How a Summer Internship Sparked a Possible Future in Speech Therapy

A summer internship at CentraCare - Willmar helped NDSU student Lauren Dirkes discover an interest in health care, turning uncertainty into a focused interest in speech therapy.

Since 2022, CentraCare - Willmar has been a recipient of the Summer Health Care Internship Program (SHCIP), a grant-supported initiative bringing students into the heart of healthcare.

This program, funded by the MN Department of Health, aims to inspire the next generation of health care professionals by immersing them in a real-world environment, through a 10-week paid internship.

This year, Willmar received grants for two interns, which attracted eight applicants, including both high school and college students. Among those selected was Lauren Dirkes, a Willmar native and an incoming sophomore at North Dakota State University (NDSU).

Undecided on her major and contemplating her future, Lauren found herself unsure of the path she wanted to take. When her mother, Casey, who works in imaging at CentraCare, mentioned the internship opportunity, Lauren saw it as a chance to explore health care careers.

"My mind has been everywhere when I think of a future career," Lauren shared. "I've always had some interest in health care because I like helping people. It seemed like health care would be more interesting than a business major or sitting at a desk all day."

A Chance Encounter with Speech Therapy

Over the course of her internship, Lauren rotated through various departments, including rehab (physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and respiratory therapy), imaging, laboratory, and pharmacy. It was during her time in rehab, specifically in speech therapy, that Lauren discovered a spark of interest.

"At one point my mom had mentioned speech therapy, but I didn't know anything about it or what it even was," said Lauren. "After working at CentraCare – Rehabilitation, I found that I really liked working with the speech therapists. It was interesting to see what different conditions the kids and adults had and how the speech therapists were able to help them."

Lauren enjoyed the playful yet structured approach the therapists used with children, incorporating games like cards to make speech practice engaging and fun. Shadowing speech therapist Alaina Mueller, CCC-SLP, Lauren saw firsthand the impact of speech therapy on both children and adults.

"Alaina would include me in her therapy sessions," Lauren explained. "I enjoyed the fun card games she used with the kids to proactively practice their speech. It was a structured game, but not super intense. Kids could go at their own pace, and you could see they were having a good time and that they wanted to come back."

The internship also gave Lauren the opportunity to witness speech therapy's role in adult rehabilitation, particularly in stroke recovery. She was amazed at how speech therapy could address challenges that were not immediately apparent, and how it could significantly improve a patient's quality of life.

Journey from Uncertainty to Discovery

"The internship is a great opportunity for students to dabble in a variety of healthcare careers," said Keri Ohren, Director, Rehabilitation Services and Respiratory Therapy. "This is especially helpful when they don't have a firm plan in place of what future career they're interested in. It gives them an intimate experience in a variety of health care careers."

Reflecting on her time at CentraCare, Lauren expressed deep appreciation for the opportunity to learn from the speech therapists. "Each of the therapists has their own unique ways of doing things," Lauren said. "They all do their jobs so well. It makes me want to do what they're doing."

As Lauren prepares to continue her studies, she faces a decision in her academic and career journey. While NDSU does not offer a major in speech therapy, the university is part of a tri-college system with Minnesota State University Moorhead, which does. This option is now on Lauren's radar as she considers the next steps toward a career that excites and motivates her.

"This has been a great opportunity to learn about different kinds of careers in health care," Lauren explained. "It's been helpful to learn what I do or don't like. If I wouldn't have participated in this internship, I probably never would have learned how interested I am in speech therapy!"