CharmHealth, a leading provider of healthcare technology solutions, has launched its first internship program to train the healthtech leaders of tomorrow.
The paid program provides attendees with valuable practical experience and exposure to different aspects of the healthcare journey. Undergraduate and graduate students from NYU, Georgia Tech, University of Colorado Boulder, Ohlone College, and more are part of the initial cohort.
CharmHealth’s internship program debuted in a year when the total number of internships available to college students dropped by 7%, while the number of applications for each open position increased by more than 75%. By launching the program this year, CharmHealth seized an opportunity to welcome new perspectives into the healthtech landscape, as students who may not have considered the industry previously can now recognize the incredible innovation taking place and how their skills could contribute to advancing care.
As part of the program, interns are mentored by CharmHealth leaders so that they may build a fresh understanding of the unique issues healthcare providers, practices, vendors and patients face as well as the role innovation plays in overcoming these challenges. CharmHealth partnered with the Joy Thomas Foundation and Growth Sector to get the program off the ground.
The Joy Thomas Foundation was created in 2020 to honor the life and legacy of Joy Thomas, an Indian American STEM genius. As a world-renowned researcher at Stanford University, IBM, and across multiple Silicon Valley tech startups as a founder and entrepreneur, Joy made seminal contributions in the field of information theory, data analytics, and large-scale data mining. As part of JTF’s College STEM Program, CharmHealth connects with socially and economically disadvantaged, first-generation students at specific educational institutions. Together with educational partners and industry leaders like NASA, California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), Lawrence Livermore National Lab, and others, Growth Sector makes success in STEM accessible for all. Its model centers around community colleges and creating pathways for students of all backgrounds to earn the degrees required to be competitive in STEM fields.
“The Joy Thomas Foundation is dedicated to uplifting underserved students and their families through impactful STEM careers. In the San Francisco Bay Area, we partner with Growth Sector to assist community college students, a population often overlooked, with crucial STEM learning opportunities like paid bridge programs and internships,” said Shyam Pillalamarri, CEO of the Joy Thomas Foundation. “JTF is pleased to include CharmHealth in our network as we reach into the community college system and expand our internship and mentorship opportunities for local students.”
CharmHealth’s internship program is another example of the company’s commitment to cultivating the leaders of tomorrow. The company also holds an annual Innovation Challenge, through which it provides a platform for innovators, entrepreneurs, students, nonprofits and philanthropists to share groundbreaking ideas with the investors, incubators and partners who can bring them to market and effectively advance care. The company will be selecting this year’s winners on Aug. 24 at a special event in Washington, D.C.
“Through our internship program, we identify, mentor and help train the next generation of healthcare innovators, offering opportunities at a time when the broader tech industry is contracting,” said Pramila Srinivasan, Ph.D., CEO of CharmHealth. “Working with the Joy Thomas Foundation and Growth Sector, we can also provide fulfilling experiences to deserving STEM students who may not otherwise have access or connections to secure paid internships.”
Source: Businesswire
