This summer, I am working as a Policy Intern with the Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, TB, and malaria. Friends of the Global Fight aims to end the global epidemics of AIDS, TB, and malaria by advocating for U.S. support of the Global Fund and other global health organizations. By engaging policymakers, facilitating connections among various stakeholders committed to improving global health, and communicating the effectiveness of the work of the Global fund, Friends of the Global Fight helps to secure sustainable funding for global health initiatives.
As a Policy Intern, I work closely with Friends of the Global Fight’s staff on legislative and policy related tasks. Specifically, my tasks include issue-related research, drafting Congressional committee hearing questions, attending virtual Congressional briefings and hearings, and completing advocacy-related projects. I also work closely with my fellow interns on self-started research projects. Although I have only been with Friends for two weeks, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time and have already learned a great deal about how global health funding is achieved through engaging with policymakers. Working as a Policy Intern for Friends at this time, specifically, is especially interesting, given the global context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the domestic season of annual appropriations and re-election. I am actively working to demonstrate to legislators how COVID-19 will hinder progress on ending the epidemics of HIV, TB, and malaria. In addition, I am aiding the Friends policy team in ensuring that international aid for global health is included in any forthcoming emergency funding bills.
As a double major in Public Health and Economics, I have committed my undergraduate education and previous internship opportunities to learning about how policy can achieve both population-wide health benefits and inclusive economic growth and economic opportunity. This internship with the Friends of the Global Fight will allow me to expand on my understanding of my major interests in public health: policy, advocacy, health communication, and global health. In the future, I hope to pursue a career that allows me to engage with policymakers and to inform them about and advocate for various issues in global health. This Policy Internship will allow me to gain a clearer understanding of what my future career may entail as well as prepare me for this line of work.