Jennifer Johnson Eddy '82 Endowed Internship Fund

During my internship at Massachusetts General Hospital, working alongside a research team at MIT, I had the opportunity to contribute to work I'm passionate about, particularly in neuroimaging and brain lesion research. This experience not only provided valuable insight into how translational medical research functions, from anatomy fundamentals to segmentation methodology and 3D reconstruction, but also helped me develop a deeper understanding of the precision and rigor required in clinical research.

In the summer of 2025, I had the pleasure of spending the entire month of June at Rutkowska Lab, located at the Medical University of Gdańsk. The research facility, where I interned, focuses on experimental analysis of the offset and therapy of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). As a laboratory assistant, I was able to participate in the investigation of the Epstein-Barr virus-induced gene 2 (EBI2) in the context of therapy for MS. EBI2 is a promising target as it promotes remyelination and immunomodulation in the brain. 

During my internship in Lisbon, Portugal, I had the opportunity to shadow physicians across orthopedic surgery, general surgery, and anesthesiology, gaining a firsthand look at medicine in a global context. Observing procedures in the operating room allowed me to see the precision, teamwork, and decision-making that define surgical care while also appreciating the human side of medicine as physicians communicated with patients and families despite language and cultural barriers.

I spent my summer as an intern at the Upper Valley Haven, a private nonprofit in the Upper Valley region of Vermont and New Hampshire. The Haven aims to offer support to community members struggling with poverty and believes that everyone deserves to have their basic needs met. The Haven runs a community food market (food shelf) and two overnight shelters with the support of staff, social workers, volunteers, and the surrounding community.