Finding My Voice Through Design: My Internship Journey at Healthcare Pathway Advocates by, Isabela Hernandez
My Experience at Healthcare Pathway Advocates
When I began my internship with Healthcare Pathway Advocates, my goal was to learn more about the healthcare industry. I wanted to discover where I belonged in the healthcare field. What I did not expect was to discover a side of myself that I had not explored in a long time: my creativity.
This remote placement allowed me to maximize my time and focus on the tasks I was assigned. I strengthened my time management and became more comfortable setting and achieving goals on my own. Throughout my internship, I also made meaningful connections with staff members who shared my vision for improving healthcare and supporting the local community.
Learning Through Design
My primary task was to revitalize and update the Healthcare Pathway Advocates website alongside Cassandra Langton, the Digital Marketing & Brand Development Specialist. Through this project, I learned how to create, edit, and manage a website using Wix Editor. I also learned that organization and accessibility all work together to communicate trust and reliability while helping users accomplish what they came to the website for. For Healthcare Pathway Advocates, this meant making it possible for users to apply for their Allied Healthcare Bridge Initiative, donations, and part-time job applications.
The bridge program itself was another important part of my learning experience. It allows high school graduates in the Mother Lode area to enter the workforce as medical assistants in training while receiving wraparound support such as supplies, transportation, and a stipend. This support helps students obtain employment while also connecting them with the local healthcare industry and encouraging them to explore careers beyond medical assisting.
I also completed a Canva certificate course and several Figma courses. Although I had previous experience with Canva, these courses expanded my skills, while Figma introduced me to website prototypes and animations.
Discovering My Strengths
One of my biggest accomplishments was strengthening my communication skills through design. I had never thought of graphic design as part of my communication skill set, but this internship changed my perspective. I learned how visual choices can communicate ideas and emotions just as effectively as words.
Working with my mentor Cassandra Langton also strengthened my teamwork and adaptability. I learned how to build on constructive criticism, use feedback to improve an idea, and let go when something simply was not working. By the end, we had created a website that we were both proud of.
I also discovered that I am more creative and capable than I originally thought. I never imagined I could sit at a desk for hours working on a single project, but this experience taught me how to immerse myself in something and give it 100% of my effort. Even when the design process became tedious or frustrating, I learned to see those moments as opportunities to create something new.
Seeing Healthcare From a Different Perspective
One experience that gave me a broader understanding of healthcare was attending Healthcare Pathway Advocates' second board meeting. I learned how funds were being used to benefit the Mother Lode region and heard about several programs the organization supports.
The VolunTEEN program at Dignity Health especially stood out to me because it gives high school students valuable medical experience through approximately 150 hours of volunteering. Seeing how different programs support students and connect them with healthcare opportunities helped me understand the importance of creating pathways into the field.
My internship also gave me a closer look at allied healthcare and the need for more healthcare professionals. While I still have more to explore, I have a better understanding of the many ways people can contribute to healthcare and their communities.
Looking Toward My Future
My goal remains to become a speech-language pathologist, although I still have more to learn before narrowing down exactly what I want my career to look like. This experience has shown me that I also want public health and service to be part of my career.
I see the needs within underserved communities and the initiatives being created to address them, and I want to contribute to that work. My experience with Healthcare Pathway Advocates has strengthened my desire to serve and help fulfill the needs of minorities at the local level.
It has also expanded my understanding of what a healthcare career can look like. I now see more possibilities outside of a traditional office or clinical setting, which makes me excited about my future.
Most importantly, I am proud to have contributed to a project that others can see and use. The redesign and relaunch of the Healthcare Pathway Advocates website was incredibly rewarding, and learning Figma and other design skills opened my eyes to a new perspective.
When I look back on my internship, I see much more than a completed project. I see an opportunity that allowed me to learn about healthcare, explore my creativity, build meaningful connections, and discover more about myself.
I leave this experience with excitement for the future of my career path. I know I want service, creativity, and a commitment to my community to be part of the path I choose.
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