Interning with AS – Hands-on Growth
By Emily A.
My name is Emily Araujo and I am currently a sophomore at the University of Texas at Austin pursuing a major in Biology with a certificate in Spanish for Medical Professions. Prior to working with Austin Smiles, I worked as a medical assistant, dealing more with patient interaction and care. Back then, all the supplies were always stocked and ready for immediate use except for a few that needed to be cleaned. So when first walking into the storage room with the task of taking inventory I was shocked by the sheer amount of supplies needed to run this organization. Despite taking classes related to medical terminology, I was unfamiliar with so many supplies and had to ask for help with identifying several. However, as the summer semester progressed I became comfortable with the long list of supplies we used and even had the chance to learn about how various strange-looking specialized equipment were used in the operating room while packing surgical kits for an upcoming medical mission with a surgical technician.
AS also gave me exposure to fundraising and working closely with peers for an organization. I was nervous about using the phone to call organizations and emailing because I thought that most people would just immediately hang up on me or ignore me. However, it was such a heartwarming experience reaching out to several companies and seeing how many were willing to help our cause. It was also so gratifying to work closely with a team that dedicated their time earnestly to help medical missions and support services for kids with cleft lip become a reality. It was truly a pleasure to work here and I appreciate all the experiences I gained throughout the internship.
Emily Araujo, Global Public Health Intern Summer 2024
The University of Texas at Austin
