CENTER VALLEY, Pa — A curiosity for healthcare administration and research inspired senior Mia Mancebo to apply for the Research Scholar Program with Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) part of Jefferson Health, this summer. During her 8-week internship with the Department of Medicine, Mancebo is leading a file digitalization project before starting her senior year at Penn State Lehigh Valley.
“The goal of my project is to reduce storage costs through digitization and create an accessible method to store and retrieve files,” said Mancebo.
The Research Scholar Program at LVHN is a structured, educational research program designed to provide opportunities to undergraduate students while giving value and assistance to LVHN departments.
“For my project, I determine which Iron Mountain file information from the department of medicine should be scanned and digitized based on a set of criteria,” said Mancebo — a task whose guidance she credits to LVHN mentors, Jonathan Davidson and Amy Kintz.
Rooted in the pursuit of professional development, continuous learning, and healthcare industry exposure, the Research Scholar Program at LVHN sparked Mancebo’s interest.
“I first heard of this research opportunity when I attended the Health and Human Services Job Fair last spring,” she said. The Health and Human Services Job Fair is an annual event held in the Lehigh Valley for healthcare employers and job seekers to network and learn about open positions within the healthcare field.
“I also attend weekly workshops for professional development,” said Mancebo, noting the program’s commitment to providing accessible pathways for career growth to interns and employees.
The psychology program faculty and the advising, career, and student success center office at Penn State Lehigh Valley have proven helpful resources for Mancebo throughout her academic journey, she said.
“The Advising and Career Strategy offices on campus have helped me develop my resume, connect with services, and practice introducing myself to employers," Mancebo said.
Under the mentorship of David Livert, professor of psychology at Penn State Lehigh Valley, Mancebo helped facilitate a group project focused on investigating group dynamics in escape rooms. Mancebo said her "Research Methods" course and research assistant experience with Livert helped prepare Mancebo for her experience with LVHN.
“I worked with a team of three and observed live escape room sessions at a local business," Mancebo said. "We collected data on the participants to analyze how escape rooms affected interpersonal behaviors.”
After graduating from Penn State, Mancebo said she plans to further her education through graduate school towards a path that combines psychology and administration.
About Penn State Lehigh Valley
Penn State Lehigh Valley, established in 1912, combines the resources of a world-class research institution with the personalized experience of a close-knit campus community. Students can pursue one of 11 bachelor's degree programs or begin more than 275 Penn State majors through the University's nationally recognized 2+2 Plan. Through small class sizes, industry-connected faculty and hands-on learning opportunities, Penn State Lehigh Valley prepares students to lead and succeed in the Lehigh Valley and beyond. Learn more at lehighvalley.psu.edu.