Three students from Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) have completed internships at Lee Health, one of the largest healthcare systems in Southwest Florida. The program is designed to provide students with practical experience and potential pathways to future employment.
The internships are part of an educational pathway that includes a special topics course, “Design Thinking in Health Care,” and an associated micro-credential. This track, open to all majors and class years at FGCU, aims to equip students with skills in human-centered design and public health strategy. Completion of the course allows students to pursue a micro-credential that guarantees an interview with Lee Health, providing opportunities for career shadowing, paid internships, and possible employment.
Rachel Walter, adjunct instructor at FGCU’s Marieb College of Health & Human Services and creator of the program in 2020, explained the approach: “While it may sound intuitive, this approach is often missing in healthcare, where solutions are frequently developed without meaningful input from patients or communities.” She added, “A familiar example is how Netflix recommends shows based on your preferences or how an iPhone feels intuitive to use. Both are built around the user experience.”
Walter described how student projects bring this method into public health settings. “For example, one of last year’s student projects was a concept featuring a church-based exercise program for older Hispanic women who felt excluded from traditional fitness settings,” she said. “This approach contrasts with the one-size-fits-all mindset that dominates much of health care today.”
Cameron Schram, a senior majoring in management from Fort Myers, interned in Lee Health’s physician relations and business development department. Her duties included website support and participation in networking events. She reflected on her experiences: “I also attended numerous networking events to expand my professional connections. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the system, I participated in various meetings and shadowed employees in different departments that aligned with my interests. Additionally, I utilized the opportunity to explore various career paths.”
Schram credited the program for opening doors within Lee Health: “My internship at Lee Health was highly beneficial. It allowed me to work with my dream company and gain insights into the organization’s operations,” she said. “This experience has equipped me with the knowledge and skills necessary to become a valuable asset to Lee Health in the future.”
Allysen Corporan, an Honors College senior majoring in psychology from Cape Coral, worked on identifying community pain points and designing wellness programs during her internship. She said: “This experience deepened my passion for preventive care, having had the opportunity to help plan programs grounded in real community needs. As an aspiring clinician, it’s very easy to become familiar only with your immediate environment — in-session, direct patient care.” Corporan continued: “Through this internship, I was able to objectively define healthcare in terms of accessibility. I was able to take a step back from viewing patients as ‘patients’ and instead address their needs from a community standpoint.” She noted challenges such as geographic or socioeconomic obstacles faced by some diabetes patients or language barriers encountered by others.
“Having experience identifying these unique, consumer-based needs and building health programs to address real community barriers has prepared me to deliver exceptional patient care,” Corporan said.
Instructor Rachel Walter described her dual role guiding students through both academic and industry environments: “I get to live in both worlds – one foot in industry, one foot in academia. Being able to bring those two together and to help students see where they might fit in an industry that needs new ideas and fresh energy is something I’m really proud of.” She added: “One of the most rewarding parts is watching students grow confident in a new way. They’re used to exams and papers. But here, they’re asked to think critically, collaborate and create something meaningful. In the process, they’re also building practical real-world skills they can carry into any workplace… As they rise to that challenge, we become colleagues. The shift from student to emerging professional is what makes this work so meaningful.”
The initiative aligns with FGCU’s 2024-29 Strategic Plan focus on strengthening partnerships within its region.
