A Shift in Thinking: How the ISDR Program Shaped My Career Goals

The two rotations that I have experienced so far at UPMC have changed my perception of career goals.  Going into college, I knew what I wanted to study.  I knew for years that computer science was the road ahead of me.  Upon graduation, I had the same belief that software engineering would be my career path.  I decided that doing a rotation program would be a unique opportunity that I could greatly benefit from, and one that I would not have a chance to experience later in my career.  However, what I was really looking forward to was being in a software engineering role. What I have experienced so far in the program has challenged the former clarity I once had about my career.  Working for such a complex organization like UPMC’s Information Services Division exposes you to so many moving parts.  There are a several different groups that I have encountered throughout my rotations of which I can envision myself being a member.  This has really led me to considering other possibilities for my career in the future.  I love software engineering, and still plan on doing so at some point in the future, but who knows?  This uncertainty used to scare me, however, with the insight I have gained through this program, I now find it exciting. The opportunities at UPMC are abundant, and with my experience from the ISDR program, I am well equipped for whichever one comes my way.  At the very least, I now have a much deeper appreciation for the other areas of ISD, and a sincere interest in experiencing different roles.

By Ryan Kelly, Systems Analyst – ISDR

Lessons Learned as an ISDR

1. It’s harder than you would expect to coordinate with others. Coordinating with others while in college is fairly straightforward: “Hey do you want to grab coffee and work on our project after class?” – “Sure, that would be great!” Most of the time, this method is effective. Transitioning into a professional environment, the situation becomes similar to: “Hey do you want to grab coffee and discuss our ideas for our upcoming meeting?” – “Sure, I’m busy this afternoon and  tomorrow morning, and you are booked tomorrow… it looks like we both have a free half hour on Thursday so we can meet then!” Everyone has a busy schedule and trying to find time can sometimes be very difficult. This is increasingly difficult when trying to plan meetings with larger groups.

2. Public speaking is not as scary as it seems. When I started the ISDR program, I hated the idea of speaking in front of people. It was not something I felt I was particularly good at, or had much experience with. I was afraid of people asking questions and not being able to answer them. Luckily, I found out that speaking about your own accomplishments is far easier than giving a presentation that you had to research information for. Because you did all of the work, and understand the information you are presenting, the speaking aspect is not nearly as scary. Realizing that ‘I did this’, made the experience less nerve-wracking and has been easier ever since.

3. Excel is your friend… and your enemy. If you think you will not use Excel in your career (like I did), you are mistaken. Whether you are working on a budget, or using it to keep information together, you will use it. Excel is a powerful tool. Having an understanding of Excel is one thing, but being an Excel wizard is an entirely different story. Pivot tables can be your best friend, putting together complex formulas from multiple spreadsheets can be your worst nightmare. I have a love/hate relationship with Excel, and it’s very likely to stay that way.

4. There is way more to corporate IT than what I originally expected.
There are many different groups throughout ISD that work together to run the business. Learning how these groups work together takes some time figure out. Who is in charge of what? Who needs to approve this before it can be moved forward? The amount of areas can be intimidating, but they become easier to understand as time goes by.There are many different groups throughout ISD that work together to run the
business. Learning how these groups work together takes some time figure out. Who is in charge of what? Who needs to approve this before it can be moved forward? The amount of areas can be intimidating, but they become easier to understand as time goes by.

5. Network, Network, Network. Networking is very important,
especially when moving from one rotation to the next. Your client in one rotation could be could be your team in the next. Networking is also beneficial when you are looking for more information. If you know someone in a particular area, you can feel comfortable reaching out to them for advice or to point you in the right direction. It’s also good to build relationships with everyone you meet, because you never know where you might end up when the two years are over.

By Antonio Greco, Systems Analyst – ISDR

Life in the Cave

Gone are the days of interns fetching coffee, filing papers and stapling for hours.  As any Summer Associate knows, internships at companies like UPMC are coveted positions of which we prepare ourselves for up to a year in advance by seeking out the most desirable programs, stalking HR representatives and rewriting our resumes to the point of perfection. Most of my expectations were met as I look back on the program: involvement in big and important projects, corporate events, dress codes, networking events and more.

However, one aspect I never saw coming was sitting in a square formation with 11 strangers staring at one another into a medium sized conference room with no windows.  Fondly labeled as “The Cave” or “the S.A.C.,” (Summer Associates Cave), we Marketing/Communications Summer Associates quickly got to know each other very, very well.  It would be misleading to say that this was not a challenging arrangement for everyone, but it was a situation that was clearly an invaluable preparation for any professional working environment.

For some reason, people in the office seem to have the impression that The Cave is a quiet place.  This is likely due to our innate ability to stop mid argument or laughing fit, whenever anyone other than a Summer Associate walks in.  Little do they know, they probably missed by seconds a heated argument about the Royal baby, a flying stress-ball or everyone reduced to tears of laughter from our witty dialogue.  I’m not exaggerating when I say, we all know everything about each other.  We should probably make a pact, in case anyone ever wants to run for office someday.

The Cave is our war room.  It’s a place of solidarity and teamwork, where we celebrate each other’s wins and challenge each other’s losses.  And it’s not like we all love each other, but the atmosphere became one where we couldn’t help but be there for each other.  Everything took place against a backdrop of ambition, perfectionism, and dedication.

The Cave experience was invaluable.  It was full of those intangible lessons that at the time are annoying and frustrating but in retrospect were the highlight of the summer.  There probably isn’t a single work experience we couldn’t handle.  In a lot of ways we were legitimately like puppies.  We honestly had to watch our group sugar consumption so we didn’t get too wound up, and we poked and prodded at one another to no end.  We learned to love it, we got sick of it and each other, but ultimately we were made better for it.  And while The Cave helped us in a larger, professional sense, it truly fostered lifelong friendships.  My fellow Cave-mates inspire, motivate, infuriate and comfort me and I will miss them all very much.  So here’s to the cave life!

By Anne Merrick, Summer Associate

Career Goals and My Progress at UPMC

 “Don’t aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe, and it will come naturally.”
 -David Frost

Growing up, I always heard those words around me say, similar to “do what you love and you will never work a day in your life.”  I never understood the value in this statement until I began my professional career.  Coming into my internship with UPMC this summer, I had no idea how much I was going to learn or the advances in my career I was going to make by pursuing what I love to do.  I arrived with the expectation to learn a lot about finance and gain some new experiences, but I have since learned many things beyond what I expected.  Not only have I learned a lot about finance in my position, but I have surprisingly learned more about healthcare than I ever imagined.  I have also learned many things about working in a corporate environment as well as understanding the dynamics that come into play when working with different people.  I have made many new friends, enabling me to develop as an individual.  Through service events, I have come to understand the beliefs that are at the core of UPMC.  My career goal was to one day work in finance, and I never knew it could lead me to UPMC.  I never saw myself loving this kind of work, but my summer at UPMC has given me the ability to experience something new and succeed at it.  I have learned that sometimes your career goals change as your experiences enumerate.  Often times, an experience can enable you to better understand yourself and shape your goals.  My summer here at UPMC has given me that ability.  While the work was valuable, the ability to better know myself and understand my goals is an experience that will always be of value in my life.

By Elana Petro, Summer Associate

Expectations vs. Reality of UPMC and the Summer Associate Program

I applied to UPMC’s Summer Associate Program for the experience of working with an exceptional healthcare supply chain.  I had never worked for a large company, nor had I worked in a large office building, so I was unsure of what to expect out of UPMC and the Summer Associate program.  I was excited and nervous for my first day.  For some reason, I pictured my days being very structured and formal, like school, since that’s all I’ve known for 15 years. I was worried my manager and mentor would be unapproachable and the office would be too formal for me to really feel comfortable for the next 11 weeks; but after just one week into the program, I realized how irrational my thoughts and fears were.

Everything about working at UPMC was positive.  It had a lot to do with the people I was around every day, and I’m especially thankful that UPMC hired last year’s Supply Chain Summer Associate, Jill Banko, because without her there to show me the ropes, I wouldn’t have had such a great experience.  My manager, Mike Figliolia, and my mentor, Kathy DeLacio, were also a big part of why I enjoyed my time at UPMC. They were very approachable and were always willing to dish out some advice and just talk with me about life in supply chain and my future career.  I learned a lot from them throughout the summer, both in casual conversation and in a formal setting.  I was also lucky enough to have a cubicle so close to another Supply Chain Summer Associate, and two Finance Summer Associates, so I always looked forward to coming to work.

I ended up being very comfortable with my position at UPMC, and it was mostly because the Summer Associate program allowed us to have a unique amount of exposure to our departments’ executives.  We had lunches, presentations, and outings designed especially for us to get to know them, take valuable advice, and not see them as intimidating figures. In fact, the Chief Supply Chain Officer, Jim Szilagy, was so approachable and willing to help me get the most out of my time at UPMC that he set up a special tour for me at UPMC Shadyside so I could see how their materials management works.  It is things like that which separate this internship from any other.

In addition, I was given a lot of projects that allowed me to work with different areas within supply chain, and also with a few different departments throughout UPMC which allowed me to gain perspective on what goes into running a top company and supply chain.  Those projects also gave me an insight into the type of work ethic at UPMC.  The office on the 59th floor of the Steel Building is built upon teamwork, and the supply chain is only exceptional because of the amount of cooperation that goes into it between departments and areas.  Everyone is patient, willing to work hard, focused, and laid back, and they passed those traits on to me.  I am proud to have started my career in UPMC’s Corporate Services and recommend the Summer Associates Program to anyone looking for a unique and meaningful experience.

By Camille Scanga, Summer Associate

The Opposite of Busy Work

Two large projects comprised the majority of my internship – I loaded hospital statistics into templates, in two different forms, to be uploaded into the general ledger. This certainly was important work and not an exercise to keep me busy. Other people relied on my information with the assumption my work was without error.

I also worked on many smaller tasks, creating various spreadsheets and charts. My manager would tell me what he wanted in the spreadsheet and why. After I completed the task, I would email it to my manager and we would go over it, checking for mistakes, explaining what everything meant, and the purpose for which it would be used. This brief meeting signaled the end of the project, and that was that.

For the most part, I was not sure what he did with my work, assuming he sent it to whoever needed it. But one day, he added one sentence at the end of our meeting that completely altered my view of my work:
“Send it to Ed.”

Ed Karlovich is the CFO of the Hospital and Community Services Division – the division I worked in – and my boss’s boss. I tried to hide my surprise, but a faint “really?” managed to slip out. The spreadsheet I put together was for Ed Karlovich, CFO of one of the largest divisions of UPMC, someone whom all of the hospital CFO’s report to. And the work I, a simple Finance Summer Associate, put together was directly for him. My surprise shifted to excitement, then to nervousness. I quadruple checked to make sure my work was correct and sent it off, to Ed.

That is the benefit of the UPMC Summer Associates Program, something that differentiates it from all other internships in similar fields. The work you do actually matters. It does not get shuffled into a manila folder and placed in the bottom of a desk drawer, nor saved on some obscure server never to be seen again. Your manager uses it, or sends it off to someone who needs it. And that someone could be anyone; even a CFO.

By Reid Chisholm, Summer Associate

Networking at UPMC

As a Summer Associate at UPMC, it is important to work hard individually and complete meaningful projects as well as develop relationships with your colleagues. Campus Programs set up multiple opportunities for interns to converse with top executives of many departments such as finance, human resources, IT, and marketing. Examples of these exposure opportunities include the Pirates game and Executive Spotlight events. The Pirates game allows summer associates and executives to meet in a fun and casual setting. It is a great time to come together with your fellow interns and co-workers while cheering on the Buccos, and it provides the chance for questions you may have to be answered by executives who were in your position at one point in their career. Parallel, the Executive Spotlight events showcase leaders across a variety of divisions, which allow you to learn more about UPMC as a whole even though you are only interning for one aspect of the company. The series allows interns to ask questions and receive advice from senior management in the different departments.

Networking is important, and as an intern, it is crucial that you step out of your comfort zone in order to set up meetings with your colleagues. It can never hurt to send an email and ask to meet for a lunch date or coffee break. At UPMC, leaders of the various departments want to see you succeed and will meet with you, but cannot if you do not reach out to them! Once you have a meeting time decided, do your “homework” and be prepared with a  few questions you may have for your colleague after researching his/her particular job or department. This shows initiative that you take an interest in the company and want to learn as much as possible in the short period of time that you are interning. In addition, it is important to take notes during your meeting because you are learning from someone who has more experience and knowledge. After your meeting, always make sure to send a follow-up thank you, for that person did not have to meet with you, but chose to.

At UPMC, I made it a personal goal to network with as many executives and employees as possible. I have learned so much from my different meetings, whether with a CFO, manager of a division, or leader in the HR department. Networking provides you opportunities to not only learn something new every day but also to develop relationships that may become valuable in your future career. UPMC executives are leaders of the company and the top leaders in the region; and I am grateful for all of the meetings that I have had during my time as a summer associate.

By Trevor Colvin, Summer Associate

Volunteering at Children’s Hospital and the Summer Carnival

One great aspect of the Summer Associates Program is all of the volunteering opportunities that are available.  There are service events for all UPMC summer associates together across each of the corporate departments; ones organized between the finance management rotation associates (FMRs) and summer associates (SAs), and ones that are specific to only summer associates.

One Tuesday in July, the summer associates spent an afternoon working with kids at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC volunteering at their Summer Carnival.  We arrived early before it began so we could set up games, prizes, and a photo booth in the atrium where the kids could come and have an enjoyable afternoon.  It was a wonderful experience to see the children laughing and smiling with their parents and siblings, running around trying to play all the games and win prizes.  One of the favorite activities seemed to be throwing a whipped cream pie at a police officer.  A little girl walked over to me right after she finished, while still laughing, and asked if she could do it again.  There was also a magic show where kids could come to sit down and relax while they enjoyed Rita’s Italian Ice.  A volunteer even brought around boxes of candy to inpatient rooms where children who were too sick to come downstairs were at, so they could still be a part of the special day.  We stayed afterwards to clean and help put the carnival decorations and games back into storage.

The volunteer events, that peer-elected service chairs work so hard to organize, are a great aspect to the Summer Associates Program at UPMC.  Throughout college, many of us have been involved with countless service activities.  This was a way for us to continue to giving back, but also meet people from the different divisions of the hospitals and catch up with other SAs at different locations.

By  Sammi Layo, Summer Associate

Summer Associate Experience

During my summer I was fortunate enough to spend time in various Value Analysis Team (VAT )meetings and learn about how these teams contribute to UPMC.  These teams, created for specific areas of medicine, meet once every month to discuss new upcoming products for their areas, products not preforming, and reexamine products. VAT teams include the pediatric VAT, respiratory VAT, IV VAT and many more.

The VAT meetings really opened my eyes to how much research, trial and thought goes into choosing the products in UPMC hospitals. I loved working with doctors and nurses to see how supply chain and the hospitals work together to make sure everyone agrees. I also loved the chance to work with vendors coming to share their newest product with us. Until now, I had never had real life experience working with suppliers, which is a big part of the supply chain process. My favorite part of the VAT meetings is learning about new medical products and how medical supplies work. My classes at Penn State are business focused, and I’ve never had any experience in the medical field so it was cool to combine the knowledge I’ve gained from college and the new things I’m learning about medical supplies to make a final decision on products.

By Mollie Mellott, Summer Associate

Surviving and Thriving as a Summer Associate

For those of you lucky enough to be in the next wave of summer associates, get ready: you’re about to embark on an exciting, meaningful, eye-opening, and often overwhelming summer at UPMC. You’re going to learn more than you probably thought possible—about your specific department, UPMC as a whole, and the corporate world at large. You’re going to discover what areas suit you and which just aren’t your style. And while your experience will undoubtedly be unique, I hope my time at UPMC can help prepare you for yours. So, from a veteran to the rookies, here is a brief guide to surviving and thriving as a summer associate:

1. First things first: if you’re working in the Steel building, prepare to be outsmarted by the elevators. Many of you are probably wondering, how did a girl who gets befuddled by elevators land an internship at UPMC? Trust me, I’m not the only one. This may not make sense now, but remember this for your first day: look for the hand sanitizer; if you can see it from your elevator on the first floor, turn left when you get upstairs; if you don’t see it, turn right. Plenty of us have turned out of the elevator only to walk toward doors that don’t actually open. And elevator doors close slowly, so anyone still on the elevator will see you turn around and walk to the correct doors.

2. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. You won’t know everything coming into this program, and no one expects you to. Everyone I’ve met here is incredibly friendly and happy to help when you’re feeling lost, so never feel like you can’t seek them out for guidance.

3. Take advantage of all the networking opportunities this internship provides. You’ll have several opportunities to meet managers, directors, and executives throughout your summer at UPMC. You never want to force networking, but do take advantage of being able to get to know and learn from these people. Attend as many networking events as possible and ask questions whenever you get the chance.

4. I don’t want to play favorites, but as a former Marketing and Communications summer associate, I can’t help but offer some advice on spending a summer in the cave. That’s right future Marketing and Communications interns, you’ll be spending your summer in what’s been deemed the cave. To paint a picture, this summer there are 12 of us in a small conference room. Almost any time a manager enters the cave they note how quiet we are, and I’m still not really sure how it always works out this way.  When the door’s closed we’re usually turning the stress balls that are meant to calm us down into weapons that we launch at one another. Oh, and if anyone brings in something sugary for us, all bets are off. One day, three of us surprised the group with treats, and it was pandemonium. Given that we are, in fact, expected to get work done amidst all the chaos that is the cave, you probably won’t be surprised that I recommend bringing headphones for when you really need to focus or when, let’s face, the other associates are driving you crazy.

5. Don’t be glued to your cell phone. An executive recently told us he notices employees our age are constantly on their phones. Even though you may be checking your UPCM inbox, your managers don’t necessarily know or assume you’re being productive on your cell. Use it when you need to, but do be aware that when older generations see college kids on their cells phones there’s a good chance they assume you’re “twittering” or “facesnapbookchatting.”

6. Be open-minded. Many of you will come into this program thinking you know exactly what kind of work you want to do throughout this summer and beyond, but your goals and interests may change. Let them! Try new things. Say yes to assignments that weren’t on your radar. Shadow someone in a different department. The only way you’ll ever really know if you’re in the right position is if you try them all.

7. Every day from 2-3, pastries in the MyHealth café are only $1. Just sayin.

8. Always carry a pen and paper. You never want to be in the position where everyone else is taking notes and you’re awkwardly trying to figure out what to do with your hands or worse, having someone give you an assignment that you then forget because you didn’t write it down. Even if you’re just going to be talking to someone briefly, it’s always better to be over-prepared than under-prepared.

9. Get to know the other summer associates. You may be dreaming of rubbing elbows with all the impressive managers and executives you’ll be meeting, but your fellow summer associates are impressive, too! I’ve learned so much from the wonderful, talented interns I’m lucky enough to work with, and you will, too.

10. Have fun! So cliché, I know, but in the end are you really going to remember that Excel sheet you put together, or are you going to look back on this summer and remember the overall feel of it? Work hard, of course, but stay sane, too. Besides, if you’re not enjoying your time at UPMC, chances are you aren’t putting out your best work.

I hope these tips help you make the most of your summer at UPMC!

By Molly Skubak, Summer Associate