Social Impact Internships: Michelle Peng (’27)
My name is Michelle Peng, and I’m a rising sophomore majoring in Course 3, potentially 3A-20. This summer, I interned for Reboot Rx, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fast-tracking the development of low-cost treatment options for cancer with repurposed generic drugs. My role as a Biomedical Scientist Intern was to validate predictions made by an AI pipeline that synthesizes evidence from clinical studies. I reviewed data and extracted additional data features. I also assisted in drafting drug summaries for promising drug-cancer pairs, meaning drugs that have been studied for the treatment of a specific cancer type. This process involved researching the standard of care, mechanism of action, and relevant clinical data.
Affordability is a significant concern in the current healthcare system, particularly for cancer patients. The high costs of cancer treatments and supportive care often place an overwhelming financial burden on patients and their families. This issue is exacerbated by flaws in the healthcare system, such as inequitable access to care, inadequate insurance coverage, and high out-of-pocket expenses. These systemic problems can lead to delayed or suboptimal treatment, reduced quality of life, and financial hardship. This highlights the urgent need for more affordable and equitable care for all patients, especially those battling cancer.
My internship at Reboot Rx has given me the opportunity to learn how much goes on behind the scenes in the healthcare system. Prior to working at Reboot Rx, I was unaware that it was even possible to repurpose generic drugs for cancer treatments. Learning about this concept has been eye-opening, especially considering the potential it holds given the number of already approved drugs and the wealth of research supporting their use. Reboot Rx’s mission to make repurposed treatments more accessible and affordable is truly inspiring, and I am proud to contribute to this goal. While conducting research for potential drug-cancer pairs, I looked into current costs and availability of the generics, and I was fascinated to find out how affordable some of these drugs are, considering how big of an impact they can have on a patient’s health. Within the Strategies Toward Social Change Wheel, Reboot Rx addresses the social innovation and enterprise aspect by searching for more affordable treatments to target the gaps in the healthcare system. I also noticed that advocacy plays a large role in Reboot Rx’s mission, specifically raising awareness about patient needs and potential treatment options.
This realization has deepened my understanding of the importance of affordability in healthcare and reinforced my commitment to helping advance solutions that can make effective treatments more accessible to those who need them most. Working at Reboot Rx has not only taught me critical reading and analysis skills but also helped me with my goal of contributing to a more equitable and effective healthcare system. My work was more focused on doing biomedical research and developing written reports and less on the implementation of this research into the healthcare system. However, I felt I was able to contribute meaningfully by analyzing clinical data that could guide future applications and decisions, ultimately helping to bridge the gap between research and real-world impact.
I am so glad to have had the opportunity to work with Reboot Rx for my first college internship experience. I am especially grateful for the people I got to work with, as it was extremely inspirational to see how motivated they all are to improve the healthcare system. I feel I was able to work closely and establish meaningful connections with my coworkers. Throughout this internship, I gained valuable insights into their reasons for joining Reboot Rx, and it was empowering to learn how much they prioritize the opportunity to make a direct impact. Workin at a small nonprofit organization like Reboot Rx allows them to see the tangible effects of their efforts on the healthcare system, and that sense of purpose and immediacy resonates with me as well. This experience has solidified my interest in pursuing a career where I can significantly contribute to improving patient outcomes. I am thankful for the chance to learn, grow, and make a difference alongside such a passionate team this past summer.
Tags: Health, Health & Medicine, Social Impact Internships, Social Impact Internships 2024, Social Impact Internships Summer 2024
