When I got the initial call telling me about my acceptance for this fellowship, I had no idea what was in store — what is public health communications? What could sociology and public health communications possibly have in common? What if I get swallowed up in the hustle and bustle of a city as enormous as D.C.?
All my questions were answered from the first day of my internship at alignco, a strategic communications and advertising agency that promotes social causes across the nation.
Their fast-paced environment threw me right into a national marketing campaign, “One Nation, Overcharged,” to discuss the astronomical healthcare costs across the country. The constant usage of acronyms and Google Chats to communicate with co-workers is not the hardest part to adjust to, but being able to not allow your lack of experience to deter you. The summer-long campaign showed me more than ever that my expertise was needed. Yes, I said expertise because I was bringing a myriad of experiences from my previous experiences to contribute. I particularly worked on building student-centered engagement strategies, finding social media content from the hit reality TV show, “Love Island USA” to advertise to Gen-Z, reviewing user-generated content and editing closed captions for accessibility, drafting proposals and memos to send to clients, and developing prompts to break down the healthcare system for the everyday American like me. My role also emphasized bringing my lived experiences about black and brown communities to tailor the marketing through a multicultural lens for these populations.
How many times had I had to deny prescriptions because I couldn’t afford them?
When was the last time I went to the doctor in Los Angeles- a known medical desert?
If I had to choose between visiting the hospital or staying at home to self-treat, which would I choose?
Can I even afford to decide?
Reviewing hundreds of videos from real-life people’s experiences with the healthcare system — from those with crushing medical debt to those still suffering from their lack of access to doctors. As I remember hearing in the film, “In Due Season”, from one of our clients’ American Cancer Society Action Network, one storyteller described the Medicaid coverage gap as the reality of “being in poverty and working to stay in poverty” and “poverty by design.” Hearing these harrowing accounts made me realize just how close to home these healthcare gaps resonated for my own life and experiences.
Youth is not a downside in communications but an advantage to be adaptable and creative in a rapidly changing field. I knew the bare minimum of Medicaid, but I realized quickly that not knowing was no longer a viable option, so I asked questions. I thought outside the box as a non-marketing individual. Thriving work environments encourage questions, and in a field like public communications, asking questions can only get you ahead.
Now, for the future intern reading this blog, here is some advice to carry you through this fellowship and your future career:
Listen and learn.
Intentional and active engagement with the very communities you serve makes all the difference. Staying informed through research about healthcare, sitting in on meetings with clients, and attending local community events are all a part of this holistic field that encompasses marketing, sociology, public health, and more disciplines. I got the chance to attend an Axios event talking about healthcare policy after the first anniversary of The Big Beautiful Bill (2025) that was passed and its effect on Medicaid. It was so insightful and clarifying to learn from leading healthcare experts, from House of Representatives members to the Planned Parenthood president.
Your transferable skills and lived experiences matter more than you think.
Sociology and public health seemingly have nothing in common, but I have found my skills to think critically, communicate diversely, and apply my previous knowledge of various cultures, institutions, and more to be able to succeed in this role. Don’t underestimate those soft skills as well as hard skills from your previous roles — whether internships, on-campus jobs, volunteering, family responsibilities, or more. One of my less-than-glamorous but incredibly beneficial roles was being the “customer service rep” for my family business and responding to customer complaints and inquiries, which came in handy when drafting memos for our business clients and providing feedback for event activations.
Learn from others, not only your work.
Your colleagues come with a myriad of experiences and backgrounds. It’s important not to allow the opportunity to go to waste to learn from them and gather advice for your future career. Schedule weekly coffee chats to learn more about one another’s career interests and hear about the unique path to success (hint: it’s never one-dimensional or linear). One of my alignco colleagues used to work at the Pentagon, while another never did any healthcare work before their current role.
Many of them may also be D.M.V natives or residents who have lived there for an extended period of time; make good use of their knowledge to understand more. Who knows — you may just find a new favorite restaurant, coffee shop, museum, or hidden gem.
I am not the same woman who landed on the plane at Ronald Reagan National Airport a month ago. I came in wide-eyed and unsure, but now I have so much to take home to California to implement. This fellowship invites so many opportunities and skills beyond its description, and taking advantage of it all is imperative to succeed, professionally and personally.