Ana Abrahamson '27: A Trial in Health Care Operations

That combination was key for Ana Abrahamson ’27, a management major with a concentration in health care management. This summer, Abrahamson completed an internship at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute within the Gynecologic Oncology Unit.

Assisting the Administrative Director of Disease Operations, Abrahamson put her skillset to the test – and made great strides at finding her footing within one of the nation’s top health care facilities.

Wearing many hats in the role, Abrahamson got a comprehensive view of the ins-and-outs of a number of responsibilities at the institution, learning by doing and by connecting with colleagues.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better [internship] experience,” she said, “it was so beneficial to see all these health care positions in the real world, the paths you can take, and the work it takes to move up the ladder.”

As someone who hoped to pursue a career in health care but not in a patient-facing role, Emmanuel’s health care management concentration was the perfect avenue for Abrahamson. With such a vibrant health care ecosystem in Boston, she emphasized how important it is that her major at Emmanuel is tailored to supporting that ecosystem and prepares students to get the most out of the opportunities that exist within it.

On the job, her day-to-day would range anywhere from organizing and processing transfer of care documents to managing coverage forms and scheduling for hospital employees. Abrahamson even tried her hand in marketing and content creation, building a social media calendar and preparing social media posts for her unit.

“Emmanuel really did prepare me for this,” Abrahamson said, recalling how useful courses like Intro to Business or Managerial Accounting had been for building her skillset. “I might’ve been lost in this role without that!”

In addition to approaching core management principles like operations, communications and efficiency through a health care lens, the Emmanuel’s interdisciplinary structure helps students tap into School of Science & Health courses, which broadened Abrahamson’s understanding of the role she can play in the health care ecosystem.

“Even though I’m not going into direct patient care, the infectious diseases course – learning how diseases spread, are treated, and affect health care systems – gave me knowledge that is pivotal in a health care management role,” she said.

With her first true health care work experience under her belt, Abrahamson is looking forward to graduating in December and hopes to remain in the Longwood Medical Area for the start of her career in 2027.

She's optimistic that she'll be able to continue work at Dana-Farber too – and is eager to pick up right where she left off this summer.