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Zuha Ali, ADEA Health
Career Connection Summer 2024 Intern. |
By Zuha Ali, ADEA Health Career Connection Summer 2024 Intern
Over the years, ADEA has supported
Health Career Connection (HCC) by hosting undergraduate students and recent graduates for a 10-week, full-time paid summer internship. HCC partners with over 300 health care, public health, behavioral health and biopharma organizations and places over 300 interns across the country annually
to provide invaluable exposure, mentoring and networking experiences to empower interns to choose and successfully pursue a career in the health professions.
This summer, the ADEA Office of Access, Diversity and Inclusion (ADI) hosted Zuha Ali, a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in public health sciences and minoring in humanities, health and medicine at the University of Maryland, College Park. As a student, she was an undergraduate research assistant and was
a member of Students Engaged in Public Health, Mu Delta Alpha Sorority, Inc., Muslim Student Association and Pakistani Student Association. Upon graduation, Ms. Ali plans to pursue a master’s degree in health administration. Read Ms. Ali’s summer internship reflections below.
During Ms. Ali’s internship, she contributed to ADI’s efforts by creating outreach materials for the Summer Health Profession Education Program (SHPEP) alumni scholarships and assisted with planning for the 2025 ADEA Enid A. Neidle Scholar Retreat, under the guidance of her preceptor, Kristen Wong, Ed.D.,. Director of Inclusive
Programs and Services within ADI.
Tied to her interests in health communication, advocacy and research, Ms. Ali completed a policy brief project on the California Assembly Bill 2052, a bill regarding school-based health centers. This project included conducting a literature review, crafting policy
alternatives and recommendations and presenting the work to ADEA staff within ADI and the Office of Advocacy and Government Relations. She participated in ADI’s staff meetings and staff retreat as well as an ADEA Lunch and Learn session on editorial quality assurance and the all-staff summer social. Having informational meetings with ADI staff, various
ADEA offices and public health faculty helped her better understand the diverse roles and complexities of their work needed to support
ADEA’s mission to lead and support the health professions community in preparing future-ready oral health professionals.
Another highlight of the internship was the opportunity to attend the 52nd Annual Student National Dental Association (SNDA) Convention in Las Vegas, NV. Ms. Ali was able to network with experienced oral health professionals, researchers and current and future dental students while learning about the latest advancements
in oral health. Although Ms. Ali is not a pre-dental student, she was still able to engage with students at various stages in their dental education, providing her with a diverse perspective of the oral health profession and a sense of camaraderie within the oral health community.
Ms. Ali attended the talk Beyond the Selfie: Professional Headshots for Success, which was a significant step in enhancing her professional presence because prior to this internship experience she had not taken professional headshots. The event Uplifting
Communities: Hygiene Pack, where she placed essential items like soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes and hand sanitizer into packs and collaborated with other volunteers, taught her that the simplest of actions can be impactful when they are performed with intention and compassion.
While at the SNDA convention, she also went to the Igniting Innovation: Student Research
Poster Showcase, where she got a chance to see dental research that was clinical, basic science, behavioral and public health based. She heard about growing trends in the oral health profession and was particularly drawn to the research that intersected with public health because it resonated with her passion
for health equity and community health.
Lastly, Ms. Ali attended the Dental Shark Tank Competition, which offered current dental students and entrepreneurs a chance to present innovative ideas and proposals to a panel of expert judges, similar to the popular TV show Shark Tank. At this event, she watched student entrepreneurs pitch their innovative ideas, navigate the competitive landscape and secure investments for their projects. It was inspiring to see how the finalists gained the confidence and courage to present their ideas and innovations to a larger audience in
hopes of improving the profession of oral health.
Ms. Ali was grateful for the opportunity to attend this enriching convention and found it especially meaningful to witness a diverse group of people of color passionately pursuing a rewarding career in oral health. This underscored the importance of
representation and diversity in health care for Ms. Ali and showed her that their journeys are a testament to the future that lies ahead for many aspiring oral health professionals.
Reflecting on her internship, Ms. Ali experienced significant growth—personally, academically and professionally—as she applied existing strengths in new and different ways. On a personal level, she refined her ability to adapt to a new work environment and discovered different learning styles, broadening her
approach to problem solving and task management. Academically, she enhanced her attention to detail by ensuring accuracy and precision in her work and sharpened her research skills by learning how to gather, analyze and synthesize information from various sources. On a professional level, she practiced
effective communication, both in-person and via email, which was essential in building and maintaining professional relationships and enhancing collaboration. She also improved her public speaking skills through her policy brief project presentation.
Ms. Ali’s time at ADEA has been truly impactful. She is confident that all her experiences related to professionalism and public health will help her excel in her future endeavors, and she looks forward to staying connected with ADEA in the years ahead.
Published on September 11, 2024