WSU Spokane student selected for Administrative Summer Internship program at OHSU

Ashley Bezotte (left), a student in the Health Policy and Administration (HPA) department at WSU Spokane, was one of 15 students accepted into the Administrative Summer Internship Program at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU).

Bezotte was one of 200 that applied for 15 spots. She’ll work in the Operations Compliance department at the OHSU clinic.

“I was drawn to OHSU specifically because the Administrative Internship looked well-structured and working directly with your assigned department for 10 weeks peaked my interests,” she said.

Bezotte added that the project-based assignments each department assigns to an intern interested her. She’ll present to other interns and departments at the end of each project.

“I think OHSU will provide the necessary experience and skills that I need for my future endeavors in health care administration,” she said.

Bezotte was able to land the coveted internship after working with WSU Spokane staff in Student Affairs, as well as her professor. In Student Affairs, Tera Lessard, the learning and career specialist, and Jack Downs, the writing specialist, helped Ashley craft her resume and responses to questions OHSU posed to her. Her professor, Brenda Parnell, also helped her prepare for the interview.

Bezotte benefited from using those resources in Student Affairs and in the HPA department. She also wowed the interviewers by committing to an in-person interview.

“I had a project timeline that I went over with both Tera and Brenda, and I think that was what set me apart from the other applicants,” she said. “I also came with specific questions about the project from a little bit of research. Instead of opting for a video call interview, I drove from Spokane and back the same day and they thought that was really cool.”

Bezotte would like to live in the Vancouver, Wash. and Portland, Ore. area and look for health care administration jobs, like human resources. The internship at OHSU will go a long way in achieving those goals.

“I not only want to gain essential skills and experience, but I hope to make connections for future Cougar healthcare leaders that would like to reside in the Vancouver and Portland area,” she said. “I’m super excited for this internship.”