Coralie is the 2025 Virginia and Dr. Elie J. Baghdady Humanitarian Scholar. She is working towards her MS at Friedman with a focus in Agriculture, Food, and Environment, as well as her MPH at the Tufts School of Medicine with a focus in Global Health. She interned at Christian Medical College (CMC) of Vellore in Southern India. Here are some reflections about her experience:
In just a few sentences, please tell us about your summer internship. How does it connect to your personal and professional interests?
This summer, I spent two months in South India, interning at the Christian Medical College (CMC) of Vellore in their Community Health Department. The CMC is a well-known hospital and medical college in India that focuses on providing equitable healthcare through its main hospitals, community clinics, and rural home visits. During my internship, I was involved in a field study evaluating the impact of a supplemental food, made from locally sourced ingredients, on the nutritional status and microbiome of malnourished children in the nearby community. My mission was to create informational documents for the mothers and families of the study participants to teach them about healthy eating recommendations, the microbiome, and the aim of the study. I got to meet prospective participants and their mothers during the pilot period of our study, and it was definitely a highlight of my experience! Interning in this setting was the perfect way to combine my interests in global health, nutrition, and research, while gaining firsthand insight into how nutrition and healthcare operate in a context very different from what I’d experienced before.
How did you land your internship? (e.g., networking, searching on the BCC job board, etc.)
I discovered this internship through the Global Health Experience program at Tufts School of Medicine, which partners with different institutions abroad and offers structured international field placements. Among the different options, I chose India and the CMC because I was especially drawn to the innovative child and maternal nutrition research conducted by their Community Health Department. I was able to fund this internship thanks to the generous support of the Virginia and Dr. Elie J. Baghdady Fund for Maternal and Child Nutrition, which I learned about through Friedman’s Ellie Block and Family Career Services Center. Their funding not only covered my travel and accommodation but also allowed me to explore more of South India, helping me connect more deeply with its people and culture.
What did you enjoy about your internship? What did you find challenging?
During my time in India, I really enjoyed shadowing a wide variety of professionals, including dietitians, doctors, and public health researchers. Getting the opportunity to observe the CMC’s holistic and preventive approach to healthcare, as well as participating in nutrition-related research in the surrounding rural communities, was an incredibly valuable learning experience. Through my field visits, I also gained valuable insights into India’s challenges and strategies around child and maternal nutrition, food security, and healthy eating. I also learned more about the region’s agriculture and food production, which was great to connect classroom learnings at Friedman with on-the-ground realities.
The biggest challenge was navigating language barriers and adapting to a new cultural context, but stepping outside of my comfort zone ultimately strengthened my flexibility and adaptability skills.
What are the necessary soft and hard skills needed for this position?
I believe that strong communication skills, the confidence to speak up and ask questions, and the ability to work independently are essential for thriving in a fast-paced setting like an Indian healthcare center. On the technical side, knowing how to read and understand scientific articles and using their findings to explain scientific concepts in a simple, culturally appropriate way is also a valuable skill to have.
If you could offer one piece of internship search advice to your peers, what would it be?
My main advice would be to start the process early. Abroad opportunities exist everywhere and are amazing learning experiences, but often require a lot of planning and coordination, which takes time.
