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.

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.