High-impact learning takes many forms, the chief of which are internships. From summer programs to longer-term academic credit opportunities, internships provide invaluable real-world experience. They also enhance employability and career prospects.
Studies show that internships—paid or unpaid, virtual or in-person—facilitate post-graduate success.
“I have a passion for medicine,” says Shelby Fenton ’25, G’26, who interns at St. Mary’s Hospital and Healthcare Network in eastern New York.
Shelby Fenton ’25, G’26 is a testament to the power of accelerated learning. In May, she graduates from Falk College with a bachelor’s degree in public health—part of a five-year, combined degree program culminating in an MPH. Fenton is on track to finish a year early.
“I’m getting a jump on med school,” says the native of Amsterdam, New York. “I’m interested in both the science and practice of public health.”
Amsterdam figures prominently in Fenton’s academic career, which has included internships at St. Mary’s Hospital and Healthcare Network. Currently a patient care technician at St. Mary’s, she’s used one of her internships there to implement Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiatives.
“I have a passion for medicine,” says Fenton, who also has volunteered at Global Medical Brigades and SUNY Upstate Medical University Hospital. “My internships have strengthened my leadership, problem-solving and patient advocacy skills.”
Fenton lauds Syracuse University for its social justice approach to public health. She’s fiercely committed to wiping out health inequities while finding ways for physicians and public health practitioners to collaborate more effectively.
“Public health involves diverse voices, experiences and perspectives,” Fenton observes. “I’m honored to see some of my ideas already take shape within hospital policy.”
