The Health Services Authority (HSA), as part of its plan to grow the next generation of healthcare professionals, welcomed sixty-five (65) student interns from July 1 to August 31 for a work-study programme that prepares Caymanian students for future careers in healthcare.

The annual Summer Internship Programme allows high school students interested in a healthcare career and college students already pursuing studies in a healthcare discipline to work in the Cayman Islands Hospital and Faith Hospital in both clinical and non-clinical areas.

The programme helps to promote the variety of career options available within the healthcare field to the students. This year, interns were assigned to more than 12 departments within the HSA including biomedical engineering, health information management, finance, laboratory, information technology and physiotherapy.

Intern Luckshi Maheswaran, who attends the University of Southampton, dreams of becoming a medical doctor and shared how her experience working in the laboratory has increased her knowledge in areas related to her field of interest.

“Having completed Biomedical Sciences, I wanted to explore the scope for research here in Cayman Islands. In the laboratory, I’ve gained knowledge on the clinical testing aspects of medicine such as the biochemistry, microbiology and histopathology behind diagnostic testing. The medical lab plays a crucial role in the treatment of disease in patients, as well as monitoring the effectiveness of the treatment. So far it has been an insightful experiment,” she shared.

In addition to learning practical skills and discovering the diverse career options within the healthcare industry, the students are also learning about professionalism from their supervisors and skills to help them make the most of future opportunities.

Daniel Britton of Pensacola Christian College had some words of advice for others who may be interested in applying to the programme next year.

“The Internship programme is a very good learning experience, and you have fun at the same time. You are given a firsthand experience of what it is like in the working world and what to expect. I believe that once you are willing to learn, you will truly enjoy this experience,” he said.

A World Health Organization (WHO) Report titled “Global Health Workforce Labor Market Projections for 2030” shows that worldwide demand for health workers will increase to 80 million and the Latin America and Caribbean region is likely to be most impacted.

Considering this, HSA Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Lizzette Yearwood said the organization’s Summer Internship Programme “creates a pipeline of future healthcare professionals for the HSA and reflects our commitment to growing the next generation of healthcare professionals in the Cayman Islands.”

Visit www.hsa.ky or call (345) 949-8600 for more information and services offered at the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority.