Internship

About the Internship

The IUI ECHO Center's mission is to improve health outcomes and quality of life for individuals affected by chronic and complex conditions through innovative research, education, and community engagement. This mission is critical, as it aims to address the significant challenges faced by millions of Americans. Chronic illnesses often require ongoing care and management, which can be difficult to navigate for both patients and healthcare providers.

The work at the ECHO Center matters deeply because it directly impacts a large portion of the population, especially considering that nearly 60% of Americans live with at least one chronic condition. This staggering statistic underscores the importance of improving chronic disease management and enhancing the overall healthcare experience for these individuals. The center’s initiatives seek to bridge gaps in care, focusing on patient-centered approaches that prioritize the needs, preferences, and circumstances of each individual. This is key to fostering better health outcomes and quality of life, as individuals with chronic conditions often face complex and evolving needs.

Moreover, the ECHO Center places a strong emphasis on reducing health disparities and promoting equitable access to healthcare. By leveraging innovative technologies and educational tools, the center is able to empower healthcare providers with the knowledge and skills needed to deliver high-quality, evidence-based care to patients with chronic conditions.

The research conducted at the ECHO Center plays a vital role in advancing our understanding of chronic disease management. The findings help to shape policies, inform healthcare practices, and guide community outreach efforts aimed at improving care for underserved populations. By collaborating with various healthcare professionals, community organizations, and academic institutions, the ECHO Center fosters a collaborative environment that drives real-world change.

Here is a great video to watch that goes into detail about the different ECHO programs, focuses, and efforts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H4_8gTcoLI

Internship Summary

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Internship summary

Workplace

Some skills that I already have that will contribute to the internship site as a professional and team member include flexibility and basic Excel knowledge. I have come to be flexible through prior work sites, which includes flexibility with scheduling and tasks. Flexibility will prove useful at this site because, as an intern, there is no set-in-stone workload. Projects at the ECHO center are at different stages of development and therefore require different tasks to be done. This is also a place where collaboration is a huge part of being a member, so it is important to be willing to help others with their tasks, and for others to be willing to help you as well, to produce the best and most accurate work. My skills in Excel have been cultivated through previous coursework, specifically in data entry for labs. Knowledge of how to use Excel is also very important at this site because a big part of the role of an intern here is data entry. Most of the information we are working on and the data we are entering is going to be found and/or put in Excel to later be analyzed.

Reflecting on my role as a team member during the internship, I can say that my contributions have evolved. Initially, I started as someone who was primarily focused on learning and observing. As I grew more comfortable with the tools and tasks, I began to take on more responsibility. This shift also involved collaborating more with colleagues working on different ECHOs and various departments, which gave me a wider perspective on how different aspects of the project fit together. My contributions, even if they seem small, are integral to the team’s success. Whether it is ensuring that key data points are accurately recorded or offering input during decision-making discussions, my efforts help move the larger project forward. For instance, by taking responsibility for certain tasks such as data entry or pre-/post-session materials for cases, I allow others to focus on their more complex assignments, streamlining our overall workflow. Even routine tasks, like updating documents or tracking progress, help maintain momentum and clarity within the team.

Successes and Challenges

One of the biggest successes I've experienced in this internship is getting to do meaningful work that truly makes a difference. Like many college students, I’ve had jobs in retail and serving, where it sometimes felt like I was just going through the motions to meet short-term goals. These jobs, while important, didn’t always give me a sense of fulfillment. But in this internship, I'm involved in tasks that directly impact the ECHO program’s success, and it feels incredibly rewarding to know that my contributions are essential to the program running smoothly. The work I do benefits not only the immediate Indiana community but also stretches across multiple states, highlighting the far-reaching impact. The work I do here feels more purposeful, and it's motivating to see how my role fits into something much bigger. Knowing that my efforts have a positive ripple effect in various places is a reminder of why it's important to contribute to work that matters.

However, the challenges have been real, especially when it comes to balancing my school responsibilities with my internship. This semester, I'm taking a full course load, and adding an internship to that mix has tested my time management skills. There are also moments when some of the projects I’m working on within ECHO aren’t moving forward as quickly as I’d hoped, either because they haven’t started yet or are on pause. This can be frustrating because I’m eager to see progress and results, but at the same time, it’s given me a chance to learn how to manage the uncertainty that comes with working on projects with fluctuating timelines. The silver lining in this challenge is that it has helped me become better at managing my time. To keep everything in order, I’ve had to lean heavily on tools like a planner to make sure I’m staying organized and prioritizing what needs to get done each day. Planning out my schedule has become crucial in making sure I balance school assignments, internship tasks, and personal time. While the struggle of balancing everything is still there, I can see how this experience is sharpening my ability to juggle multiple responsibilities, and I know it will help me in the future.

Ultimately, despite the challenges, this internship has been an incredibly valuable experience. The meaningful work I get to do and the growth I've seen in my ability to manage time and stay organized have made it all worth it. Even on the toughest days, I can remind myself that I’m contributing to something that makes a real difference, and I’m gaining the skills I need to succeed in future roles

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