Protect Medicaid in Missouri

We want to hear your Medicaid stories!

Right now, Congress is considering a federal budget reconciliation bill that could result in devastating cuts to Medicaid. These cuts would impact millions—including children, older adults, people with disabilities, and working families across Missouri.

Our team at the Community Health Commission of Missouri (CHCM), is collecting stories from Missourians who have been impacted by Medicaid. We want to hear about your experiences and Medicaid's role in helping you get critical care, support a loved one, or bridging a gap during hard times.

Share your MO Medicaid story

What I’ve Learned as a Young Intern in Healthcare & Why Young People Need a Voice

Wednesday, July 30, 2025

As a young intern passionate about mental health, I love seeing how organizations support communities beyond medicine. And that is why the community here at the Community Health Commission of Missouri (CHCM) was aligned with me.

I am Loriel Goldsmith, a rising junior attending Lift for Life Academy and through The St. Louis Internship Program (SLIP), I had the opportunity to work collaboratively with the CHCM team. I wanted the experience of challenging myself in a professional space and seeing how non-profit organizations work to make a great impact behind the scenes. I used to assume that healthcare was just about patients and doctors, but now that I see all of the layers involved, my internship experience has shifted my perspective.

During my time here I learned a plethora of things such as professional navigation, interviewing strategy, networking basics, self-directed productivity, blog drafting, and so many more things I could list. But the knowledge I took and valued the most was observing equity-centered and trauma-informed approaches in action. I got to see the passion and drive behind the CHCM team’s work. Listening to some of the traumatic experience’s community members have endured really taught me to recognize people as whole beings and not just stories or statistics. I also learned that healthcare is not always about the physical aspects of things. I attended a few of the Equity-Centered Trauma Awareness Workshops with seniors virtually and one workshop with the youth in person, which enhanced my understanding of how trauma can alter your brain chemistry and the way you see the world and interact with others on a daily basis. 

On to the burning question: why do young people actually need a voice in healthcare? Younger folks bring fresh ideas and perspectives.

Technology is a big part of society. Social media platforms have given us new opportunities to spread information and bring awareness to common issues in healthcare. This allows us to advocate and make changes in ways we never imagined. In my experience as a young person, I’ve paid attention to how my generation approaches and handles issues that are prominent in mental health. We are not afraid to have uncomfortable conversations and challenge the default systems. Without the youth perspective, organizations risk losing touch with the communities they serve and everyone else dependent upon them.

All together this internship experience has deepened my understanding of how important healthcare is– not just the “doctor/patient” aspect of healthcare but the other key components, systems, and people that aid so it can all come together. I’ve grown to learn that real change does not come from silencing voices, insensitivity, or giving up on the bigger cause.  

Non-profit organizations like CHCM play a great role in making sure that people feel heard, seen, and secure. I absolutely encourage other young people to speak up and collaborate with their communities because fresh perspectives can really help make a difference.   

– Loriel Goldsmith, rising junior and member of the St. Louis Internship Program