On August 1, 2016, the Forum for Collaborative HIV Research hosted the 4th annual Washington Area Interns Networking Day 2016.  Leading experts from government and advocacy organizations in HIV/AIDS and Viral Hepatitis gathered for a panel discussion in which they provided career advice and shared their personal experiences navigating the fields of Public Health and Public Policy at the UCDC Washington Center on 1608 Rhode Island Avenue NW, Washington DC 20036.  Highlights from this session are included below. 

Panelists:

• Veronica Miller, PhD, Executive Director, Forum for Collaborative HIV Research [Moderator]
• Gina Brown, MD, Medical Officer, Office of AIDS Research, National Institutes of Health
• Corinna Dan, MPH, RN, Viral Hepatitis Policy Advisor, Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy, Department of Health & Human Services
• Kimberly Struble, PharmD, Medical Team Leader, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Division of Antiviral Products, U.S. Food & Drug Administration
• Isha Weerasinghe, MSc, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations
• Sue Zelt, DrPH, Senior Health Policy Fellow, Forum for Collaborative HIV Research; and Senior Director, U.S. Health Outcomes, ViiV Healthcare 

The 2016 Panelists from left to right: Veronica Miller, Gina Brown, Corinna Dan, Kimberly Struble, Isha Weerasinghe, Sue Zelt

This event was attended by interns from around the DC area. Host organizations represented by interns in attendance include The AIDS Institute, American Chemical Society, American Psychological Association's Office of AIDS, HealthHIV, The Global Liver Institute, and the National Association of Social Workers.

Question and Answer Session

       
Networking Reception

 Some memorable advice shared by panelists:

Don't over-promise and under-deliver. Be honest about your abilities and the time you have.

When making big career decisions, trust your gut.

Enjoy what you are doing.

When discussing heath issues, it is important to communicate in a way that affects change.

If there is a problem or issue, come to the table with a possible solution.

Identify skillsets where you feel uncomfortable or less secure and seek opportunities to practice those skills. Push yourself to explore these areas because it is the best way to grow. And, you may find a surprising new strength.

Find graduate schools with a strong networking structure. It will help you find positions after graduation.