"The Catalytic Impact Foundation (CIF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that aggregates philanthropic capital and makes impact investments in early-stage life science and health care companies addressing unmet medical needs. The projects I worked on mostly included participating in the due diligence process. I conducted competitive analyses and industry research on potential portfolio companies seeking to raise funds. Other projects I worked on included updating promotional material and the company website to ensure up-to-date communication with prospective donors and companies looking for funding. I also wrote proposals to apply for additional organizational support and health equity grants. With additional funding from organizations and donors, the aim was to be able to invest in more early-stage companies with promising innovations that address areas of need.

I am currently pursuing my MPH at Mailman in health policy and management. My degree requires me to stay up to date with exciting changes and developments within the life science field and health policy. It also requires me to analyze, quantitatively and qualitatively, the effects of different solutions proposed by scientists, policymakers, and other stakeholders. I applied these skillsets during my internship throughout my research as I looked through different studies, their methods and conclusions. These skillsets allowed me to produce comprehensive deliverables, detailed analyses of companies offering innovations and their specific industries. With skills I learned from my MPH classes, I was able to make valuable contributions during weekly meetings and make recommendations to the advisory team

A challenge I faced was the remote nature of the practicum. One of my responsibilities included filing government documents through mail and it required mailing physical documents and signed checks. I approached these challenges by coming to the in-person meeting prepared with a spreadsheet of all the due dates, fees associated with each document and government office addresses. I also had the opportunity to meet my preceptor and the team twice in New York, which was exciting as we were able to share ideas freely. The physical aspect allows me to build irreplaceable connections and be more invested in my work. Remote work did not alter the impression of my practicum or organization; however, I do realize I would like to meet coworkers and colleagues at least once a month. Constant communication with my preceptor made me feel appreciated and eased my concerns about remote work and my level of involvement with the organization. I hope to be able to work partly remote in the future

My experience at CIF was an eye opening one. It taught me about the different stakeholders in the health care industry, how they function to commercialize breakthrough drugs and the various ways in which one can participate in furthering innovation in the sciences. Prior to the internship I had a very rough understanding of the funding, pharmaceutical research and development process. I have learned so much from my preceptor and the advisors about the nuances and workflows within the industry. Additionally, I have learnt more about the gender disparities in startup funding, why certain areas of need remain underfunded, and why there is a need for nonprofit venture capital firms, such as CIF. I aspire to continue working in the intersection between health care and business, especially in an organization that actively promotes health equity and diversity within the life sciences."