2022 graduate, studying Textile/Surface Design at the Fashion Institute of Technology

What was the most memorable part of the internship program?

I was able to do a program with sustainability and fashion and that was important for me in terms of solidifying my decision to pursue fashion, knowing that going into textiles, I could contribute to improving and innovating sustainability pursuits in the industry.

Have you achieved any significant milestones since completing the internship program?

I was accepted into the Presidential Scholars Program, as well as the Social Justice Scholars at my college. I have also done two internships so far, one of which focuses on helping the brand find sustainable/secondhand textiles.

What advice do you have for students currently going through the program?

Use it to expand your horizons and ideas as much as possible! The program helped me so much in exploring my options and learning about new things, not a single thing I learned through it was wasted. I met so many people and if you ask around about your specific interests, you are sure to find someone who knows someone who can help you further your curiosity.

2011 graduate, working on the sustainability team of a renewable energy company

What was the most memorable part of the internship program?

I really enjoyed the camaraderie with the other program participants and learning more about our environment’s effect on human health through the internship. Interning at Fox Chase opened my eyes to pursuing a career with environmental and social impact and I felt like I had real positive impact in the work I was doing.

Have you achieved any significant milestones since completing the internship program?

Yes. Since completing the program in 2011, I attended Macaulay Honors College on a full tuition scholarship in 2013. From there, I started a career in finance for a few years before being accepted with merit scholarships to graduate school at Baruch College for a career transition into sustainability. I have earned several industry certifications in sustainability and project management. I was fortunate to intern at the EPA and the UN Global Compact before accepting a full-time offer in sustainability consulting. I most recently accepted a new job offer for a renewable energy company.

What advice do you have for students currently going through the program?

Take advantage of the opportunities while in the program (step outside your comfort zone) and do great work while participating so you have great things to talk about after the program concludes (career advancement, university, etc.)

Would you like to share any additional comments?

This program was an amazing experience to learn new skills and it improved my confidence, public speaking skills, and I consider it as one of my most impactful experiences. Once completing the program, students should pursue additional opportunities, such as presenting your research in science research competitions (NYSEF, LISEF, and others)

2022 graduate, on the pre-med track at Cornell University with a major in Human Biology, Health, & Society; Minor in Inequality Studies' Health Equity Track, Dyson Business Minor for Life Science Majors

What was the most memorable part of the internship program?

The most memorable part of the internship program was having the opportunity to listen to guest speakers talk about their niches within the study of public and environmental health. Some of the notable speakers that I have fond memories of speaking with are Dr. Carlin and Dr. Guel. I also enjoyed working on the projects that I was placed on, having the opportunity to contribute to projects led by distinguished researchers like Dr. Stingone and Dr. Teitelbaum of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. I have memories of working with the small group of students who were also placed on this team. When given tasks that were challenging and foreign in nature, we worked together to piece the product together and worked off of the feedback that was provided taking every experience as a learning opportunity. Engaging with HBCAC during the onset of the pandemic, my time was occupied and I greatly benefited from the opportunity to learn about population health outside of the classroom.

Have you achieved any significant milestones since completing the internship program?

Since completing this internship program, I have completed an internship at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) where I worked to evaluate the current screening practices used to diagnose pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas. Like many specialties in traditional medicine, patients are often exposed to excessive radiation through diagnostic screening, especially those who are at increased risk for chronic disease development due to genetic predisposition. My efforts sought to inform these current practices by assessing what diagnostic interventions were necessary and which could be supplemented for less harmful alternatives. I also presented my findings on a retrospective quality improvement study that analyzed the occurrence of pressure injuries/wounds and rhabdomyolysis following complex renal surgery. I am currently in the process of writing a manuscript on this study as first-author.

For the summer of 2024, I will be interning at the Indiana University School of Medicine through their Medical Scientist Training Program's Undergraduate Summer Research Program (MSTP USRP). This internship with act as a pipeline program for students who are interested in applying to an NIH funded MD-PhD program (commonly referred to as the Medical Scientist Training Program). Over the 8-9 week period, I will be conducting research with a current MD-PhD focusing on kidney disorders.

What advice do you have for students currently going through the program?

Subhana, a former student and mentor of the HBCAC program put it best... the more engaged and invested you are in the projects and the research, the greater the opportunity that the next door will open for you. While you are a student in the program, I encourage you to make the most of every opportunity. Your efforts never go unnoticed.

By remaining engaged in your respective project, the research facilitator is likely to take note of your efforts and help you grow intellectually. It was through participating in HBCAC's internship program that I found my admiration for research. While research may have a steep learning curve, take pride in the work that you do as it may help inform policy decisions that can have a significant impact on current practices. I also think it is important to remain engaged with other students and mentors of the program. You all have different interests, especially when entering the program... use these relations to learn from one another and you may discover a newfound passion.

2016 graduate, in the JMP at Berkeley/UCSF which focuses on anti-racist health care, systems change, and challenging discrimination.

What was the most memorable part of the internship program?

There were so many things! I loved working in the city - this was my first real exposure to life outside of Long Island, and helped me feel more confident in my ability to live and work elsewhere, especially in big cities! I also remember this program as my first time learning about environmental racism, and activism related to healthcare outcomes. I also remember doing presentations at the local middle schools and library, which were fun!

Have you achieved any significant milestones since completing the internship program?

I went to college and graduated from undergrad with a Bachelor's from Stony Brook University and was well decorated as a graduate - I received the Provost's award, graduates from the Honors College, graduated with honors in Chemistry and Biochemistry (for my thesis work), and graduated summa cum laude. I also graduated from a CDC fellowship in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and began medical school at UCB/UCSF (ranked as top 5 best medical schools in the US, and top 10-20 globally!).

What advice do you have for students currently going through the program?

Wow! I think you need to really find what makes you excited and also makes you wonder. Lean into activism in whatever work you do - who is being served by the current system, and why? Who isn't being served, and why? Also, know that anything you do now is setting you up for amazing opportunities moving forward, and be proud of yourself for securing this awesome opportunity. We need excited change-makers in all fields, all jobs, so keep at it. Don't be afraid to ask questions, or nervous about your knowledge or skills or being qualified enough. You're in high school! This is the time for you to dive into new things you don't know much about. Everyone running this program is doing it because they are passionate people who want to help you find your passion and run with it. They expect you to have questions, to be learning new things, and to make mistakes. And they want you to get the most out of this program too!

Most of all really focus on your passion and what is fun for you. Your passion and enjoyment in what you do will take you so much further than anything else - whether you're looking at your work in this program specifically, or beyond in things like college applications, job applications, or even someday medical school applications!

2019 graduate, Medical Scribe at City MD Urgent Care, Highschool STEM Tutor, recent University of Rochester graduate

What was the most memorable part of the internship program?

Community engagments and the fun conversations with Karen and Melanie

Have you achieved any significant milestones since completing the internship program?

Earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Health. Recieved my commission as a US Army Reserve officer

What advice do you have for students currently going through the program?

Utilize all resources available, show up to all events eager to learn, enjoy the process.

Would you like to share any additional comments?

If pursuing medicine, start researching the admissions process early on to get an idea of how to prepare. Take pride it helping your community!

2022 graduate, Computer Science & Film with a premedical background at Macaulay Honors College/Brooklyn College

Have you achieved any significant milestones since completing the internship program?

I am currently the Vice President of the Undergraduate Student Government at Brooklyn College.

What advice do you have for students currently going through the program?

Take initiative and ownership of your projects- be creative!

Would you like to share any additional comments?

I loved my experience with HBCAC and found wonderful, passionate people through it. It was a memorable time in my life and I'm glad I was able to be involved :)

2020 graduate, Legal Assistant at Law Firm / Prospective law school student, BA from St. John’s University

What was the most memorable part of the internship program?

Everything - Flying across the country to speak at conferences / Speaking at town meetings / Brainstorming creative and informative material for outreaches / Research @ Stonybrook and Mount Sinai / creating a podcast/ hanging out with Mel and Karen

Have you achieved any significant milestones since completing the internship program?

Graduated a full year early (with honors!!) / applying to law school

What advice do you have for students currently going through the program?

Find what you love (public speaking, drawing, dancing, writing, coding) and use your talent for GOOD - finding ways to market your talent in which it conveys a positive/informative message, for environmental and public health!! being bold and passionate and open to learning (and trying) new things constantly.

2022 graduate, pursuing a double major in psych and educational policy at Barnard College, Columbia University

What was the most memorable part of the internship program?

The people. While I appreciate the new experiences and skills I gained through this program, I would not have had the courage to take new initiatives if it weren’t for the tight community I became a part of at HBCAC. Fellow interns, mentees, and bosses encouraged me to take risks I never thought I could take in the past.

Have you achieved any significant milestones since completing the internship program?

I will be conducting year long research on child development beginning in the summer, and have been dipping my toes in politics, volunteering with the AOC campaign. I am now working towards getting into educational policy as well as opening my own therapy practice someday. In general I am in a good place :)

What advice do you have for students currently going through the program?

Take advantage if every opportunity you are offered, even if the idea sounds daunting or out of your skill set. You never know who you will meet if you just take that risk.

2019 graduate, community psychology, specifically working to make mental health services more accessible for the unhoused population at Clark University

What was the most memorable part of the internship program?

I loved attending programs at the Holiday House and creating fun ways for the kids to learn about public health.

Have you achieved any significant milestones since completing the internship program?

I received a large award from my school for my work surrounding food insecurity. I have also been accepted into an accelerated Master's program at Clark and will have a degree in Community Development and Planning.

What advice do you have for students currently going through the program?

I think there is something for everyone in the program! Some are more interested in the hard sciences and others are interested in how to deliver information to different audiences, but you can really create a track that best matches your interests and learn a ton from your peers who have different interests. Collaboration truly is key!

2023 graduate as valedictorian, Harvard student

What was the most memorable part of the internship program?

I loved engaging with younger students and with higher level professors who would treat us as their equal as we worked alongside them on projects. The structure helped me learn how to communicate ideas clearly and professionally and allowed me to pursue interests that I think made me more interested/have projects to discuss during interviews.“

What advice do you have for students currently going through the program?

If you pursue a project your genuinely interested it, it will benefit you so much in the future and the resources/ideas you can cultivate with Karen and Melanie will bring you so so so far. A massive passion project can definitely emerge, so stick with it.

2022 graduate, 4-year BSN program at University of Pennsylvania

What was the most memorable part of the internship program?

Meeting new people with similar interests

Have you achieved any significant milestones since completing the internship program?

Getting into college and starting clinicals

What advice do you have for students currently going through the program?

Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone!

2022 graduate, double major in Environmental Studies with a concentration in policy and application and Sociology with a concentration in law and society at University of Pennsylvania

What was the most memorable part of the internship program?

The most memorable part of the internship program for me was working on the Human Health Exposure Analysis Resource and learning how to data map and create semantic data dictionaries.

Have you achieved any significant milestones since completing the internship program?

Last summer I participated in the Penn Research Mentorship program where I studied the impact of climate change on respiratory health in Latin America. This upcoming summer, I will be working at the Monteverde Institute in Costa Rica to learn about sustainable agriculture and engage in outreach regarding community health.