Iris Dogterom. Customer Support & Communications.

Since October 2024, Iris has been working at Caro Health, where she focuses on Customer Support and Communications. In addition, she is a part-time board member of the Sustainable Healthcare Challenge, a non-profit organization that promotes entrepreneurship in healthcare. She is currently following a master's degree in Management, Policy Analysis and Entrepreneurship in Health & Life Sciences and obtained her bachelor’s degree in Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences from Leiden University in 2023. We spoke with Iris about her experience at Caro Health.

Making a direct impact in healthcare

"During my master's, I was looking for a job that fitted well with my studies and would provide me with practical experience," Iris explains. Caro Health attracted her due to its focus on innovation in healthcare, which perfectly matched her interests and studies. "What made Caro particularly appealing was the opportunity to work within a small company where you can make a direct impact. The small scale created a good match. Additionally, the flexibility that the job offered was a big plus," Iris adds.

Iris' versatile role at Caro Health

"My tasks vary from week to week," Iris shares. "They range from improving care pathways and digitising treatments to creating LinkedIn posts and product updates, keeping our clients informed of changes within Caro." In addition, Iris serves as a point of contact for various clients using the AI Chat Widget, a tool that allows website visitors to ask questions directly to an AI bot. "I monitor both the usage and the quality of the widget," she adds.

The most challenging project

“One of the most challenging projects I have worked on so far was digitising a shockwave therapy for people with pelvic pain, a therapy that is widely used in the field of orthopaedics," Iris explains. "This was the first major treatment I worked on independently, which made it particularly challenging." She adds: "It was great to have the space to work on this project and to make the mistakes that come with doing something for the first time. It took time and effort, but the result was impressive: a fully digitised treatment that is now applicable for five different diagnoses.”

Applying study and practice

"An important aspect of my studies is tackling complex healthcare issues, with a patient-centred approach being central," Iris explains. "This aligns well with the working method at Caro, where I get the chance to work with patient feedback to further improve the app." She adds: "This experience forms a valuable complement to the theory I gain during my studies and helps me make the transition from theory to practice."

"My work at Caro has stimulated my creativity," Iris shares. "Creating LinkedIn posts and writing product updates were new experiences for me that have further developed my creativity in this area." She adds: "Additionally, I am learning to work more carefully and precisely, making my work appear more professional. These are skills that will definitely benefit me later in my career."

Collaboration and team

"I really enjoy collaborating with my colleagues," Iris says. "Since we are a small team, it is easy to approach someone with a question or when you need help." She adds: "Within the whole team, you notice that everyone is always ready to help each other, which makes the working atmosphere very pleasant."

"During weekly meetings, you get the chance to share your ideas and brainstorm about them," Iris explains. "Additionally, you can always approach someone in between to discuss your ideas. Since we work closely together and know each other well, there is ample room for feedback, which makes it very approachable."

"What I enjoy most about my work is the variety and freedom. At Caro, they take into account what you enjoy doing; this is regularly checked, and my tasks are adjusted accordingly. My tasks also vary each week, so no week is the same."

Learning and growing

"Since I started as a working student at Caro in October 2024, I have gotten to know the company well and learned many new things," Iris shares. "The independence and freedom I receive here help me to better organise my tasks and create an efficient schedule." She adds: "I decide for myself which tasks I tackle and am learning to maintain an overview better. This experience has helped me work more efficiently and prioritise better."

Advice from Iris

"Working at Caro is ideal if you are looking for a small-scale, dynamic work environment with an open atmosphere," says Iris. "You receive a lot of personal responsibility here, so it is important that you can handle that well." Interest in healthcare and innovation is, of course, a must! If that fits you, I can definitely recommend it."

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