GRIP, Internships Abroad Future Changes

September 4, 2018
By Ruth Lee, Nursing '20

World Medical Association
Ferney-Voltaire, France and Geneva, Switzerland

Ah, career path. While this was something I wanted to have a clearer idea of by the end of my internship, part of me also wanted to block it out of my mind and focus with all my energy on the work, people, and local community. The theory was to deeply absorb and process all that I learned and experienced without spending mental energy ruminating on the future. But it was by focusing on the day-to-day that I discovered a profound shift in how I viewed my future career. 

One of the major components that contributed to this is, of course, the actual knowledge and insights I gained during the internship. Conducting research and drafting comments for the WMA and attending the 71st World Health Assembly, the 38th UN Human Rights Council, and other UN or NGO events are undoubtedly major sources of my learning this summer. While I knew that I will be pursuing global health, it was through practically applying what I learned through the research and attending these events that I gained a full and more nuanced understanding of why and how the global health field works. I learned about issues I would not have been exposed to at Penn and witnessed discussions about the intersection of health and human rights. 

While the internship itself held countless invaluable experiences and lessons that I will never forget, I also learned much from my relationships with my colleagues and people in Geneva. By getting to know the staff and fellow interns at the WMA, I was constantly inspired by their motivations and ambitions. I also learned so much about the various cultures, cuisines, and conflicts of different parts of the world by listening to their perspectives and experiences. The people I have gotten to know in Geneva--whether through WMA, my housemates, or church--have been so welcoming and open, showing me that humanity crosses all boundaries. As cliché as this sounds, they also immediately made me feel at home in the multicultural and multilingual city of Geneva.

The internship, the people, and the experiences I had the privilege of knowing and having this summer have deeply affected how I view my future path. While there are innumerable cultures and societal groupings of people in this world, humanity is what links us together and makes us responsible for the inequities experienced by many. Health is the way that I choose to help address this.

The Global Research and Internship Program (GRIP) provides outstanding undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to intern or conduct research abroad for 8 to 12 weeks over the summer. Participants gain career-enhancing experience and global exposure that is essential in a global workforce. Placements and funding awards are available.