Lehigh Valley health policy student completes internship at Reading Hospital

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — Aurianna Roche, Penn State class of 2025 in health policy administration, is ready to walk across the stage at commencement and begin her career as a health care leader. 

Roche, who graduates this spring, chose Penn State Lehigh Valley (PSU-LV) because the campus was close to her home in Allentown and offered both flexibility and a challenging HPA program, she said. 

“PSU-LV prepared me to be a health care leader,” Roche said. “It exceeded my expectations because of the opportunities it’s given to me.” 

She had high praise for Anita Yuskauskas, HPA program coordinator and assistant teaching professor, and Beth Greenberg, HPA program lecturer, who invited Roche to be part of a panel presentation at a Lehigh Valley Health Network Symposium in Hazleton. 

“Both Anita and Beth are very supportive. They both teach courses, so you really build that relationship with your advisor and internship coordinator,” Roche said. “Beth provided me with personal support and guidance when searching for an internship and checked in during my [internship] experience.”

The foundational skills Roche developed in her health policy administration (HPA) courses at Penn State Lehigh Valley (PSU-LV) along with the real-world skills she honed through her internship at Reading Hospital/Tower Health have equipped her with the tools she will need to embark on her professional path, she said.

Roche found her Health Equity internship at Reading Hospital’s Community Health and Wellness department through Penn State Lehigh Valley’s internship database. The Community Health and Wellness department focuses on promoting the well-being of those who may have identified a certain social detriment of health need (SDoH), such as housing, food, transportation, electricity, and safety. As a health equity intern, Roche took the lead on the Diabetes Disparities Action Plan, completing 29 interception surveys from consumers who suffer from a diabetic condition or complication while forming relationships in the community. 

“It gave me the opportunity to establish relationship with those in need,” she said.

Roche’s internship strengthened her existing skills and helped build new ones in areas like marketing, public speaking, and strategic communications. Above all, she learned to be adaptable and think on her feet. 

“Working in a constantly evolving field, you have to be adaptable in different situations,” she said.

Courses like HPA 395 helped Roche prepare for the internship application process. 

“Other HPA courses including HPA 430 and 460 can enhance my overall knowledge of different strategies, interventions and skills pertaining to healthcare leadership and HR competencies within the United States; however, I believe that all of the HPA courses offered have been beneficial to my professional development,” she said.

After completing her internship, Roche is now looking ahead towards life post-graduation. Thanks to her experience at Reading Hospital, Roche said she plans to pursue a career in HR, public health, or as a practice administrator specializing in oncology or women’s health.

She strongly urged fellow PSU-LV students to complete an internship, regardless of major. 

“Internships will allow you to network and establish connections with leaders of organizations,” she said. 

Roche added that the skills she acquired will be invaluable in her public health career, as well.

“I can apply my educational background and experience from my internship at Tower Health to solve a variety of complex issues within the healthcare industry,” she said. “Furthermore, my internship has allowed me to gain additional skills to enhance my professional development pertaining to my future career within the healthcare field.”