Internships Results

Liying Chen, wearing glasses and a green parka, with a waterfall in the background at Yosemite National Park

Finding clarity in numbers and community

Liying Chen, MS ’20, PhD ’26

Michigan Public Health Biostatistics PhD student Liying Chen transforms clinical medicine experience into impactful public health research. Chen harnesses statistics, AI, and big data for cancer, mental health, and substance use, supported by a diverse community and renowned mentorship.

Closeup of Sydney McKinnon smiling

Senior lands full-time position at Eli Lilly before graduation

Sydney McKinnon

University of Michigan School of Public Health senior Sydney McKinnon’s journey from dental assistant in high school to public health advocate led her to a full-time job at Eli Lilly before graduation. Discover how curiosity, networking and a holistic college experience helped McKinnon succeed and inspire others through public health and pharmaceutical sales.

Sophia Steinert

Extending an internship into a yearlong learning experience

Sophia Steinert

Senior Sophia Steinert, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Community and Public Health, extended her summer healthcare internship into a year-long opportunity and secured another position for next summer. Learn how the public health student's proactive approach to internships and early planning is building her career in healthcare administration before graduation.

Pedro Sancha in his office

Leading global impact through science, partnership and innovation

Q&A with Pedro Sancha, President and CEO of NSF

Pedro Sancha, President and CEO of NSF, discusses leading a global public health organization born at the University of Michigan School of Public Health in 1944. Serving on Michigan Public Health’s Dean's Advisory Board, Sancha shares how NSF’s 5,000 experts across 110 countries use science-based standards to tackle emerging threats like PFAS and microplastics, keeping families safe through food and water safety innovation rooted in Ann Arbor.

Halimat Olaniyan

How public health shaped a doctor's world view

Halimat Olaniyan, BS ’19

Halimat Olaniyan was among the first students in Michigan Public Health’s undergraduate program. Now finishing her medical residency in pathology, she credits her public health education with shaping her worldview and career path toward transfusion medicine, health equity, and preventing illness rather than just treating disease.

Laura Arboleda-Merino

From third grade dream to public health innovator

Laura Arboleda-Merino, MPH ’17

An internship at a local health department further crystallized Laura Arboleda-Merino's interests in public health. She was no longer just interested in treating individual patients, but in understanding and addressing systemic health challenges. Her academic journey led her to the University of Michigan School of Public Health. The transition wasn’t just about academic advancement but about finding a community that resonated with her interdisciplinary approach.