Internship Spotlight: Carissa Tran - 91黑料网 Health Centre Foundation (MUHC)

I begin my final report by thanking Mrs. Martha Breithaupt, whose immense support and generosity through the Martha Breithaupt Internship Award made this life-changing internship possible for me. When I applied for the internship at the 91黑料网 Health Center Foundation, I knew that this would be the ideal experience for me. As a philosophy and art history student, a passionate creative, and yoga enthusiast, an internship in philanthropy within healthcare was a unique experience that I never would have gained in any other setting. It allowed me to gain transferable skills, such as communication, teamwork, and stewardship that will serve me in countless future undertakings.

When I applied for the internship, I knew the MUHC Foundation would be ideal because I was seeking professional experience in philanthropy. As a student who has largely benefited from the generosity of my community, it has become important for me to gain the skills and experiences to give back meaningfully in my personal life and in my career.

Because the MUHC Foundation鈥檚 mission is to serve its community by funding the MUHC, a leading healthcare and research center, joining the team felt aligned with my values. The month of June marked the launch of the Forward Fund for Women鈥檚 Health, a campaign dedicated to improving health care for women. Care is truly at the heart of the MUHC Foundation鈥檚 mission, and I had the privilege of partaking in it through my work in social media, events planning, and donor stewardship.

For most of my internship, I was supervised by the Foundation鈥檚 social media Director. In social media, I had the opportunity to design posts and publish content, which helped increase outreach to the community, and raise awareness. I also practiced my graphic design skills, notably, to design the pamphlet and posters for the Bal Rouge, the Foundation鈥檚 largest annual fundraising ball. For the last month of my internship, I worked alongside the stewardship and recognition team, assisting with events and meeting with incredible donors!

The writing, active listening, and speaking skills that I鈥檝e acquired in academics were immensely helpful in writing creative copy and connecting with donors. One of my most memorable moments was when I interviewed a representative of the women鈥檚 health campaign about her story and motivation for supporting the campaign. It was important for me to ask questions, and most of all listen attentively as she shared her experience with women鈥檚 health issues. It was meaningful to be part of her journey and to work towards change together. This same feeling was amplified when I got to be part of the Bal Rouge, an event which raised over 2 million dollars for innovation in health care.

Though I found the work at the Foundation fulfilling and meaningful, it was difficult to work within a hospital. For some tasks, I was in the hospital wings and saw many patients who were sick and suffering. What helped me cope with this challenge was talking about it with my colleagues. I shared my feelings of discomfort, and they shared that they felt the same way. It was helpful to know that they had been feeling the same way as me. I was also comforted by the knowledge that the Foundation鈥檚 work was improving the lives of these patients and numerous others.

One of my biggest takeaways from this internship is the healthy working environment and excellent team dynamic. Not only is it very human work, where everyone at the Foundation values every patient and every donor, but each colleague within the team values one other, no matter their role. I take away from this internship the knowledge that work can and should be healthy and meaningful. My professional skills were valued in my workplace, but so were my personal skills and my personality. I鈥檓 also more certain that a career in philanthropy is aligned for me.

All the skills, experiences, and relationships that I acquired throughout this internship would not have been possible without the award that I received from Mrs. Martha Breithaupt. As I鈥檓 working to support myself through university, I could never have taken a full-time, unpaid internship throughout the summer were it not for the generous award that I received. I am beyond grateful and am committed to paying Mrs. Breithaupt鈥檚 support forward in my personal and professional life.

Thank you, Mrs. Breithaupt, for making this life-changing experience possible through your generosity!

Sincerely,

Carissa Tran

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