What is the most interesting thing that’s happened to you as a summer intern?

Joe Liggio  Enterprise Communications — 1250 Broadway, Manhattan

From: Suffern, NY (2nd summer at VNSNY)

“For the past two summers, I’ve been an intern for Enterprise Communications. Last year, I was able to assist in the production of the VNSNY 125th anniversary calendar, which was a lot of fun. I would help coordinate a photo shoots at historic sites throughout New York City, and then accompany Richard Rothstein in the field as he took the pictures, sometimes as early as five o’clock in the morning. I got the opportunity to see some pretty amazing places and learned a lot about the history of the New York, as well as VNSNY’s ties to it. This year, I had direct involvement in the planning and organization of VNSNY’s participation in the NYC PRIDE March. Things got hectic at times, but I really improved my ability to multitask. It was very satisfying once we pulled everything together in the end. Seeing everyone having a fun time the day of the march was great.”

Erik Morales Development — 107 E. 70th Street, Manhattan

From: Bridgeport, CT (3rd summer at VNSNY)

“My first summer here was the first time I ever helped out with the Charitable Care and Community Benefit report. Every year the Development Department sends out a charitable care report. The digital version is posted on the VNSNY website but we also mail out a physical copy to a lot of our high-end donors. As I would send the packages I was reading the report, just to see everything that VNSNY has done. As far as I knew, the Visiting Nurse Service of New York was just visiting nurses—I didn’t know that we had all these other programs like Community Mental Health Services, our Nurse-Family Partnership, or the Bronx Fatherhood Program. It was just really eye-opening, all the good that the company does. I think that’s part of the reason why I keep coming back every summer. Because even though I’m not here all year-round to help, just knowing that I can send out the report, so that these donors can see what their money is going to, is really worthwhile.”

Temitope Odukale  CHOICE Quality Management – Brooklyn Regional Office

From: Woodbridge, NJ (2nd summer at VNSNY)

“I guess it would be doing quality management. Seeing all the different things that CHOICE does through insurance and actually dealing with stuff that has to do with members, and helping them to improve their experience with the company and their health.”

Michelle Istakhorova  Revenue Cycle — 5 Penn Plaza, Manhattan

From: Brooklyn, NY (2nd summer at VNSNY)

“I would say talking to the other interns and connecting. Last year when I was an intern, I built a friendship with other interns that lasted through the summer, so I guess that would be the most interesting part, because I didn’t really expect that.”

Norris Robinson  CHOICE MLTC Administration – 1250 Broadway, Manhattan

From: Bronx, NY (1st summer at VNSNY)

“The most interesting thing, I would say, is really just being here. I’ve gotten to learn so much about VNSNY CHOICE and what different aspects of the company do, different programs. I just like the idea of learning the business, about the company and how it works.”

Ben Gold Article 31 Community Mental Health Services — Bronx FRIENDS Clinic

From: Tenafly, NJ (1st summer at VNSNY)

“The FRIENDS clinic, where I’m an intern, provides social work care to children, so a lot of under-18 people come in. I’ve gotten to talk to some of them. They come talk to the clinicians in their 30-to-45 minute sessions, so I’ve been learning about that area. I guess I’m learning about everyday life. I’ve never had to go through any therapy or anything growing up, so I think seeing other people go through it is interesting. You see other people, and then you think ‘Oh they’re going through stuff just like I was.’ I’ve realized that in the past, but this reaffirms it.”

Sabeen Rokerya  VNSNY CHOICE, Select HealthHIV SNP Administration — 1250 Broadway, Manhattan

From: New Brunswick, NJ (1st summer at VNSNY)

“The product manager that I report to is involved in several external community groups. She goes to meetings and participates in councils that provide her a greater perspective on some of the issues that the SelectHealth product deals with—specifically related to the HIV-positive population in New York City. As a result, I’ve been able to attend council meetings for the HIV Planning Council, which was created by the mayor for the purpose of planning for the Ryan White Part A funds. I’ve gotten a very cool educational background to some of the work that we do. I have also been able to take on the responsibility of some higher-level grant-related work that I’m very happy to have done.”

Alane Flores  VNSNY CHOICE, HIV SNP Care Management — Brooklyn Regional Office

From: Brooklyn, NY (1st summer at VNSNY)

“Being involved in all of the corporate meetings for CHOICE specifically; just hearing their plans for the next five years or the next few months, opening up new services for children in other counties—it was really a great experience to view.”

Annaeise Figueroa CHOICE MLTC Administration — 1250 Broadway, Manhattan

From: Brooklyn, NY (3rd summer at VNSNY)

“Last summer, I was an intern for Partners in Care. The most interesting part of my internship was working on my customer service skills. While I was on the phone, sometimes I’d get rude clients. I thought I would freak out, catch an anxiety attack or something, but I learned how to manage them and, based on the way I would speak to them, through my tone and helping them if they had any questions, they were able to calm down and it would be easier to talk to them.”

Cheyenne Riley  Mobile Crisis Unit — Bronx FRIENDS Clinic

From: Bronx, NY (3rd summer at VNSNY)

“On my second day of my first week of working here, I helped plan a baby shower for one of my co-workers who left for family leave. I set up cake and stuff, and decorations—just a little going away baby shower for them.

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