Pivoting With Purpose: Marta Antoniv's Internship at MD Anderson

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PREVIOUS CAREER BEFORE MBA

• Title: Lab Scientist 
• Company: Aramco Americas

SUMMER INTERNSHIP

• Company: UT MD Anderson Cancer Center 
• Department: Cancer Survivorship
• Location: Houston, TX

HOW DID YOU SECURE YOUR INTERNSHIP?

The path to securing a summer internship took time, intentionality and self-reflection. I entered the MBA program interested in LDPs, opportunities in the energy sector, and healthcare, while staying open to exploring other paths. Throughout the year, I attended on-campus recruiting events and spoke with second-years, who mentioned in the fall that the MD Anderson application came in the spring. I continued applying to other jobs and intentionally networked at different events in the meantime. Attending the healthcare trek to MD Anderson in the fall and speaking with one of the MD Anderson Administrative Fellows really sparked my interest in applying for the summer internship, which I applied to in late February/early March. The application consisted of submitting a personal statement and two letters of recommendation. It also asked applicants to rank their top four projects of interest from a list of 20-plus projects. After interviewing with two departments I had selected as my top choices, I received an offer letter that paired me with the cancer survivorship team. 

WHAT WERE YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES DURING THE INTERNSHIP?

Every intern in the MD Anderson Summer Leadership Institute program works with a different department. I worked with Katherine Gilmore, MPH, and Dr. Michael Roth to expand the Survivorship Certification for Health Professionals, analyzing metrics like completion numbers, learner profiles and geographic spread, while also developing marketing materials and identifying channels to extend our educational reach. With 18.6 million cancer survivors in the US today, a number projected to reach 22.4 million by 2035, educating the physicians who care for survivors is urgent work to support cancer survivors. 

HOW DID YOUR MBA COURSEWORK PREPARE YOU FOR THIS INTERNSHIP?

Core data analysis and core marketing were most relevant to my summer internship work. My prior experience as a researcher, paired with the data analysis coursework, built the foundation for the analysis I did during the internship. Additionally, learning about market segmentation and channels in core marketing helped me approach the marketing aspect of my project by asking what each learner is looking for in this certification program, how we can best market to their interests and what channels they use to find new learning opportunities. 

HOW DID THE INTERNSHIP ALIGN WITH YOUR CAREER GOALS?

The internship gave me the opportunity to explore whether I wanted to pivot my career from the energy sector to healthcare. I found the experience deeply motivating. The mission of serving patients through my work helped me rediscover a sense of drive in my day-to-day life. Inspired by my summer work, I am now applying to the Administrative Fellowship program at MD Anderson and other hospitals to pursue my short-term goal of deepening my understanding of the complex healthcare system as quickly as possible and to support my long-term goal of becoming the director of a cancer survivorship department. 

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THE INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE?

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I really enjoyed interviewing stakeholders and learners, both internal and external to MD Anderson. Speaking with people on the ground who engage with MD Anderson's educational survivorship content helped me understand the unmet needs in survivorship education and how our program serves that need in the community and across the globe. I was motivated knowing my project was ultimately helping cancer survivors and the people who care for them. Additionally, I was very grateful for the support and mentorship from the cancer survivorship team. Working with them on a day-to-day basis inspired me to pursue a career in hospital administration and to prepare for that path via the Rice Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Management alongside my MBA. 

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS?

First, engage with people and stay curious about their experiences and career paths. You will learn a lot from what others have done and start to understand whether certain paths are right for you. Talking with others will also help clarify your own goals. Second, find small ways to recharge throughout the recruiting process; recruiting is a marathon, not a sprint. Third, keep an open mind and keep showing up. Everyone experiences failures and rejections, but do not get discouraged. Keep putting in the work, and you will end up where you need to be.

Marta Antoniv is a Full-Time MBA student in the Class of 2027.