With the return of NIH’s Summer Internship Program (SIP) this year, NCI Frederick welcomed dozens of students and young professionals looking for a potentially life-altering experience.
In Occupational Health Services (OHS), three students—ranging from newcomers to veterans—spent the summer caring for patients and finding new inspiration for their careers.
One found a new professional focus. Another has grown into a mentor in her own right. The third feels resolute in her path.
Their experiences exemplify the SIP’s goals and illustrate the enrichment that internships at NCI Frederick, old and new, provide.
Read on to hear the interns tell their stories.
Jannah Odeh: Aspiring Clinical Nurse
Second-year student at Montgomery College
Internships with OHS: 1
Prior to my NCI internship, I knew I wanted to go into nursing because of my own health challenges growing up. I applied to the SIP to gain hands-on clinical experience and better understand what a career in nursing truly involves. Although I knew participating in an internship at NCI would help prepare me for nursing school, I found it exposed me to a new career path I had never considered.
One of the most impactful experiences during my internship was visiting the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda. Touring each unit and learning about the intense, life-changing research taking place there completely changed my perspective on nursing. Through having the privilege of talking to many different providers within the center, I was introduced to the field of research nursing.
This career path integrates the role of nursing with clinical research, as each patient is under a strict protocol for their clinical condition. I admired how each of the nurses felt so strongly about their jobs, as they are dealing with some of the sickest patients from all over the world. Following my visit, I knew that research nursing would be a great fit for me.
During my internship, I also had the chance to work alongside nurses and nurse practitioners in the clinical setting. I learned essential skills from them, such as performing patient assessments, administering vaccinations, suturing, and communicating with patients.
I would highly recommend NCI’s internship to any student interested in pursuing a career in healthcare, as it not only confirmed that nursing is the right career for me but also broadened my vision of what my future could look like.
Taylor Johnson: Mistakes Lead to Wisdom and Confidence
Second-year student at Boston College
Internships with OHS: 2
My internships in OHS have been invaluable to my academic and professional growth. The experiences and mentorship helped me gain admission to Boston College’s competitive direct-admit nursing program. At first, I was intimidated by the high standards and perfectionism that surrounded me. However, I soon realized that my willingness to embrace mistakes set me apart. In an environment where many feared asking questions or making mistakes, I recognized that real learning often comes from overcoming challenges and reflecting on missteps, as I did during my internships.
My work in OHS mainly included medical-assistant-related tasks, such as patient intake, vital signs, and patient health questionnaires. While simple now, these were daunting when I began. The internship program also provided the more advanced opportunity to perform venipuncture (giving injections and drawing blood).
The greatest gift and lesson that the OHS staff gave me was the opportunity and environment to make mistakes. It was the trembling I experienced giving my first flu shot, the time I slightly missed the vein the first time drawing blood, and the time I misjudged the size of the blood pressure cuff—which proceeded to “pop off” the patient while inflating—that showed me my mistakes are what made me a more confident provider in the clinic and a better learner in the classroom. There was no yelling, no condemnation, and no judgment when I made these mistakes, but rather a sense of calm and reflection on what went wrong and how to do better next time.
Thanks to my experiences in OHS, my peers at Boston College routinely seek me out for help regarding our challenging nursing work. Additionally, I feel courage and trust in my abilities going into my sophomore year in Boston College’s nursing program, where I will begin working in our Nursing Simulation Lab and doing clinicals in the world-renowned Boston Hospitals and Clinics.
Gracia Mulangu: A Strong Foundation
Third-year student at University of Maryland, College Park
Internships with OHS: 3
My first internship with OHS was a medical assistant role through the [former Werner H. Kirsten internship] program. I applied because I have always known I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare, and I saw this opportunity to gain firsthand experience and better understand what it means to be a nurse. Throughout my internship, I assisted with day-to-day clinical responsibilities, including taking vital signs, performing administrative tasks, attending staff meetings, and supporting the nurse practitioners caring for patients.
One of the most rewarding parts of my experience was the trust my mentor, [OHS Manager] Sarah Hooper, placed in me. She invited me to continue working after I turned 18, allowing me to expand my clinical skills by learning how to perform electrocardiograms (EKGs), complete head-to-toe physical assessments, draw blood, and administer injections.
Over the past three years, I have created a scientific poster on the effects of music therapy for patients with depression, published an article on fireworks safety, and developed presentations on medications and diseases. Through these projects, I helped promote wellness while strengthening my communication and research skills. Each project has expanded my understanding of the human body and strengthened my passion for educating patients.
This is now my third SIP internship at NCI Frederick, and every summer has brought new opportunities to grow. As I am preparing to earn my Bachelor of Science degree in nursing within the next two years, pursue a career as an intensive care unit nurse, and eventually become a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), I know these experiences have given me a strong foundation.
Listening to nurses share their experiences from different specialties has broadened my understanding of the healthcare world and shown me that nursing extends far beyond clinical skills. Working alongside the OHS team has shown me collaboration is essential in providing quality healthcare and has inspired the type of nurse I hope to become.
Overall, this internship has strengthened my confidence, expanded my clinical knowledge, and confirmed that nursing is the career I am meant to pursue. I know I am entering nursing school with a strong foundation because of the mentorship, hands-on experience, and lifelong lessons I have gained through the SIP. As I continue my journey, I will carry forward the compassion, curiosity, and commitment to lifelong learning that this internship has instilled in me.
Jannah Odeh, Taylor Johnson, and Gracia Mulangu were summer interns with Occupational Health Services (OHS). OHS works to protect, maintain, and promote employees’ health.
Samuel Lopez leads the editorial team in Scientific Publications, Graphics & Media (SPGM). He writes for newsletters; informally serves as an institutional historian; and edits scientific manuscripts, corporate documents, and sundry other written media. SPGM is the creative services department and hub for editing, illustration, graphic design, formatting, and multimedia.