Reflections from our 2026 interns

This year, we welcomed 24 interns from across California. Our 2026 cohort supports teams throughout our Family of Companies, including People and Engagement, Finance, Information Technology, Information Security, and Stellarus Product Management. These interns have brought energy, curiosity, and new ideas to every project. In honor of National Intern Day, we invited a few of our interns to share why they chose our organization and what it is like to do meaningful work here. Their stories make it clear: our future is bright with these emerging leaders!

Meet a few of our interns:

This internship has helped me grow as an engineer while also contributing to software that has a meaningful impact on the communities we serve. It was inspiring to see how a large organization builds, tests, and maintains technology that helps make healthcare more accessible and affordable. One of the most rewarding parts of my internship has been working across the mobile app, from improving navigation and labeling to strengthening code quality and testing functionality. I got a firsthand look at the many decisions that go into getting even a small change right.

-Jesse Chen, IT Applications, Stellarus

I chose this internship because I believe in the mission and wanted to contribute to meaningful projects that positively impact millions of Californians. This experience has provided me with valuable exposure to corporate finance in the healthcare industry. Working on the enhanced due diligence analysis has been particularly meaningful for me. I had the opportunity to better understand how our business compares across different sizes and multiple industries.

-Reilly Goueth, Actuary, Blue Shield of California

As a future HR professional, being placed on the HR:Connect team has been the perfect placement. Seeing the impressive employee-focused initiatives and programs we offer, I knew I wanted to be a part of fostering a culture of belonging and individual development. I have had the privilege of supporting our transition to a family of companies. It is eye-opening to see how much work is being done to shape the future of healthcare and align it with providing the best care for both members and employees.

-Maryland Heng, People & Engagement, Blue Shield of California

I joined the internship program because of a shared mission to build the health technology and infrastructure necessary to power quality, affordable, and accessible healthcare systems. One of my most meaningful experiences has been conducting research with Medi-Cal plan members to assess and improve the existing redetermination experience.

-Heather Liu, User Experience, Stellarus

Coming from a computer science background, I wanted to see firsthand how a healthcare company protects against data breaches and compliance failures. Keeping healthcare accessible isn’t just about premiums, it’s also building trust at scale for all our members. What has stood out most this summer isn’t one single project, but a realization that data protection isn’t a support function bolted onto the business. It’s a direct extension of the mission itself. Seeing how secure information protects our mission has been the most valuable takeaway of my internship.

-Keval Patel, Information Security, Stellarus

Are you searching for opportunities to advance your career? Learn more about how Blue Shield can support your professional growth and development.

As of January 2025, Blue Shield of California became a subsidiary of Ascendiun. Ascendiun is a nonprofit corporate entity that is the parent to a family of organizations including Blue Shield of California and its subsidiary, Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan; Altais, a clinical services company; and Stellarus, a company designed to scale healthcare solutions. Together, these organizations are referred to as the Ascendiun Family of Companies.