At Blue Shield of California, we believe in nurturing the next generation of innovators and leaders. This summer, we welcomed 35 talented interns into our teams through our 10-week Internship Program. Among this group of bright future changemakers are Angela Mora and Hanah Wyman. We recently sat down with them to discuss what led them to pursue careers in healthcare, why they chose Blue Shield, and their visions for transforming the healthcare system. Their stories highlight their aspirations and the innovative ideas they bring to our organization.
What led you to pursue a career in health care?
“My interest in health care stemmed from my mother, who worked as a medical assistant at our local Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in the Salinas Valley, a rural and predominantly Latino area that I was raised in. My parents, who both grew up in Mexico, ensured that my siblings and I stayed connected to our culture through frequent visits to their hometowns in addition to the traditions in our community in California.
Witnessing common health issues within my community and family, I didn't fully grasp their preventability until I moved to Berkeley for my undergraduate studies in public health. There, I learned how widespread and preventable many chronic health conditions are, and how difficult it can be to manage and control these conditions (such as hypertension and diabetes), which disproportionately affect my community and others alike. This realization, coupled with personal experiences, highlighted the importance of addressing healthcare issues from a public health perspective to create lasting, sustainable change.
My drive to pursue a career in the healthcare field is fueled by the desire to improve the health outcomes of communities of color in California, which have historically been underserved and overlooked.”
Why Blue Shield?
“As a Blue Shield of California Fellow at University of California, Berkeley, I had the opportunity to attend various presentations throughout the first year of my graduate program by different Blue Shield leaders. Their dedication to advancing health equity through innovative solutions, as well as Blue Shield's mission to provide quality and affordable care worthy of our family and friends, resonated with me as I was searching for potential internship opportunities. I was impressed by the passion and commitment of the employees, and this impression has only deepened during my internship experience. The support and guidance I have received as an intern from the Health Data Strategy and Evaluations teams has been invaluable. I am so happy to be learning from and working with folks focused on making a positive impact on health equity through their work!”
How would you like to transform healthcare?
“I hope to use my background in epidemiology and biostatistics to support the creation and evaluation of innovative health policies. My goal is to reduce health disparities and improve healthcare delivery for marginalized communities in California. By focusing on data-driven approaches, I aim to contribute to building a more equitable and effective healthcare system that truly serves everyone.”
What led you to pursue a career in health care?
“I majored in public health at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, where I learned about healthcare access, social determinants of health, disease epidemiology and health promotion and prevention programs. This gave me a deep appreciation for the intersectional nature of healthcare, and the population-wide impacts of healthcare access.
After graduating, I decided to attend law school as I felt a legal education would provide me with the experience and opportunities to promote healthcare access. Healthcare law combines my interests in health science, advocacy and policy, and allows me to implement creative solutions to systemic problems. I am entering my third and final year at University of California Law San Francisco (UC Hastings), where I will receive my Juris Doctor (J.D.) with a concentration in Health Law and Policy.
While at law school, I’ve been able to take classes such as Administrative Law, Healthcare Providers, Patients and the Law, Public Health Law, and more. The health law field is diverse and incredibly vast, allowing me to be a lifelong learner. My background in public health gives me a unique understanding of the intricacies of the healthcare system and allows me to use an interdisciplinary approach to solve complex legal issues.
A career in healthcare law allows me to help others through impactful work that combines my interests in public health and advocacy.
I have had the opportunity to work in health law in various capacities, including with the California government and the University of California. I have found a wonderful community of people in this profession!”
Why Blue Shield?
“I have long admired Blue Shield’s dedication to providing affordable and high-quality health care to California's diverse populations and am grateful to have the opportunity to work with the people who make that happen. When I saw Blue Shield’s post for a legal intern, I was so excited because this has been my dream internship for so long! After I interviewed with the legal team, I knew that we had connected and waited anxiously to hear back.”
How would you like to transform healthcare?
“I want to make the healthcare system as affordable and efficient as possible. There are many ways that regulatory law impacts these goals, and I have been lucky to work on a variety of these issues during my internship so far. Transforming the healthcare system is a huge undertaking, due to the multiple players and regulators that have a hand in creating the entire healthcare ecosystem. I see my role as an advocate for health care both through health policy reform and litigation. In my mind, both public health and law impact healthcare on a systemic level, making changes that can be seen across communities and generations. Because change can often take decades, I will be fulfilled in my career if I can help make even small changes in affordability and access. Making an impact where we can is important, especially at Blue Shield because of the mission and passion we all share.”
Are you looking for an internship opportunity that allows you to combine your skills and passions in a way that helps others while transforming healthcare? Learn more about our internship program.
