A health and human sciences major who will graduate in 2025, Penelope Hoyos is the founder and president of LMU’s Health and Human Sciences Society — which now boasts over 150 members. She’s also a skilled barista, and worked on a TV show this summer in addition to her experience working in the PIH Health Hospital in Whittier’s emergency department. Read about her experience and how it works hand in hand with being a student at Seaver College.
On her summer work as an intern in the PIH Health Hospital:
As an intern I conducted a time study to identify any bottlenecks within the triage process. I collected data for 6 weeks and analyzed my findings to provide an outside perspective in hopes to reduce patient wait times and make patient throughput as efficient as possible.
Working closely with the emergency department administrative team, I was able to attend interview panels, hospital leadership meetings, interdepartmental discussions, and gain insight as to what hospital leadership entails. It was so interesting to see the management side of healthcare and how important it is to provide optimal patient care.
I was fortunate to work alongside amazing leaders and learn invaluable lessons, techniques, and so much more that will guide me in my healthcare journey. I hope that every student gets the chance to experience an opportunity like this, it is so rewarding to be able to apply the knowledge we have gained in the classroom to clinical experiences. This internship changed my career path and helped me to decide that I want to be an Emergency Nurse Practitioner and maybe even pursue hospital leadership!
On being a Seaver College student:
Being a Seaver College student has brought me opportunities and insights that I truly do not think I could have gained otherwise. My HHSC professors are the foundation for my career in healthcare and have cemented knowledge that I will need to be a successful provider.
There is a special bond between Seaver students that is uplifting and many of us find great support with our peers that turn into some of our closest friends pushing each other towards successful careers. The professors in Seaver truly care for their students and their success and provide us with many research opportunities that help us gain a broader undergrad experience and understanding. Seaver faculty and staff are always motivating, especially in LSB, cheering us on while we study. I have attended various Seaver Spotlights and those alone have given me so much motivation and advice to continue to strive towards my goals.
