An Internship Helps Form Career Decisions

“I majored in biology with the intention of becoming a doctor and had the opportunity to shadow a few during an internship,” Melissa says. “I learned that I had a lot of respect for what they do but realized it wasn’t something I would want to do forever. On the other hand, I discovered that I really liked working in hospitals, so I find my current job to be a happy medium.”

Melissa says her education helps her communicate well in her role as project manager at Epic Systems. She says she is able to speak on the same level with clinicians because of her experiences in human anatomy and medical terminology classes at Luther. She says, “I work with one of Epic’s laboratory products so it’s invaluable to have that knowledge under my belt.”

A Typical Day at Work

“What I like about my job is that each day is different for me,” she says. “I do a lot of demonstrations and customer calls in which I explain our product to people who might purchase it. I also provide feedback from these interactions to developers for future product enhancements. And after an organization purchases software, I work with them on implementation and show them how to get the most out of their investment.”

Her Time at Luther and the Connections She Made

“Most of my time spent outside of academics at Luther included being on the swim team,” says Melissa. “Since graduation, I’ve realized that the lessons I learned from being on the team apply directly to my work. I know that it’s really helpful in achieving goals when a team works together and focuses on people’s strengths.”

Melissa appreciates that she still feels connected to Luther because of the friends she made on the swim team. “Luther still holds a dear place in my heart,” she says. “I go back for every Homecoming and meet up with my swim team friends. And we’ll often see each other throughout the year at weddings and other important events.”