This summer, I had the unique opportunity to intern with both The Body Agency and March of Dimes, two
organizations that do powerful work in the public health space. I gained valuable experience in public
health communication, as well as grant writing and fundraising to support maternal and infant health in
the DMV. These two very different experiences have provided a well-rounded and practical foundation for
the rest of my MPH path and beyond.
At The Body Agency, I learned to blend public health messaging with creativity. I developed written and
visual content focused on various global health issues, contributing to projects that support their mission
of closing health equity gaps for women and girls. A highlight was collaborating with CEO Kate Roberts
on her food insecurity learning journey. I interviewed her after her recent trip to Kenya and wrote and
designed a Substack and infographics about her experience. I’m looking forward to building on this work
when she returns from her upcoming trip to India. I also worked on materials for two Sex, Body, and Soul
podcast episodes, including one on Blue Zones and longevity, which is a topic I have always been
curious about. These projects pushed me to learn how to make public health communication engaging
and accessible, which was definitely a hurdle to get over in the beginning.
At March of Dimes, I supported the team by drafting letters of inquiry (LOIs) for grant applications and
researching new funding opportunities for their programs in the DMV. It was my first real experience in
grant writing, and I learned how important it is to align mission-driven work with funder priorities. One of
the most memorable parts of this internship was joining the team at their “Golf for Babies” fundraising
event, and spending the day connecting with the incredible women that make up my department.
I’m incredibly grateful to both The Body Agency and the March of Dimes for welcoming me into their
teams and giving me the space to contribute and grow. These experiences have given me critical skills
and opened my eyes to the kinds of roles I might want to explore as I continue my MPH journey.