ROBERTSON GETS X-RAY VISION ON FUTURE CAREER

Kylie Robertson, a senior at Clear Creek Amana High School, interned at Steindler Orthopedic Clinic in North Liberty last summer from July 15-18 through Workplace Learning Connections at Kirkwood Community College. 

KYLIE ROBERTSON USING A DIGITAL X-RAY MACHINE AT STEINDLER ORTHOPEDIC CLINIC; PHOTO PROVIDED BY KYLIE ROBERTSON

She learned various skills throughout her internship in the field of radiology. Her everyday routine consisted of going to the Fluoroscopy unit in the morning where she would watch and aid in injections. Then in the afternoons, she went to the radiology department and helped with patient care. Occasionally, she would be in the MRI department, where she got to help dress the MRI tables appropriately, keeping things neat and sterile. Additionally, she walked patients to and from the waiting rooms. As she led patients from room to room she had the chance to engage with them and communicate effectively. She was also able to ask the professionals at Steindler to clarify or explain further on any topic.

“I also learned how to navigate their medical software system, read patient charts, take x-ray images of certain parts of the body, and what the radiologist is specifically looking for when they view the images.” Robertson shared. 

Robertson had previously done job shadows through various companies. She worked with MercyCare, the University of Iowa, and Steindler Orthopedic Clinic. Thanks to her prior job shadows in radiology fields, she had already learned some of the necessary skills needed to succeed during her internship. She also took the course Anatomy & Physiology her junior year which gave her a baseline level of understanding and enabled her to “ask more knowledge-focused questions”. She felt excited that what she learned in her classes “truly paid off”. 

The unpaid internship is a great opportunity for students to further explore their dream careers while earning both a high school credit and a Kirkwood college credit. The opportunity is currently offered to juniors and seniors. The application portal was open from September 22 to October 31. Applicants had their interviews throughout the month of November. Two sessions were offered, one in the winter from January 20 to March 13 and the other in the spring, from March 9 to May 8. The next internship portal will open on December 15, 2025 and close on February 6, 2026 for summer 2026 internships, which current sophomores and juniors are eligible for.

Kylie Robertson spent a total of thirty two hours on site at her internship consisting of four eight-hour work days. She also attended three Workplace Learning Connections (WLC) meetings and filled out the Internship Workbook. All of this amounted to forty hours for the internship. 

Most teenagers may feel that eight-hour work days drag on for too long and get bored by the end of it but for Robertson, it didn’t feel long enough. She said, “I enjoyed being there for that long because I was doing something I loved and it was for a purpose. I wish I could have stayed longer!” 

She applied for the internship last winter through the WLC portal. The application process was similar to that of applying for job shadows and “easy to fill out”. Afterwards, she had her interview with Internship Coordinator Rochelle Sowers who works for Workplace Learning Connections at Kirkwood Community College. Robertson described the interview as feeling “more like a conversation, easy-going, and fun.” 

After the interviews, candidates are notified by email as to whether or not they were accepted and offered an internship. For the radiology field, there were minimal spots available which made the process highly competitive. Deservingly so, Robertson was offered one of those spots. She moved forward to setting up a meeting with her internship host to learn what her day-to-day activities would be like during her time there. 

During her internship, Robertson felt that she could really see herself in the radiology field. She loved the balance of seated tasks and time spent on her feet. She also enjoyed working with patients as it made each day “feel engaging and fast-paced”. As she walked patients to imaging rooms and spoke with them, she realized “how much I enjoy working directly with people.”

Now, with her experience of her internship at Steindler and her previous job shadows in radiology, she helps other students interested in those opportunities. She is easily available to answer any questions about the process, shares her own experience, and gives advice. At an informative meeting held on Thursday, September 24th, in the high school auditorium at 10:00 am, Kylie Robertson spoke about the internship process alongside Rochelle Sowers and shared what she learned during her time at the Steindler Orthopedic Clinic.

Robertson and Sowers alike suggest doing at least one job shadow to prepare, though more is encouraged, prior to an internship. This allows students to get some experience in spending time at a company with professionals and learn about what they do in a smaller time frame before taking the bigger commitment of a forty hour internship. Job shadows are a great way to see what a day is like in various career fields. Establishing connections within businesses is also a great way to start networking.

Robertson recommends this internship opportunity to high schoolers who have a more sure idea of what their career plans are after exploring through job shadows. Specifically, she emphasized the chance to do the internship over summer break for current sophomores and juniors because it makes the scheduling easier. Additionally, she encourages aspiring medical students to apply because it will show on applications to colleges your dedication and increase your chances of getting into your desired medical program.

“For me, I know that radiology programs are highly competitive and selective. However, when you show colleges that you are serious about your education and the field, you greatly stand out among the other applicants. Which, in turn, increases your chances of getting into the program.” Robertson explained. 

At the University of Iowa, the Radiation Sciences program recommends that students job shadow a professional prior to submitting their application to the radiation sciences major. The UI has a selective and competitive professional program with an outstanding reputation and a job placement rate of 100 percent for graduates. 

Kylie Robertson now looks forward to her exciting, ambitious future. She plans on majoring in Radiation Sciences at the University of Iowa. She is thankful for the experience of her internship which helped her “visualize” the setting for a future radiology-focused career as well as the expectations and responsibilities. She aspires to travel around the United States or the world doing the job she studied for in college in the future. She now feels very confident and “certain” about what she wants to do when she gets older. Robertson explained she was extremely appreciative of the internship because it “helped solidify my future plans.”