Written by: Mabel Luo – Intern Tech Blog

As graduation approaches, I’ve found myself reflecting on the past five years of my education and internship experiences. It’s a bittersweet time—filled with excitement for the future, but also a deep sense of gratitude for the journey that’s brought me here. Along the way, I’ve been fortunate to have incredible mentors and managers who’ve encouraged me to ask myself some important guiding questions:

• What motivates me?
• What kind of impact do I want to create?
• What size of company do I want to work at?
• What kind of people do I enjoy working with?

These questions have been my compass, teaching me that success isn’t just about following the status quo or chasing external validation—it’s about finding work that resonates with who you are and what you care about. While I know my answers to these questions will continue to evolve as I grow, one thing has become clear: my time at Included Health has been instrumental in helping me find clarity about what I want from my future career.

A bit about me: I’m Mabel, a fifth-year Computer Science and Business double-degree student at the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University. I’m currently completing my final co-op term (internship) at Included Health, and this is my second time interning with the company. Over the course of my degree, I’ve had the opportunity to work in a variety of industries, including telecommunications, banking tech, and telematics. But I’ve felt the most at home here, working in healthcare tech!

Why Healthcare Tech?

When I first started exploring career paths in computer science, I was drawn to the idea of using technology to solve meaningful, impact-driven problems. At the time, I didn’t know exactly what those problems would be. Interestingly, healthcare wasn’t initially on my radar—until the Covid-19 pandemic shifted my perspective. It was a stark reminder of how deeply healthcare touches every aspect of our lives, from education and safety to politics and economics. For the first time, I saw healthcare not just as a field for doctors and scientists, but as a space where technology could play a transformative role. As I began reading more about healthcare and its intersection with technology, books like The Code Breaker (which, to my surprise, wasn’t about coding) opened my eyes to the incredible potential of health tech. I realized I wanted to do more than just build cool products or write efficient code—I wanted to create solutions that could directly improve lives. The idea that every line of code I write could help someone access better care, navigate a complex healthcare system, or feel supported during a difficult time is what drew me to healthcare tech. It’s a field where purpose and innovation intersect, and that’s a combination I find fascinating and motivating.

Choosing Included Health (and then choosing it again)

When I first came across Included Health’s internship posting on WaterlooWorks (the University of Waterloo’s internal recruitment platform), it immediately stood out to me. The company’s mission—to make healthcare more accessible, equitable, and personalized—resonated deeply with me. I knew I wanted to be part of a team that was tackling such an important challenge. After an incredible first term, returning to Included Health for my final co-op was an easy decision. Here’s why:

• The Mission and Culture: Knowing that my work was helping to improve people’s lives gave me a sense of purpose that I hadn’t experienced anywhere else. I wanted to problem-solve and deliver the best possible outcomes through my work, and Included Health’s mission gives me the intrinsic motivation to do just that.
• The People: My coworkers are some of the most inspiring and supportive individuals I’ve ever had the privilege of working with. From engineers who are constantly innovating to improve workflows, to my teammates who strive for excellence in everything they do, they all inspire me to be a better engineer. Their mentorship and collaboration have been invaluable to my growth here!
• The Opportunity for Growth: As an intern, I felt valued and trusted, with the autonomy to take ownership of my work while being supported by incredible mentors and managers. They always provide thoughtful guidance and feedback, strengthening my engineering skills and also preparing me for my future career!
• The Friendships: One of the unexpected highlights has been the friendships I’ve formed with other interns. With a small intern class (4-5 people), it’s easy to build camaraderie and meaningful connections.

How to Succeed as an Intern at Included Health

If you’re considering an internship at Included Health—or anywhere, really—here are a few qualities that I think are key to success:

• A Growth Mindset: Be curious, ask questions, and embrace challenges as opportunities to learn. Here, I’ve found that a willingness to learn and adapt is even more important than technical skills.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Healthcare is a complex and ever-evolving field, and the problems we tackle are often multifaceted. Being able to think critically and approach challenges with creativity and persistence is essential.
• Mission-Driven Motivation: Here, the mission isn’t just a tagline—it drives everything we do. If you’re passionate about making a difference, that passion will fuel your work and help you thrive in this environment.

What I’ve learned

Ultimately, my time at Included Health has made me a more well-rounded engineer and thoughtful teammate. I’ve learned to take ownership of my work, approach problems with rigor, and communicate effectively. I’ve also learned the value of balance between working hard to make an impact and building meaningful relationships along the way.

As I prepare to graduate and take the next step in my journey, I’m incredibly grateful for the time I’ve spent at Included Health and all that I have learned here!

If you are interested in pursuing a career or internship at Included Health, visit our Careers pages to learn more.