FALL 2023
INTERNS
Scleroderma United welcomed its inaugural intern cohort in the Fall 2023 semester. Our interns excelled in every way possible, and we couldn’t be more proud of their accomplishments. Scroll to see some of the highlights from our Fall 2023 Internship Program!
From Around the World…
GLOBAL INTERN COHORT
Our interns came from: United States, Lebanon, Canada, Algeria, Kazakhstan, United Arab Emirates, India, Pakistan, Hong Kong, Turkey, Philippines, Morocco, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Spain, United Kingdom
Interns Engaged in Collaborative, Meaningful Projects…
PRIMARY PROJECTS
Learn Center Infographics Project:
Updating our Learn Center with the latest information about scleroderma and restructuring the resource
Key Terms Glossary Publication Project:
Developing a publication that explains the “key terms” that patients may come across
Medications & Treatments Database Project:
Creating a database of scleroderma medications and treatments
Strategic Relations Project:
Conducting research and strategic outreach in marketing, grant funding, and collaborations
Fact Fridays Project:
Synthesizing recent scleroderma-related news and scientific developments into infographic-style content
Scleroderma Sundays Project:
Crafting brief highlights of “Scleroderma Stories,” designed to hook the reader in and direct traffic toward our publications
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Implemented Grassroots Awareness Tactics and Fundraising Strategies…
CAMPAIGNS
With their mentors’ support, interns led organized Amplified Awareness Area Campaigns in their communities and hosted personal fundraising campaigns. While building key nonprofit, advocacy, and fundraising skills, the interns reached almost 3,000 people who had never heard of scleroderma and raised thousands of dollars in support of Scleroderma United’s upcoming Children’s Course.
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Created Patient Advocate Portfolios…
PORTFOLIOS
Each week, interns listened to an episode of a podcast, read an interview, watched a documentary, or conducted research on a broader healthcare issue. Some weeks, interns summarized and reflect on a topic. Other weeks, mentors guided the interns through the article-writing process. By the end of the internship period, interns had a deeper understanding of scleroderma and the patient experience – as well as a portfolio to back up that knowledge! Patient Advocate Portfolios included at least one published article.
And Engaged with Guest Speakers!
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Interns also had opportunities to participate our regular Professional Development Events, which brought guest speakers to engage with interns in an intimate setting.
College Mentorship
Panel
Interns heard from Harvard College students studying Neuroscience, Anthropology, Global Health and Health Policy, Political Science, and Psychology. The panel offered valuable perspectives on navigating college life and achieving academic and personal success.
Medical Student &
MCAT Panel
Interns spoke with US medical students, international MBBS students, and recent MCAT-takers. The panel shared their experiences, MCAT preparation resources, and tips for the medical school admissions process.
Resume
Workshop
Interns participated in a personalized workshop, where we helped them craft a standout resume. The workshop covered the essential elements of resume writing, from formatting and content optimization to tailoring resumes for specific roles.
Hear From Our Fall 2023 Interns
INTERN REFLECTIONS
I would recommend this internship to anyone who’s interested in getting an introduction to the world of patient advocacy and healthcare. Scleroderma United’s internship immerses you in the world of patient care by forcing you to get out of your comfort zone and make a tangible difference. Through activities like fundraising, awareness campaigns, article-writing, and research, Scleroderma United’s internship experience has taught me a lot about the world of healthcare and how to contribute to it. It also exposes you to the stories behind each different scleroderma patients.
– Smiraa
The Scleroderma United internship is a beneficial path into the workplace for all individuals! It provides projects based on different skillsets and interns truly earn the chance to promote and fundraise, gaining skills along the way that can be bridged onto other aspects of their life! Mainly, the Scleroderma United Internship is a diverse project that tackles the real-life issue of the lack of knowledge concerning scleroderma and all efforts go towards this great cause!
– Titas
I would ardently recommend this internship to anyone who is interested in patient advocacy and, in my case, learning more about careers that combine graphic illustration with healthcare. The Scleroderma United Internship gave me the opportunity to interact with a pool of diverse individuals, while providing ample time to engage with and complete tasks in creative, yet practical ways. The skills I gained are easily transferable to other movements and platforms of advocacy that I am involved in, and the knowledge I gleaned from my advisor about college and careers in the medical field is invaluable.
– Ritika
I would definitely recommend this internship to anyone that wants to a) go into the medical field and/or b) gain invaluable leadership experience designed to encourage interns to consider and implement impactful, creative, and genuinely fascinating solutions, campaigns, showcases, etc…– all while gaining incredible networking opportunities and the universal skillsets associated with qualities such as professionalism and workplace proficiency.
– Meenakshi
Check out our Internship page for current internship opportunities
Special Thank-Yous
MENTORS & SPONSORS
This internship would not have been possible without the help of our Internship Program Mentors and Sponsor Organizations.
Cosette
Wu
Founder & President, Internship Coordinator
Hawaii, USA
Khushboo
Shukla
Vice President, Internship Coordinator
Texas, USA
Ellie
Armstrong
Internship Coordinator, Relations Projects Mentor
Oklahoma, USA
Sandhya
Sanapala
Learn Center Infographics Project Mentor
Connecticut, USA
Barbara
Afram
Key Terms Glossary Publication Project Mentor
Red Deer, Canada
Hephzibah
Adegoke
Medications & Treatments Database Project Mentor
Edinburgh, Scotland
Snigdha
Barua
Medications & Treatments Database Project Mentor
California, USA
Grace
Elliott
Relations Project Mentor
Connecticut, USA
Shreya
Goel
Clinician Mapping Project Mentor
North Carolina, USA
Sandy
Zeng
Children’s Course Graphics Project Mentor
Pennsylvania, USA
Sponsor Organizations:
Broncology Magazine | Educate to Encourage | Education on Immunology | Girls in White Coats | MedReview Student Journal | Med.Trendz | Medicine for Youth | Opportunities in Hong Kong | PreDocsProject | RevolutionizeSTEM NYC | Sciences of Dermatology | SimplyMed | Skincare Sciences | Stemforall Youth Organization | STEMATA | Stemteenities | Teens for Healthcare | The Encephalon Journal | The Youth Medicine | Uempower | Youth Medical Association (YMA) | Youth Medicine | Youth Rx