Population Health Informatics: Summer Internship Experience at CDHA

Abstract

Internships give students of Health Informatics opportunities to receive on-the-job training and connect their academic health informatics knowledge with the real world. Furthermore, it gives them an opportunity for networking with future possible employers as well as other related future organizations in the area of health and/or informational technology. This internship done at CDHA is composed of different parts and tasks. The first one was to develop a campaign design; the second, which is the follow up of the first assignment, to research and develop strategy for CDHA obesity management initiative under population health theme; the third part was, data gathering about CDHA committees; and the last part was consulting communication tool for mid and high level managers. In addition to all these activities, the author also attended a number of board meetings as part of decision making experiences. The first and the second assignment, the author shared and worked with Masters of Health Administration resident, Mrs. Lynn Lowe. The third and the fourth assignment, however, was an exclusive assignment. As the experience was multi task and the majority of the activities were done with the MHA student, it was a good experience to work in a multi-task environment with other health professionals. This gives a chance to learn the real world scenario of health informatics, and also it was an opportunity to let others know about health informatics at the same time able to know about their field of expertise and profession.