[caption id="attachment_11850" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] The first set of students to arrive for the HSA Summer Student Internship Programme.[/caption] After a one-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the Health Service Authority (HSA) relaunched their annual summer internship programme for 2021, providing approximately 80 college and high school students the opportunity to get hands-on experience in a variety of departments in the medical care field.Those who were interested in the internship programme applied either online or in-person. Students had the option to choose what most aligned with their interest from over 16 departments, which include Nursing Administration, Physician Services, Biomed and Information Technology. Placements are set to last between 4 to 6 weeks, each with a different starting and ending date.The purpose of the HSA Summer Internship is to help guide young Caymanians with the knowledge and training they would need before entering the world of work. Eye Clinic intern Kimberly Sterling, who attends Glasgow Caledonian University, shared why she decided to return to HSA for an internship.[caption id="attachment_11848" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Eye Clinic Intern Kimberly Sterling using equipment in the Lions Eye Clinic.[/caption] HSA has the best ophthalmologists and ophthalmic technicians and I have learnt a lot from them. This is the reason Ive decided to return to the eye clinic since my first summer internship experience with them in 2019, she said. I am an optometry student in my third year and working at the eye clinic has taught me so much. I plan on applying my knowledge.The internship programme has also provided others such as Dayger Martinez-Taylor with an understanding of the importance of non-clinical departments to the Authority. Ive learned so much since starting my internship in Marketing and Communications. It gave me the chance to see how important marketing is for any business or hospital. Being here has also helped me develop my creative and critical thinking skills, which is essential for any field. Ive received great advice and support from the staff in my department and would definitely love to work here in the future, he shared.The HSA has made it their responsibility that each intern has an interactive but safe experience within the duration of the programme. This summer, we are ensuring that all our interns are placed in a safe environment with adequate opportunities within their departments for their educational growth, said Chief Human Resources Officer Samantha Bennett. We at HSA are determined to offer our professional guidance in any way possible and are thoroughly pleased with this years interns display on achieving their goals.[caption id="attachment_11849" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Marketing and Communications Intern Dayger Martinez-Taylor recording Corporate Services Intern Halle Miller for a promotional video.[/caption] For more information on our annual HSA Summer Internship, visit www.hsa.ky or call (345) 244-2684. NOTE: NOTE: This press release was written by Marketing and Communication Intern Dayger Martinez-Taylor.