Second-Year M.H.A. Student Explores All Sides of Health Administration During Internship

01/27/2025

Second-year M.H.A. student Spencer Shreve got a first-hand look at all sides of the health administration world while completing his internship at the University of Colorado Health in Colorado Springs last summer.

Master of Health Administration students at Saint Louis University complete a 12-week internship with senior leaders in many of the nation’s top health systems and health care organizations. Internship experiences are based on students’ individual goals, objectives and preferences. 

For Shreve, this was an opportunity to explore different places and regions to work and live in. Colorado Springs was a perfect place for him to spend the summer of 2024. 

Shreve experienced several aspects of a health system. From working in the cafeteria to presenting to senior leadership with large capital presentations, he developed a full-scale understanding for how the concepts and skills from the classroom translate into practice. 

During his internship, Shreve witnessed a major transition in senior leadership at the hospital, which was a valuable lesson for him. A few weeks into the summer, his preceptor, the chief operating officer, left the organization.

“There was a period where I didn’t have anyone I was reporting to directly so I had to kind of take initiative and figure out where my projects were going, which was a challenge but a great learning experience for me,” Shreve said. 

The preparation to interview and apply for internships began months in advance. Shreve knew he wanted to explore a health system outside of the St. Louis region and that the internship market was competitive in Colorado. Through the MHA program, there are several courses and professional development opportunities that help students like Shreve develop personal statements and tools to help equip them for such competition. 

For Shreve, this preparation proved vital as he worked directly with C-suite individuals, physicians, and nurses on projects.

Shreve shared that at first, it was a pretty intimidating environment and it was difficult to not take work home. 

“Halfway through, I eventually learned to separate work from life. Being in Colorado, I had so many things to do and be outside and just enjoy the summer weather,” he said. 

 “My time at UC Health and in Colorado Springs was extremely instrumental in preparing me for the future," Shreve said. "Taking things we learned in the classroom and working on it at UC Health, I was able to understand it in a real-life sense, and that accelerated and expanded my knowledge so much further than a traditional classroom environment.” 

College for Public Health and Social Justice

The Saint Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice is the only academic unit of its kind, studying social, environmental and physical influences that together determine the health and well-being of people and communities. It also is the only accredited school or college of public health among nearly 250 Catholic institutions of higher education in the United States. Guided by a mission of social justice and focus on finding innovative and collaborative solutions for complex health problems, the college offers nationally recognized programs in public health and health administration.