In honor of National Intern Day, Alexia Anazco, 19, a recent high school graduate and former intern with Kaiser Permanente, shared her success from interning with the radiology team at Kaiser Permanente to working as a radiation therapy assistant with INOVA Health System.
“I’m not really sure why I wanted to do this. None of my family members work in health care,” she said, as a freshman at Northern Virginia College. “I just wanted to do something – personal (maybe) or deeper – that would help people.”
Check out the Q&A below to learn how she went from intern to health care professional!
What advice would you give to someone who’s considering a career in radiology?
“When you work in radiation therapy, you have a lot of oncology patients, so patients with cancer and with other diseases but mostly cancer. They’re going through a very hard time in their lives. So, you have to have that empathy and compassion for caring towards them; just trying to get them to feel better and give them a little bit of hope in their situation. It is a lot to learn.”
“I think a lot of people do like the field for the work-life balance. Sometimes you are on-call, but working in radiation offers a little more flexibility than some other roles in a hospital setting.”
How did you hear about the entry-level position you hold now?
“I was a volunteer, first. And the people that I volunteer with are also college students who are looking to go into the medical field. So, sometimes when we have time, we try to look at the career page on INOVA’s website, just to see what kind of jobs are available.”
“I saw the job opening one day – and then I also saw that it closed on the next day. So, I just took chance and applied for it.”
What did your employer want to know before scheduling an interview?
“I did have to submit my resume and any of my past experiences, my education. I didn’t have a lot on my resume because I was still in high school. So, I only had one other job and then the internship, as well as my volunteering experience.”
Why is volunteer experience important?
“I think you should show an actual interest in what you want to do – you have to want to do it. You don’t have to do a lot. Try to get one or two things on your resume that stand out to show people that you are interested.
What did you observe or learn from interning with Kaiser Permanente?
“I would say that I’m kind of a shy person. So, I guess, interacting with patients every day, and seeing them come in kind of helped me learn what to say to them and how to approach them.”
Last year, Alexia not only interned with Kaiser Permanente’s radiology team at the Tysons Corner Medical Center but was also immersed in mammography where she gained experience observing a breast imaging specialist. High school students considering a career in health care can learn more about the Summer Youth Internship Program here.
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 12.7 million members in 8 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health.
