I am interning at 504HealthNet, an organization comprised of various healthcare providers and facilities that treat people regardless of their insurance status, with an emphasis on primary care and behavioral health. 504HealthNet is dedicated to strengthening community-based healthcare in New Orleans, and the office is located just outside of the Bywater district. I am a policy research intern, and I am helping my supervisor with the projects she is currently working on. Right now, I am researching progressive policies that have gone into effect in other Southern states. This research will help us draft recommendations for the Louisiana Department of Health. These policy initiatives will be aimed at increasing health equity. Though this is not directly related to a woman’s issue, women of color are disproportionately affected by health inequity. In the long term, by making it easier for low-income women in Louisiana to access comprehensive, high-quality healthcare, it is my hope that they will feel more empowered to strive for leadership roles in the community.
I first found out about 504HealthNet at Tulane’s CPS internship fair. I was interested in a few of the public health-related organizations there, but this one stood out to me the most because it is related to access to healthcare, a topic I feel passionately about. The following week I reached out to 504HealthNet’s representative from the fair, expressing my interest in interning there. The representative responded and arranged to meet with me to chat about my interest in an intern position. I didn’t have to fill out any sort of formal application, and the “interview” was very casual. It was fairly easy for me to get this position, and I learned how rewarding it can be to send a simple email to the right person. I would recommend that other students take advantage of the resources that Tulane offers, especially through the Center for Public Service, to find organizations in New Orleans that are looking for interns. I would suggest picking a few that look interesting and reaching out to learn about the application process.
When I showed up to the first day at my internship, I was briefed on the objectives 504HealthNet is working towards, and the projects that it is currently engaged in. My supervisor outlined the work that I would be doing over the next few weeks and referred me to several news outlets that I should follow to stay informed about the political and healthcare climate in the state. Then, I was given a desk and allowed to begin working alongside three other 504HealthNet staff members. I have been given a lot of flexibility and freedom in the tasks I’m responsible for. This is a change from the more rigidly structured college class workload that I’m used to, but I am grateful for the opportunity to learn how to pace myself to complete projects by a deadline. This week I went to a behavioral health conference and listened to several guest speakers about improving the network of behavioral health services in the area. Next week I am meeting with my supervisor and the Executive Director of 504HealthNet to review my progress on my research assignment.
This summer, I hope to learn more about the healthcare climate in Louisiana, the work that non-profit organizations in the city are doing to improve health equity in the area, and the public health policy development process.