Hello, my name is Melina Mazzella, and I am a rising junior. I am majoring in Public Health and minoring in Chemistry on a pre-medical track. Outside of my academics, I am the incoming Director of Lifetime Membership for the Tri Delta sorority, volunteer weekly at the Pitt Vaccination and Health Connections Hub, and am a member of the Pitt Dance Ensemble. This summer, I will be spending 8 weeks in London as a full-time intern at King’s College Hospital!
When exploring my options for how to spend my summer, I knew I needed to make it count. As a pre-medical student, I have learned that what you do outside the classroom is just as important as what you learn inside the classroom, if not more so. I have always loved traveling and knew from my two older sisters that studying abroad can be life-changing. Pursuing a study abroad program that aligned with my future career goals felt perfect, and studying healthcare in London is an ideal place to expand my academic understanding of global health.
The Pre-Health Summer Internship Program through the Honors College checked off every box I had in my study abroad search. An internship already felt like a meaningful way to spend my summer, but doing one abroad felt even more transformative. I will be working and managing multiple projects through the Anaesthetic Department at King’s College Hospital. King’s College Hospital is one of London’s largest and busiest teaching hospitals, making it an ideal place to learn from experienced healthcare workers in multiple fields of medicine. Additionally, this program fulfills the experiential learning requirement for the Frederick Honors College. I hope to make the most of my experience as an Honors student at Pitt, and participating in an Honors program abroad is an optimal way to do so. As a public health student, this opportunity also satisfies my Capstone Project!
Throughout this experience, I hope to improve my professional communication skills. Communication is crucial while collaborating with multiple supervisors, healthcare workers, and interns on several projects. These projects focus on improving patient care, developing and refining clinical pathways, and supporting quality improvement initiatives for patients with complex needs. I aim to ask questions, participate in meetings, give feedback, and push myself out of my comfort zone.
I am prepared for the initial nervousness, uncertainties, and mistakes I know I will make; however, I am proud to be challenging myself both professionally and socially. I will be patient with myself as I travel independently, navigate a new city and culture, and meet so many exciting people. I cannot wait to explore as many new cities and countries as possible on the weekends, and to make memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. See you in London!