Background
University of Virginia, Class of 2025
Project
Foundation Positioning Functional Analysis
Project Overview
I worked with the Foundation’s chairman, Neal Kassell, MD, and Commercial Initiatives and Strategy Director Cindy Clark in completing a functional analysis of the Foundation’s activities for the support of the focused ultrasound ecosystem. The activities were compared to five other types of organizations: research and education foundations, clinical societies, manufacturers’ associations, business development consultancies, and patient advocacy organizations. I then identified the functions of these organization types and compared them with the Foundation’s efforts.
Project Outcomes
I found a significant amount of overlap between the different organizations. For example, while business development consultancies are obviously business development focused, other organization types also engage in that function. This was true for many functions investigated, and this insight illuminated some areas where the Foundation could expand its role.
What new skills or knowledge did you gain during your internship?
Throughout this internship, I learned valuable information about how a business operates. The new skills I gained in business analysis will be extremely helpful in my future endeavors, and I am excited to put my new proficiency to use.
What was the most important learning point of your internship experience?
Learning about the limitations of AI was a valuable lesson for me during this internship. Conducting research through AI can be difficult, and AI can sometimes fabricate data to please its user, which was frustrating.
What is one tip that you would give to 2025 summer interns?
Plan an intern outing! It is a great way to get to know your fellow interns outside of the workplace and fosters deeper connections than simply working together at the office.