Vinaya Rajahraman, AHS 2015 Internship Pilot Class Vinaya interned with with Dr. Helaine Bertsch, a radiation oncologist, at Helen and Harry Gray Cancer Center during her senior year. Her internship helped her determine her post high school pathway. After majoring in biology at UConn, Vinaya continued with Medical School at UMass. She is now a first year resident, specializing in radiation oncology (the same field as her high school internship!) at Tufts. “I did not know what specialty I wanted to pursue when I started medical school, however my time with Dr. Bertsch back in high school had piqued my interest in radiation oncology. I ended up spending some time with the department at UMass and could see myself doing it long term, and matched in the field! One of my distinct internship memories is remembering seeing a baby with Ewing sarcoma and watching Dr. Bertsch help the family through the diagnosis. Though I did not know I would end up in radiation oncology at the time, it did motivate me to go to medical school, so I could also be a support system for patients in difficult times.” 

Amir Johnson, AHS 2019  Amir’s Internship with Connecticut House of Representatives, under the direction of Rep. McGee during the fall of his senior year, inspired his love for politics and local government. In college, Amir continued his passion for politics and majored in Political Science. Although he is not working in the same field as his internship, all of his volunteer activities are aligned with his high school internship experience. “My internship experience provided me with a network of people with whom I am still connected.”