Cora Hicks '27 Finds Humanity in Healthcare at BCBS Internship

Healthcare Administration B.S. candidate Sheriyah “Cora” Hicks, who plans to complete her B.S. from Johnson & Wales University in December before entering JWU’s Master of Public Health (MPH) degree program, already made waves earlier this year by being one of 10 JWU students to have their research (in her case, The Association Between Insomnia & Porn Addiction) published in the Rhode Island Medical Journal.

Just as notably, Hicks was one of only a handful of college students chosen for a per diem internship at Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) of Rhode Island, where she intends to stay throughout the rest of her studies. Here’s how interning for BCBS since last June has helped confirm Hicks’ passion for human-centric healthcare.

Why Intern at Blue Cross Blue Shield of RI?

“I’ve wanted to work for them since my first year because I’ve only heard positive things from Professor [Cara] Sammartino and others who have worked for them,” says Hicks. “What they do aligns well with my major, which focuses on how healthcare systems impact patients directly.”

This wasn’t her first attempt at working at BCBS: “I was hoping to do a more data-focused internship there and didn’t get it, but I made a good impression on the recruiter. I was offered this opportunity and they highly recommended me for position. I’m not in Rhode Island during the summer, so they sought flexibility by matching me to a position I could do remotely.”

Connecting a BCBS Internship to a Future Career

Hicks would like to help vulnerable populations after graduation, so she loves how her internship aligns with her vision. “My end goal is to have a more cohesive understanding of the struggles of this particular population, such as potential policy changes that affect Medicare and Medicaid recipients,” she explains. “I want to transfer these skills from the human piece into a more data-centric role, hopefully at Blue Cross.”

“I work with Medicare patients primarily, talking to people who are usually over 60 — one recent patient was 96,” she says. “It helps me see the financial and other barriers they go through, see the human piece of the healthcare system. I get to talk with them about things they’re concerned about, which right now is the government. We have to base policies and prices off what the government does, and we see the impact. There is only so much we can do, but it’s nice to be a human component in the system and be able to listen to and connect with people.”

What It’s Like Interning for Blue Cross Blue Shield

“My schedule is flexible,” Hicks explains. “I make my own hours, which is unusual for an internship. I talk to members and process requests for ID cards, insurance claims and provider changes. During open enrollment period, I help explain new plans coming in, potential changes in regulations from the government, price differences and why these changes are happening in the market.” She jokes, “I basically play Google at work!”

As for her colleagues: “Everyone is wonderful. Anytime I ask for help, everyone helps me; it’s a great team and a supportive environment. If I have an issue, I can talk it through and be re-guided in that moment so I can apply the right solution once we’re done talking. They’re all very patient people!”

Applying JWU Skills to a Blue Cross Blue Shield Internship

“Note taking and organization management is a big thing,” Hicks notes. “I realized that at JWU I’ve been able to pull information very quickly and I’ve become very efficient. Also, the fact that I have an academic understanding of these policies helps me tackle difficult questions and situations with this population.”

She adds, “In class we focus on the social determinants of health. That broad understanding and how it drives empathy makes me more successful at Blue Cross because I’m more customer- and patient-facing.”

Why Study Health at JWU?

“Pursuing a Healthcare Administration degree not only puts me within the healthcare front as I want to understand it but also gives me business-related skills,” says Hicks. “Of the schools offering this program, JWU gave me my best financial offer.”

She was glad JWU has a presence in Rhode Island, because Charlotte, North Carolina felt too close to her South Carolina home. “I feel like the point of going to college is having new experiences; being close to home defeats that purpose,” she says. “Being able to go home whenever I want or being close to relatives who live nearby may not have given me the experience I wanted. Here, I have the ability to exist within my own space and come into my own as an adult.”

Taking charge of her plan to complete her MPH at JWU, Hicks has already started her graduate coursework, taking Chronic Disease Prevention and Control this semester. As a go-getter, she seeks opportunities to forge a future for herself: “I'm learning SQL on my own to build on my résumé and to focus on my love for data analytics.”

What Hicks’ JWU Student Experience Is Like

“College has been amazing because I get bored if I’m not doing a lot, and there’s a lot to do!,” notes Hicks.

When not interning at Blue Cross Blue Shield, she’s active at JWU, primarily through Track & Field. “I love it,” she says. “I’m a field athlete, so I do long jump and triple jump for the university.”

She’s a member of two student clubs. “In the Curly Collective, we come together and have a good way of appreciating what you have by being around people with similar features,” she explains. “It’s a good environment of acceptance and lets you be able to look into mirrors and be happy with what you see every day.” In JWU’s International Fashion Society, Hicks models for shows and photo shoots.

In addition, Hicks has two important leadership roles. She serves on the student advisory board of the Dean of the College of Health & Wellness, and she’s a resident assistant (RA) in McNulty Hall, noting, “It’s great; we’re right in the middle of everything.”

Advice for Students Seeking Internships

Hicks still has time to advise fellow Wildcats.

“Make those connections with your professors; they’re your best resource into connecting with companies,” she suggests. “When speaking to employers, be yourself; if I wasn’t being myself, I probably wouldn’t have gotten this position. I can connect with people, laugh with members, make their days and fully assist them.”

She adds: “Do it because it makes you happy, not because you’re getting paid well.”

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