global health intern

A Day in the Life of a Global Health Intern

Gladys Octavia is currently completing the Global Health Internship with Costello Medical.

What did you find most enjoyable during your time at Costello Medical?

I really appreciate how supported I felt throughout my internship programme at Costello Medical. The induction courses were comprehensive and tailored to my project. I easily accessed learning materials and other resources for my project. Everyone was very approachable and helpful. The company also cared about well-being, reflected in its overall working culture and the organised social events.

What have you learnt during your internship that you will use in the future?

I gained valuable skills in navigating challenges related to systematic review writing, as well as honing my scientific critical appraisal and evidence development abilities. These experiences will be incredibly useful in any public health-related role that I will take in the future, as everything always starts and ends with evidence to achieve better health outcomes. Additionally, experiencing the working culture has helped enhance my time management skills, including maintaining a good work-life balance. This will surely benefit both my professional and personal life, as well as improve the quality of work I produce in the future.

How would you describe a typical day in the life of a Global Health Intern at Costello Medical?

8:15am

I arrive at the office and have a quick breakfast there. I run through my to-do-list for the day and check for any emails or updates on the office’s channels. I also use this time to reach out to Indonesian journals on my list of potential submission targets, to accommodate the time difference.

8:45am

I start working on my project which is a systematic literature review (SLR) on help-seeking behaviour and mental health promotion programmes in Southeast Asian youth, focusing first on parts that require the most concentration. For example, I begin by conducting risk-of-bias assessments and extracting data from included studies.

12:00pm

I have my bi-weekly meeting with a senior analyst from the Literature Review division to discuss my project. I share my progress and receive support for any technical processes involved in conducting an SLR.

12:30pm

Lunchtime! I head to the kitchen for lunch or sometime take a quick walk nearby with my Health Policy colleagues beforehand.

2:00pm

I have my weekly meeting with my line manager to discuss my project’s progress and any difficulties I encounter. We also plan the objectives for the upcoming week and address any housekeeping matters related to my internship.

3:00pm

I take a quick 15-minute afternoon tea break in the kitchen. This time is also often used for any tea break social events organised by the company. Afterwards, I head back to my desk and continue working on my project, such as writing or editing my manuscript.

5:15pm

I finish my work around this time and head home.

What would be your advice to those considering applying for the Global Health Internship?

  1. Take some time to reflect on your past experiences and future interest or professional goals. See how they can relate to one of the current health needs or problems in your home country.
  2. Get to know Costello Medical. Go to their website, explore their services and areas of expertise, see their past publications. Identify any skill gaps you have or specific project aspects where their expertise and the unique Global Health Intern scheme could support you and your project.
  3. Break your project down from A to Z. Think about the methodology, timeline, final output, and impact you hope to deliver. Ensure that your project is feasible within the internship timeline.