The Emerging Professionals Summer Internship Program at UMass Chan Medical School recently wrapped up another season, providing undergraduate students and recent college graduates opportunities to explore careers related to an academic health sciences center. This 10-week program, focused on students from groups historically marginalized in STEM, health sciences and medicine, allowed students to get hands-on experience and insight into a range of fields, such as diversity and inclusion, public safety, communications, and community and government relations.
“Overall, the program has provided me with substantial knowledge that I am going to apply in my life as a scholar, to get ahead in my career and become the professional that I have always wanted to be,” said intern Camila Negron, a rising junior at the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez, studying industrial microbiology with the goal of pursuing a career in medicine. She interned in the Office of Well-Being and learned about the six dimensions of well-being and how to apply them in her future career.
She said the informational lunch sessions, at which she learned about financial topics such as credit, resume formatting and interview insights, were particularly beneficial.
Ashley Goncalves, a rising junior at Worcester State University studying public health, interned in the Department of Population & Quantitative Health Sciences. She said the experience helped her understand the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace and in health care.
“This allows those who usually do not have the opportunity to shine, to have a chance to speak up, and take opportunities that they would not think they would have the chance to take,” Goncalves said.
2022 Emerging Professionals Summer Interns
- Ashley Goncalves, Worcester State University, Department of Population & Quantitative Health Sciences
- Obiamaka Igwenagu, College of Holy Cross, T.H. Chan School of Medicine Office of Admissions
- Ayanna Johnson, Bridgewater State University, Department of Public Safety
- Kiersten Johnson, Boston University, Diversity and Inclusion Office
- Taylor Johnson, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Department of Family Medicine & Community Health
- Shivali Mani, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Commonwealth Medicine
- Agnes Nantambi, Clark University, Department of Population & Quantitative Health Sciences
- Camila Negron, University of Puerto Rico, Office of Well-Being
- Alexandra Pezzana, Bentley University, Office of Communications
- Ariana Sarmiento Fielding, Clark University, Office of Community and Government Relations
- Michael Taddeo, Framingham State University, Department of Public Safety
