I interned with Geisinger Health's IT department. They utilize Microsoft's .NET Framework, a development platform that utilizes languages such C# and F#. My main task was to modify an existing website using ASP.NET, a web development platform within .NET. I also had to work with Microsoft SQL (pronounced 'sequel') databases.
My site supervisor was Mike Trelease. He was very accommodating and a pleasure to work with. On a day-to-day basis, however, I spent most of my time working with Brian Burgit. He taught me the process of creating some sort of application and bringing it to production. This involved having meetings to ensure that my product was solving the needed problems and getting my code reviewed to ensure that there were no errors in my code. He was also patient and gave me time to familiarize myself with new tools.
The website I modified was connected to a database that held information about benefit documents. Previously, whenever a new one was created, it was sent over to one person who manually entered the information into the database and uploaded the file to a server. My goal was to remove this inefficiency by allowing the documents to be uploaded to the server at the same time the database was updated. I also implemented automatic termination of old documents whenever a newer version was uploaded. Now, instead of all the work being done by one person, individuals can upload benefit documents themselves. This removes a lot of tedium and allows for a more efficient use of time. However, because of this change, I had to ensure that the file names followed a strict naming convention, since they could no longer be individually verified.
Prior to this internship, I had limited experience with web development and working databases, both of which this project relied on. I had to learn quickly and problem-solve effectively in order to meet the demands of this role. I remember before my internship began, I spent hours each day going through various tutorials to make sure I knew as much as possible and that there would not be much catching up to do. In addition to expanding my technical abilities, I also learned how to work as a software developer in a team. At university, most of my work is done alone, at a much smaller scale, and with a clearer framework (i.e. I am able to somewhat check if my code is correct using given tests). This experience showed me what software development looks like in a corporate setting, from the communication to all of the practices that ensure a high quality product.
This internship opened my eyes to how computer science can be used in almost every field. When I think of the healthcare industry, I think of nurses, doctors, and medicine. Computer science and programming does not typically come to mind, but I can now see its wide-ranging applications. Behind the scenes, healthcare organizations rely heavily on data management, software systems, and web infrastructure to operate efficiently. From managing patient records to supporting internal communication and streamlining workflows, computer science plays a vital role in keeping everything running smoothly.
Prior to this internship, I was on the machine learning track of the computer science major. However, now I am on the general track. I realized that what I enjoy doing is software development, even if it is a more competitive and saturated field. I also find this experience invaluable for my future career. Having an internship is obviously good for a resume, but the skills I learned will undoubtedly help me in my next opportunity.