INROADS exists to give minority students the skills to navigate Corporate America while K.P. L.A.U.N.C.H. provides the opportunity to exercise these skills at Kaiser Permanente. These excelling students are among the INROADS/K.P. L.A.U.N.C.H. interns for Summer 2018.
concentration in Financial Accounting
(Walnut Center)
Number of Summers with INROADS: 2
Name: Aric Allen Burks
College: Arizona State University
Classification: 5th year senior
Major: Sustainability
Department at KP: Environmental Health & Safety
(Downey)
Number of Summers with KP: 2
Number of Summers with INROADS: 3
“My parents are both INROADS alumni, but I was never fully aware of the impact INROADS had on their careers. Since joining INROADS, I’ve had a platform to develop myself and I’ve been prepared for my career through hands-on training and learning experiences associated with my major. I have met so many amazing people who continue to support me as I grow into my career and reach my full potential. The insights and experiences that I have gained during my internship at Kaiser Permanente have undoubtedly exceeded the expectations that I had, and I am truly honored to have been a part of this community.”
Name: Journey Benson
College: California State University, Long Beach
Classification: Rising Senior
Major: Psychology
Department at KP: Human Resources
(South Bay Medical Center)
Number of Summers with KP: 2
Number of Summers with INROADS: 2
“I do have a two-year-old son who is a huge motivation to be successful… I have always wanted to work for Kaiser Permanente because I have grown up utilizing KP’s medical services. I love INROADS because it provides opportunity for college students!”
Name: Isabella “Bella” Conferti
College: University of Oregon
Classification: Rising Senior
Major: Public Relations and Advertising
Department at KP: Public Affairs/ Community Benefit (Santa Ana)
Number of Summers with KP: 2
Number of Summers with INROADS: 2
“My internship with Kaiser Permanente gave me the chance to experience how Public Relations plays a role in the healthcare industry. I have been given hands-on involvement and the opportunity to apply classroom skills to real-world situations. Most importantly, interning at Kaiser Permanente helped me develop a professional skill set. Prior to my internship, I had never worked in an office environment so I felt unprepared and unsure of what to expect. However, INROADS training gave me confidence and I developed the professional skills needed to be successful.”
Number of Summers with INROADS: 1
Number of Summers with INROADS: 1
Number of Summers with INROADS: 1
“I had a non-traditional transition from high school to college. I was a year younger when I graduated high school, so I decided to take a gap year and work. I reapplied to schools and decided to go to UC Berkeley. Due to these circumstances, I was looking to find a person or organization to help me find internships and jobs. Luckily, a friend referred me to Inroads. My experience has been nothing short of amazing; I work close to home in a professional and competitive environment in which I learn, grow, and develop every day. I work in the National Compliance, Ethics and Integrity Office where I perform data analysis, audit hospital claims, create daily progress reports, and learn from my multiple superiors.”
Number of Summers with INROADS: 4
Number of Summers with INROADS:3
Name: Christine Abbott
College: University of Southern California
Classification: Rising Sophomore
Major: Business Administration
Department at KP: Financial Planning and Analysis
Number of Summers with KP: 1
Number of Summers with INROADS: 1
” I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to work at Kaiser Permanente and learn about the different functions of the FP&A department, including the budge and rate setting processes, the different metric used to elevate medical centers, and the variance analyses that help departments understand their finances. I am confident that the technical and interpersonal skills I have developed during my internship will benefit me as i go forward in college and in my career.”
Name: Bria Toms
College: San Jose State University
Classification: Rising Sophomore
Major: Pre-Med Psychology with a concentration in Spanish
Department at KP: Obstetrics/ Gynecology
Number of Summers with KP: 3
Number of Summers with INROADS: 1
” I started at Kaiser Permanente as a Summer Youth intern then transitioned to the Administration Specialist for the Summer Youth Employment Program. Furthermore, I was introduced to the INROADS program through the Summer Youth Program. After my first semester of college I applied to the INROADS program, and I was granted an internship. This summer is my first summer as an INROADS intern, and I couldn’t be anymore happy to finish the work I have started as a summer youth intern in the OBGYN department. The INROADS program has enhanced and taught me so many skills that are imperative in the workforce. I am excited and blessed to be apart of such an amazing program”
Name: Kevin Wu
College: University of California, Riverside
Classification: Rising junior
Major: Business Finance
Department at KP: Revenue Cycle
Number of Summers with KP: 1
Number of Summers with INROADS: 2
“My experience with Kaiser Permanente as a INROADS intern has been life-changing. I have gotten many opportunities to work on projects and assignments with other professionals. Some of my projects include: creating a tool to simplify reporting processes, analyzing large quantities of data and making reports based off my analysis. These opportunities have encouraged me to pursue a career path that I might not have known without the help of the INROADS program.”
Number of Summers with INROADS: 1
College: California State University, Northridge
Classification: Graduating Senior
Major: Public Health
Department at KP: Diversity, Inclusion, & Health Equity (Panorama City)
Number of Summers with KP: 2
Number of Summers with INROADS: 2
“INROADS’ mission statement to develop talented under-served youth and prepare them for corporate and community leadership speaks volumes to me. As a first-generation Latina from an under-served community, I struggled to find opportunities to explore health-related career options and lacked access to professionals who could guide me. INROADS helped me reach the opportunity I needed to advance my career. My internship at Kaiser Permanente provided me with a platform where I could make mistakes, while learning from them and growing professionally. Through my internship, I have gained valuable work experience and developed strong interpersonal, technical, and functional skills. Without the knowledge and guidance from my INROADS mentors, I would not be where I am today. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with both Kaiser Permanente and INROADS.”
College: California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Classification: Graduating Senior
Major: Finance
Department at KP: Administration
Number of Summers with KP: 1
Number of Summers with INROADS: 1
“I am truly grateful that I was given an opportunity to join the INROADS family as rising senior because the program has allowed me to create a framework in which I can plan, prioritize, and execute goals. Furthermore, the training that I have been provided with goes unmatched and empowered me to become a confident leader who can adapt to the needs of any dynamic work environment. Conversely, I will forever cherish and value the people I have met along the way and the network that I have been blessed with and am a part of. Lastly, interning at Kaiser Permanente has been an amazing experience on its own. For example, Kaiser Permanente’s ultimate goal of unlocking communities and individuals potential to thrive while being a complete and trusted partner in their total health, align with my own personal values and beliefs. Overall, I could not have asked for a better Summer to start my senior year with! Thank you INROADS! Thank you Kaiser Permanente!”
Name: Tunika Onnekikami
College: University of Pennsylvania
Classification: Rising Junior
Major: Considering a major in
Science, Technology, and Society
Department at KP: Public Affairs (Downey)
Number of Summers with KP: 2
Number of Summers with INROADS: 2
“INROADS is so beneficial…it’s a great program to be a part of because of the resources that are opened up to you. Not only are you introduced to a huge network of students and professionals alike, but you also really learn what it means to be in a corporate setting.”
College: California State University, Los Angeles
Classification: Rising Senior
Major: Accounting
Department at KP: Total Compensation (Walnut Center)
Number of Summers with KP: 2
Number of Summers with INROADS: 2