Spring 2023 Health Informatics graduate Alyssa Vicino (left) with Assistant Professor Kim Peterson and BSHI graduate Grace Rousseau
Upon acceptance into the University of Pittsburgh Health Informatics (HI) undergraduate program my sophomore year, I really had no idea what to expect. I figured maybe I’d end up part of hospital management or--best case scenario--become a hospital administrator. The program enabled me to dive deeper into an industry I didn’t think I would be capable of working in, and I had no idea I could become a data analyst. Throughout my first semester of study, I realized that I was gaining the credentials to sit in meetings with managers and partners in the consulting world.
During my junior year, I applied to multiple companies in a variety of industries for my internship. Deloitte, a highly regarded consulting firm with fantastic credentials, emailed me back for an interview. I went into an intensive week of interview preparation filled with HI faculty and advisor meetings. After meeting with Deloitte, I accepted an offer in their Summer Scholar Program about a month later.
Throughout my spring semester, I took courses without knowing how relevant they would be during my summer internship. At Deloitte, I was able to grasp conversations about data and make the best impression possible. Deloitte did a great job of matching me to a client relevant to my background, and I was able to fit right into the team environment. I worked on project proposals, created deliverables from client workshop data, and overall deepened my understanding of technology implementation in a large-scale business setting. After a summerlong investigation into the consulting world, I determined this is something I’d want to be a part of. The collaborative setting was perfect for me, and I was well-prepared for it because of the HI program. The smooth transition kept me relaxed and enabled me to experience as little imposter syndrome as humanly possible, especially as a health and rehabilitation science student in the world of business!
As I walked into my decision meeting on the last day of my internship in August, I was nervous. I fulfilled my team’s needs and definitely learned plenty of new skills on the job, yet there was so much on the line. Walking out, I was able to share nothing but amazing news--I received a fantastic offer! Upon graduation in the spring, I will be joining Deloitte as a full-time systems analyst. Since my offer, I have only become more confident going into the workforce. My senior year in the Pitt Health Informatics program has been phenomenal preparation. I truly cannot express how important the program has been in my achievements. A degree in Health Informatics has been my greatest academic accomplishment.
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Written by:
Alyssa Vicino (BS ‘23)
Graduate of the University of Pittsburgh Health Informatics program
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Published May 10, 2023