Jessie Fields, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (third from left), and Theresa Mack, MD, MPH, Medical Director at a Mount Sinai Doctors Faculty Practice in Harlem (fourth from left), with Office for Diversity and Inclusion summer interns and staff.
This summer, several Mount Sinai Health System departments—through the Office for Diversity and Inclusion’s (ODI) talent pipeline program—hosted and supported 34 interns who aspire to careers in health care administration. High school, college, and graduate students gained exposure in areas including medicine; patient experience; real estate services; information technology (IT); and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender health. The Institute for Diversity in Health Management and the America Needs You Fellowship Program joined longstanding partner organizations All Stars Project, Inc.; Greater New York Hospital Association; and Prep for Prep in identifying students of underrepresented backgrounds in health care for these hands-on opportunities. “This year marked the second year of our IT Talent Pipeline Program for high school juniors and the launch of a new, structured experience for all our interns,” says Shana Dacon, Assistant Director, ODI. “Our programs continue to expand, and interns came from a diverse set of backgrounds and experiences, including Jim Arbalaez, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who interned in Mount Sinai West’s Environmental Health & Safety Department.” In addition to their assignments, interns toured the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center and a Mount Sinai Doctors Faculty Practice clinic, and a Mount Sinai Doctors Faculty Practice clinic, and attended panels featuring Mount Sinai Health System leaders. Says Adetokunbo Oseni, a Master’s degree candidate at George Mason University, in Fairfax, Virginia, of his experience: “I’m inspired to be a lifelong learner. I’ve learned it is OK not to know everything—as long as you are comfortable asking questions and are willing to learn.”