Internship & Co-op Experiences: completing a paid internship

 This summer, I had the incredible opportunity to intern with Help NOW through Advocate Health, a program dedicated to supporting teammates facing crises by addressing essential social needs such as food, housing, transportation, and financial hardship. The initiative spans several markets, including Greater Charlotte, Georgia, Raleigh-Wake, Chicago, Green Bay, and Milwaukee. Throughout my internship, I was able to contribute to meaningful projects that directly support Advocate’s broader Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) and workforce well-being strategies.

One of the greatest strengths of this experience was the hands-on exposure to how a large health system operationalizes social impact initiatives. I identified and vetted over 60 potential community partners across Midwest markets—ranging from food banks to domestic violence shelters and affordable furniture providers—to strengthen Help NOW’s emergency support network. I also conducted an in-depth analysis of affordable and transitional housing resources in Chicago and Milwaukee to expand teammate access to safe, stable housing options. Additionally, I participated in Lyft transportation partnership planning sessions, exploring creative ways to reduce transportation barriers for teammates in crisis. These opportunities allowed me to combine research, strategy, and community engagement while developing my professional skills in health equity and systems-based problem-solving.

One of the challenges of this internship was navigating the complexity of large-scale organizational systems. Understanding the many departments, data systems, and partnerships within Advocate Health required patience and adaptability. To strengthen the experience, I think future interns could benefit from structured orientation sessions that break down how each department contributes to the overall SDOH strategy. This would provide more context early on and allow interns to connect their projects to the broader mission more seamlessly.

This internship connects deeply to my academic journey as a Health Science major and my interest in public health and social impact work. Through both my studies and this internship, I have noticed a recurring pattern: health outcomes are often shaped less by clinical care and more by social and environmental conditions. This realization reinforces my passion for addressing health disparities and improving access to essential resources for underserved communities. It also builds on my past leadership experiences with Healthy People and my commitment to promoting health equity and community well-being.

This experience has solidified my aspiration to become a physician who integrates clinical care with community advocacy. Moving forward, I plan to continue expanding my understanding of social determinants of health through coursework, volunteerism, and leadership roles at Spelman. I also hope to pursue future internships that allow me to combine my interests in medicine, public health, and systems-level change. My time with Help NOW not only strengthened my research and professional development skills but also deepened my sense of purpose in contributing to a more equitable healthcare system.

Camille Duncan