Internship Spotlight: Q&A with Arielle Mazique

Through DPH’s internship program, students gain firsthand exposure to public health careers while building professional skills, expanding their networks, and discovering the many ways they can make a difference in public service.

From Healthcare Quality to Community Engagement and beyond, DPH interns brought fresh ideas, enthusiasm, and a willingness to learn while supporting meaningful projects that impact communities across South Carolina. Their contributions not only strengthened our teams' work but also provided valuable hands-on experience.

One intern who exemplified this experience is Arielle Mazique, an Administrative Assistant intern with the Division of Healthcare Quality.

What skills or knowledge did you gain during your internship?
During this internship, I learned a lot more than I expected. Every day felt like a new learning experience, and I started to really understand how the state works within healthcare beyond just licensing or giving out grants.

I also realized that there is so much more to public health than research and health promotion. My communication got better from having to talk with so many different people and asking questions even when I wasn’t sure where to start. I also got more comfortable with networking, especially learning about everyone’s backgrounds and how they ended up in their roles.

Overall, I walked away with a stronger understanding of healthcare quality and a lot of skills that will help me in both school and whatever roles I pursue next.

"This internship shaped my interests, clarified my goals, and gave me a stronger sense of direction moving forward." - Arielle

What aspects of the internship did you find most valuable?
I really enjoyed watching how different bureaus collaborate to draft new regulations, address emerging issues, and keep each other informed about ongoing work. It was especially interesting to see how teams work alongside other departments, such as the Office of General Counsel, to ensure consistency, accuracy, and compliance with existing statutes and regulations. Hearing legal perspectives added another layer of understanding about how decisions are made and how potential complaints or legal challenges are considered.

Attending inspections was also a valuable learning opportunity. While I don’t necessarily see myself becoming an inspector in the future, I gained a much better understanding of how inspectors contribute to improving operations and safety within healthcare facilities. It was eye-opening to explore different facilities from a regulatory perspective rather than as a typical visitor, and it helped me appreciate the behind the scenes work that supports healthcare quality.

How did interning with DPH impact your career and professional development?
This internship has given me a much clearer understanding of what healthcare quality involves, and it confirmed that this is still the field I want to pursue after graduating. It also helped me recognize which specific roles I may be interested in working toward.

This experience also provided an incredible networking opportunity. I was able to ask questions, learn about the different backgrounds people come from, and see the many paths that can lead to healthcare quality. These conversations helped broaden my perspective on both career options and possible future education. Seeing the different degree paths, certifications, and learning opportunities within the agency helped me think more intentionally about what I might want to pursue after college.

Overall, this internship helped me understand the roles that fall under healthcare quality and how state government participates in the healthcare system. It shaped my interests, clarified my goals, and gave me a stronger sense of direction moving forward.