There Goes My Hero Internship

Presenter: Mahika Vedire, Public Health Science & Marketing, Global Public Health Scholars

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For my practicum experience, I interned at There Goes My Hero, a nonprofit organization based in Maryland dedicated to improving the lives of those affected by blood cancer. Their mission focuses on improving lives through bone marrow donor registration, patient support, and public education. During my internship, I managed their social media accounts, volunteered at bone marrow registry drives, participated in fundraising events, and helped communicate key messages about donor registration and cancer awareness. A major part of my work focused on raising awareness about the severe underrepresentation of racially and ethnically diverse individuals in the bone marrow registry, particularly through the organization’s “Color the Registry” initiative. Through my work, I learned the importance of effective communication and community engagement in driving public health initiatives forward. I saw firsthand how health disparities, like the underrepresentation of individuals of color in the bone marrow registry, can directly affect patient survival. Public health efforts must address these systemic issues by promoting education, advocacy, and equitable access to resources. My experience highlighted how nonprofits play a critical role in bridging these gaps by providing information, organizing community events, and encouraging diverse donor registration. Overall, this practicum strengthened my skills in public health communication and deepened my understanding of the ways social determinants of health, like race and ethnicity, affect health outcomes. Ultimately, my experience at There Goes My Hero reaffirmed my passion for using marketing as a force for good, combining public health knowledge with digital communication to drive impact and save lives.