United States of Care
Being a Development Intern at the Peak of COVID-19
By Quinn Rafferty
Setting the scene
For my senior semester, Spring 2020, at Macalester College, I wanted to expand my public health knowledge beyond my specialty, data and statistics, and get involved in the policy and healthcare side of the field. After searching for healthcare and policy organizations in the Twin Cities, I found myself in the United States of Care (USofC). Coming into this organization my main role was to work with the Senior Director of Development and research prospective donors, plan fundraising activities, and aid with our customer relations database. I had never taken on a role like this before so I was excited about the challenge. I also knew I would have the opportunity to learn about different facets of healthcare policy and state affairs due to the small size of the organization and department overlaps. However, my role and internship expectations all changed in March 2020.
What is US of Care?
USofC is a non-partisan non-profit founded by Andy Slavitt, former Acting Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services under the Obama administration. The organization works directly with policymakers, patients, advocates, and experts in order to build support from the public, develop best practice approaches, and shift our national culture to create lasting change.
From Development to COVID-19
When COVID-19 became the only topic on the news our organization decided to pivot all efforts and staff towards our new focus: COVID-19 Rapid Response. USofC is leading the charge to consult and recommend effective policy solutions to state and federal policymakers regarding COVID-19 legislations and relief packages. These solutions aim to center people over partisan politics and meet the demand for cross-sector rapid outcomes that reflect people’s needs. When we made this initial shift in agenda, I found myself asking, “How can I, an undergraduate statistics student, possibly help now?” This was completely new territory for me and I was unsure if my work and presence in the organization was more of a hindrance than asset.
I was originally hired as a Development intern and now had to work remotely from home with an organization I had only been with for a couple of months. However, I understood that this was uncharted territory for everyone, not only in our organization but also nationwide. So I threw my previous expectations out the door and offered to work on any and all ad hoc projects anyone in the organization needed help with. Going into this internship, I never thought that I would help the Communications team draft media posts or provide my opinion on the US healthcare system to the State Affairs department. This internship has challenged me to rapidly develop skills I did not think I originally had in my repertoire. The main task I am most proud of helping my team with is what the organization calls a “Matchmaking” process. In this role, I help our team connect constituents and policymakers to resources they request throughout the pandemic. For example, many individuals have reached out to USofC asking for advice on a variety of topics like how to ensure the voices of those with mental health needs, disabilities, and caretakers are included at the COIVD-19 policy table. I help the team identify whom from our expansive networks of Founder’s Council, Entrepreneurs Council, Voices of Real Life experts, and other states, federal, and advocacy partners would be the best to ask for advice or connect them too.
At the end of the day...
As I still process and morph with the changes of day to day operations, I have learned and witnessed how powerful dedication and passion from organizations like the USofC are and how they can make a positive difference in a time of uncertainty. USofC is composed of 22 incredibly smart and dedicated individuals who pivoted quickly and efficiently towards one of the biggest health crises many of us have faced in our lifetime. I feel lucky to be a part of an organization that has produced federal and state policy recommendations that have been incorporated in bills on Capitol Hill. It is rewarding to know that my contribution, no matter how small, is helping our team create policy recommendations that will help millions of people.
Quinn Rafferty
Hello and welcome to my page! I hope you enjoyed reading about the exciting world of nonprofit healthcare policy consultancy. Just a small tidbit about me, I am an Applied Mathematics and Statistics major with a concentration in Community and Global Health at Macalester College. I'm from San Diego, California but will soon be a Seattle, Washington resident this Fall 2020. In Seattle I will continue to pursue my passion for health and data at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation as a Post Bachelor Fellow.