More than an internship: how the Health Data Science Black Internship Programme shapes careers
We are proud to be a host organisation for the Health Data Science Black Internship Programme. This provides opportunities for talented Black health data scientists in the UK to excel in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers.
Being a host organisation means we get to work with many talented interns each year who look to develop their skills with us. We also get to learn a lot from them, too.
This year we were joined by Emeka Buchi Enechukwu and Priscilla Akyaa Kyei-Baffour. They worked closely with our Evaluation and Insights team on projects linked to our cardiovascular health and cancer portfolios.
Priscilla joined the HDR internship wanting to learn more about how data is being used in the real-world context to drive policies and health decision-making. She also wanted to further develop her skills in both qualitative and quantitative health data research methods.
As a medical doctor, the internship was my first time working in the corporate world. I learned the skills of promoting healthy team dynamics through celebration of one another’s achievements and milestones. I also got the opportunity to meet the Executive Leadership Team on a group level and we discussed the importance of investing in and mentoring younger people you encounter.
She worked on a literature review of digital health interventions used to manage hypertension. This was developed into a poster presentation that won a prize during the Closing Ceremony event.
The internship has increased my resolve to be a public health physician. One of my immediate future career goals is to start a health policy think tank in my country, Ghana. The internship has encouraged me to focus on data for every policy recommendation and solution. I learnt that in addition to having passion to advocate for any policy or intervention, add data!
Emeka was motivated to join the internship to supplement his studies at The University of Edinburgh. He wanted to gain hands-on experience working with real-world data to address social issues and improve health outcomes.
Interning at UCLPartners allowed me to get a feel of how data analysis is used in addressing cancer inequality in the UK, and the opportunity to contribute to the interventions that were being developed.
The internship has given Emeka the chance to reflect on his long-term career goals and understand that improving health requires a combination of analytical, research, and project management skills.
Sarah Houston, Evaluation and Insights Manager, UCLPartners said:
Emeka and Priscilla’s contributions have been invaluable. Being involved in the programme has not only strengthened our team and our work but has also allowed us to support and network with future leaders in our field. By providing opportunities for talented individuals like them through the HDRUK programme, we are shaping a brighter future for health data science.
Hear what Priscilla and Emeka had to say in our short video made in collaboration with HDR UK.