerForce Minneapolis and Project for Pride in Living.
Achieve College Internships launched in 2020. The program provides career-building opportunities for college juniors – especially Minneapolis and St. Paul Public Schools graduates and Step Up alumni – who are underrepresented in Twin Cities companies and local internship programs. The program connects students with high-quality paid summer internships, mentors and professional networks that can help launch their careers. It also helps employers strengthen their recruitment and retention of talented, diverse students who want to begin their careers in the Twin Cities.
Right Track provides summer jobs and internships for St. Paul youth who are from low-income families or have a barrier to employment.
The University of St. Thomas’ Dougherty Family College provides students with the opportunity to explore careers, build relationships with the top organizations in the Twin Cities and learn the soft skills necessary to successfully navigate the professional workplace — all as an integral part of their high-quality academic experience.
Wallin Partners enables college and career success for Minnesota students with financial need through scholarships, comprehensive advising support and collaboration with educational, business and philanthropic partners.