Isheeta had a unique perspective this past summer (Summer 2025), where she was not only completing her practicum placement within a hospital-based transplant program, serving as a social work intern supporting patients undergoing evaluation for organ transplantation. She was also working with the Center for Career Engagement as a PhD & PostDoc Career Community, Student Coordinator. In her social work role, she assisted with comprehensive psychosocial assessments, provided emotional support to patients and families, and helped connect individuals to essential resources related to housing, transportation, financial assistance, and caregiver planning. Then, in her CCE role, she assisted students with career-related questions and provided a multitude of resources.
Name: Isheeta Gupta
Class Year: Class of 2026
Program: The Brown School and School of Public Health- Dual Master of Public Health and Social Work (MPH/MSW)
Career Experience Organizations: BJC HealthCare & WashU Center for Career Engagement
Experience Location: St. Louis, MO
What skills or knowledge did you gain from this experience?
During my transplant social work practicum, I strengthened my clinical assessment and communication skills, particularly in conducting comprehensive psychosocial evaluations for transplant candidates. I gained a deeper understanding of how medical, emotional, financial, and social factors all intersect in determining transplant readiness. I also developed skills in crisis intervention, interdisciplinary collaboration, and resource coordination. Working closely with patients facing life-threatening conditions enhanced my ability to provide empathetic support while maintaining professional boundaries. Additionally, I learned more about the ethical considerations and policies/insurance nuances that guide medical decision-making.
Then, through my role with the PhD & Postdoc Career Community under the mentorship of the Associate Director for the community, Dr. Chuanmei Zhu, I developed a diverse set of professional skills spanning communication, program coordination, and content development. Working in a student-facing capacity strengthened my interpersonal and problem-solving skills, as I tried to assist students with career-related questions and resources. I also gained experience in curating and designing engaging materials such as newsletters, professional development roadmaps, guides, and now formulating a magazine. This enhanced my ability to translate complex career information into accessible, visually engaging content. Additionally, supporting networking events and taking event photos helped me better understand community-building and professional engagement within higher education settings.
How did this experience shape or confirm your career interests?
This practicum experience strongly confirmed my interest in pursuing medical social work full-time. Being part of an interdisciplinary transplant team showed me how vital social work is in healthcare settings. I found fulfillment in advocating for patients, helping them navigate complex systems, and supporting them during emotionally intense moments. Seeing the resilience of patients awaiting transplant and witnessing the life-changing impact of a successful transplant reinforced my desire to work in hospital-based or specialized medical settings in the future.
What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?
One challenge when working in the CCE was learning to design and present career resources in ways that were both informative and engaging for a highly specialized audience of PhD students and postdocs. I created roadmaps, professional booklets, and flyers. The caveat was that I had to stay within WashU branding guidelines at all times. I overcame this by seeking feedback, observing what types of materials resonated most with the community, and continuously refining my approach. I frequently referenced the marketing website and the CCE PowerPoint. I also had to incorporate my supervisor’s input as and when required.
Through this process, I built confidence in my ability to adapt, take initiative, and contribute meaningfully to a professional academic environment. Similarly, in my transplant oncology social work student role, I learned to navigate emotionally intense conversations with patients and families while working within a fast-paced interdisciplinary medical setting. This experience strengthened my ability to communicate with empathy, maintain professional boundaries, and provide compassionate, patient-centered support during complex caregiving and treatment journeys.
How did the Center for Career Engagement help you prepare for or succeed in this role?
The Center for Career Engagement played an important role in helping me feel confident entering my practicum placement. Through career advising and connecting me to different people at BJC, I was able to clearly articulate my skills and excel in a professional setting. Additionally, the Center’s support encouraged me to pursue opportunities aligned with my long-term interest in medical social work, which ultimately led me to this meaningful placement.
While working on marketing materials for the CCE, I was able to apply those communication and design skills to develop my practicum portfolio project. The project was patient-facing and written in accessible, general-audience language to help patients and their families better navigate the caregiving process.
What advice would you give other students looking for similar opportunities?
I would strongly encourage students to actively network and fully leverage the resources offered by the Center for Career Engagement. Connecting with professionals through networking events, informational interviews, and alumni outreach can open doors to opportunities. CCE is a great starting point — whether it’s refining your resume, practicing interview skills, or identifying potential contacts in your field of interest. Being proactive, following up with connections, and expressing genuine interest in the field can make a significant difference in securing meaningful opportunities like this one.
Additionally, over the summer, I had many students come to the CCE desk asking if there were any open positions or if I knew of on-campus part-time opportunities available. As touched on above, WashU values proactivity. I regularly checked Handshake and actively searched for roles aligned with my interests — which is how I found this position (CCE, Student Coordinator). I took the initiative to tailor my resume specifically for the role and prepared intentionally for the interview. Because this was a more creative position, I even went into the interview with a creative content plan and sample newsletter ideas to demonstrate my initiative and vision for the role. Taking those extra steps helped me stand out and feel confident. And when students came in, I also informed them that CCE often did workshops which showcased some part-time on-campus opportunities and which schools in WashU were involved. There were also prep sessions that were held for this.
The Center for Career Engagement diligently collects data on student participation in various experiential learning opportunities. Students have an opportunity to opt in to participate in one of our student spotlight series, and we are excited to share their experiential learning narrative. Keep an eye out for our next spotlight feature.
Want to be featured for our Student Internship Spotlight? Contact Maria Bruns and share your career experience via WashU Career Insights.
