A Clinician's Journey to Join DaVita and Drive Healthcare Operations Strategy

Meet Ryan Flick, Full-Time MBA '24

MBA Internship: DaVita

Internship Location: Denver, CO

Position Before MBA: 

• Staff Physical Therapist: Encompass Health
• Owner: Neuro in Motion, LLC
• Lead Instructor: Integrated Kinetic Neurology, LLC

How did you secure your internship?

I networked with peers in my year and the second year. During that networking experience, I came across an opportunity at DaVita. A classmate connected me with the recruiter, and I eventually received an offer.

What is your role and responsibilities during the internship?

I'm a growth strategy intern. For my summer project, I'm working on a team that has historically generated millions of dollars in annual top-line revenue per year. The project involved mapping the admissions process for an entire region, developing best practices for each division vice president, presenting recommendations to senior executives, and overseeing change management as new processes were implemented.

What department is your internship with?

Operations Strategy

How did your MBA coursework prepare you for this internship?

Rice provides the learning opportunities needed to handle projects of this magnitude.

The coursework (especially that first semester) prepared me for the rigor of working at DaVita. Data Analysis with Prof. Weston was particularly vital to my success. Senior executives want data driven decisions. Without a confident understanding of how to combine data with intuition and industry insights, you will fall short of expectations.

Organizational Behavior with Professor Marlon was also important for understanding leadership role influence and how to navigate the complexities of interpersonal motivations within a large company.

How does the internship align with your career goals?

I pursued my MBA to escape the monotony and professional limitations of the typical clinician. My internship has provided me with unexpected opportunities to advance my career in healthcare. It’s made me a better leader and helped me contribute to driving positive change in the industry.

How do you think the internship will help you with your MBA studies or future career?

My internship provided me with more clarity on what I want out of a career and, in turn, what skills I need to develop to achieve those goals. I will return to my second year with those skills in mind and with a renewed sense of energy and enthusiasm for the curriculum ahead.

What is your favorite part of your internship experience?

My favorite part of the internship experience is Davita’s tie between professional development and cohort bonding time. The internship challenged me in new ways, helped develop my leadership and project management skills, and surrounded me with a cohort of supportive peers that made the experience more fun and engaging.

What advice do you have for prospective students?

An MBA can be overwhelming. I have two pieces of advice:

1. Put your best foot forward in every class you take, every club you join, and every relationship you build.
2. Things probably won’t turn out exactly as you envision, so remember to give yourself some grace throughout the process.