Navigating Growth and Impact: My Internship Journey with Christus Health

I began my internship with Christus Health on May 20th, 2024, after connecting with the company at a career fair hosted by The University of Texas at Dallas. I joined as a Data Analyst Intern at CHRISTUS Health , a healthcare provider with over 600 locations, including hospitals, clinics, and urgent care facilities across Texas, Louisiana, and New Mexico.

My 12-week summer internship at CHRISTUS Health was a transformative experience. As part of the Clinical Excellence Division's Data Science Team, I felt not only challenged and valued but also empowered to leverage analytics for impactful business decisions. This sense of empowerment was a significant factor in my personal and professional growth during this internship. It not only pushed me to reflect on my core skills and offer a new perspective on achieving goals but also instilled in me a sense of confidence and independence. This personal growth was as significant as my professional growth, if not more.

One of my major projects involved developing custom time series models, including ARIMA, SARIMA, and LSTM, to forecast healthcare-associated infections. The SARIMA model, in particular, was a game-changer. Its effectiveness and high accuracy in identifying peak infection times not only validated my work but also provided crucial insights for better healthcare planning, resource allocation, and decision-making. This was a significant contribution to the field and a testament to the importance of data-driven solutions in healthcare. Along with technically challenging projects, I was given ample opportunities to hone my presentation skills, identify core strengths through training, and balance critical skills.

I deeply appreciate the freedom and motivation my manager, Joanna Huang , granted me to delve into analytics and data science, which not only fostered innovation but also significantly contributed to my personal growth. I am grateful for the support and guidance provided by my team members. They were instrumental in enhancing my experience. A special shoutout to my fellow intern, Wensi Yang , with whom I shared this journey throughout the internship. The internship program's professional development opportunities, including DISC workshops, Communicate to Influence sessions, speed networking, and a visit to one of Christus Health's largest hospitals - CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System , were invaluable and added significant meaning to my work.

This internship was not just a professional experience?but a profound personal journey that significantly enhanced my technical skills, provided invaluable industry insights, and solidified my ability to work effectively in a team. It has laid a strong foundation for my future career in data analytics and healthcare. I aspire to continue leveraging data-driven solutions to improve healthcare outcomes. This experience underscores the holistic nature of my growth and development during this transformative experience. Working with the entire team was a pleasure, and I look forward to more collaboration in the future.

I would like to extend my gratitude to The University of Texas at Dallas , Naveen Jindal School of Management, The University of Texas at Dallas , Professor Gaurav Shekhar , Professor Sunela Thomas, Sivya Leventhal , and all the professors who prepared me for a successful corporate experience. I also want to thank my parents for their unwavering support throughout this journey.

#UTDMSBA #JSOM #CHRISTUSHEALTH #HEALTHCARE