If you thought working with the Health Care Industry is a cakewalk, you got to think twice

B,Tech. Biotechnology student Disha talks of her challenging and fulfilling Industry Practice stint with Apollo Hospitals

Healthcare sector in India has possibly not been in the spotlight as much as it is today. Doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers are on the frontline keeping people safe during COVID-19 pandemic. The opportunity to pursue her Industry Practice with Apollo Hospitals has been an eye opening experience for Disha Chichghare. The B.Tech. Biotechnology student of NIIT University says, “I had very wrong preconceived notions about the health sector in India. The notions have drastically changed after getting hands-on experience and doing tasks on the field.”

We want to know about her experiences and changing perceptions. But we start at the beginning asking Disha how the internship came about. She informs us that after CV shortlisting and Personal Interview followed by HR interview, she was picked for Operations and Quality role in the organization. “Since it was a new field for me, at first I didn’t know what would be expected of me. But within a week I gained momentum and began to plan my project better with my mentor’s help,” she admits claiming that improvising on the field is the key to internship success.

During her Industry Practice Disha is handling vital responsibilities that include smoothening the process of patient handling and learning about all management sectors at various levels in the hospital. She believes the experience is offering her valuable insights into Hospital Management and Healthcare sector although there are challenges along the way. “There were times when patient care would have been compromised due to staff crunch in departments. It required optimization and management to avoid hindrance of functioning at nursing stations,” she adds.

It’s a tough balancing act in a sector that is stretched thin at the best of times. Disha is handling her responsibilities admirably with a little push from her NIIT University CIC representative. She reveals that he helped her make the internship choice from various options by asking her, “How would my current IP choice help me in accomplishing my future goals? He kept encouraging me to look at the bigger picture and focus on how it would impact things in the long run. I think I made the right choice, as demanding as it might seem like at the moment.”

Disha describes her Industry Practice as a unique learning experience because it’s a blend of technical and non-technical aspects. New challenges, new issues to be solved, new complaints to resolve, always keep her on her toes. “I am never confined to a desk. The job demands high alertness and observation skills. I have gained immense self-confidence, understanding of corporate behavior, and high level strategic management skills. I believe these skills will help me immensely in my career,” she says. At this rate, no doubt her career is in the pink of health.