Healthcare administration interns learn perioperative analytics in the Department of Anesthesiology

The UF Department of Anesthesiology’s M500 consulting group is a robust healthcare administration internship and fellowship program that supports the department’s perioperative analytics team and provides students with a unique opportunity to learn about the intricacies of healthcare administration in a real-world setting.

A long-running, data-driven internship

The program, now in its second decade, was created to cultivate the technical expertise and support needed to effectively engage with the data side of healthcare administration, as well as to facilitate mentorship opportunities for University of Florida students interested in careers in a healthcare administration setting.

M500 members perform perioperative analytics across the administrative spectrum, from fiscal to clinical data.

Katie Cairnes, MHA, assistant director of healthcare administration in the Department of Anesthesiology, said the M500 program is one of the reasons the department is able to quickly and consistently work with complex data sets.

“Everybody needs data, but pulling it can be a very nuanced process,” she said. “The M500 interns are really invested in learning about analytics and they’re very helpful in handling the high volume of data requests that our department handles on a day-to-day basis. Other departments may focus more on financial and budget data, but when it comes to pulling clinical and operational data I think we’re ahead of the game.”

"The #1 selling point of the internship is the real hands-on experience and projects. You can see the impact you’ve had and the value you’ve added to the department."

Lian Norris, MHA, M500 administrative fellow

M500 fall 2024

Impactful and hands-on training

Consistent support from Department of Anesthesiology leadership has been integral to the success of the program.

“The interns offer so much benefit to the department,” Cairnes said, “and the work they do is really impactful. Oftentimes, departmental leadership will come to us with a problem and ask for data that will provide insight and inform the decision-making process. The M500 group then has opportunities to present solutions directly to departmental leadership; that kind of face time isn’t something you get in every internship program.”

Lian Norris, MHA, a former intern and current administrative fellow with the M500 group, agreed.

“The #1 selling point of the internship is the real hands-on experience and projects. You can see the impact you’ve had and the value you’ve added to the department. You might not get that experience as an intern in other places and I think that’s really special here.”

Opportunities to do varied work in real-world settings means M500 interns have the ability to do work tailored to their interests. Norris credited her experience in the group with helping her develop a broad set of skills.

“Early in my internship, I expressed an interest in financial projects and had opportunities to do work in that area,” she said. “Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to also work in operations, finance, and research, and I’ve enjoyed all of it. That’s the benefit of a well-rounded program like this one.”

Well positioned for the future

Jaqueline and Mary win first place
Jacqueline Banas and Mary Alfano (left), students in the University of Florida’s MHA. program and current M500 interns, won first place at the 8th Annual Robbins Case Competition in Healthcare Management.

Fellowship and job placement among students who complete the internship is consistently high, and Cairnes keeps in touch with a network of former interns and administrative fellows that grows larger and more comprehensive each year.

 “There are former M500 members in some really great programs all over the country,” she said, “and when one of our interns is considering the next stages of their journey, be that a fellowship or a career position, I’m usually able to set up a meeting. It’s really great to have such a supportive network.”

Brandon Peckham, MHA, is a former M500 administrative fellow and the current vice chair for finance and administration in the Department of Anesthesiology.

“M500 was pivotal in shaping my understanding of the nuanced interplay between clinical operations and strategic data utilization and the importance of collaboration to apply meaning to data beyond the numbers,” said Peckham.

“Now, as vice chair, I see the program’s deep impact on our organizational culture: it fosters innovation, a spirit of inquiry, and a commitment to excellence that aligns with the overarching goals of UF Health and the College of Medicine. M500 prepares future leaders and actively shapes the future of healthcare by embedding a deep understanding of how data informs clinical excellence and patient-centered care.”

Learn more about the Department of Anesthesiology’s Healthcare Administration Internship.