About Previous Editorial Interns at DMS Publications
Vanessa Hurley
Vanessa Hurley (editorial intern for Spring 2008) is from Santa Rosa, California, and a member of the Dartmouth Class of 2009. She is pursuing a bachelor's degree in English and completing premedical courses, too.
Vanessa has been involved in a number of activities that demonstrate her commitment to the medical sciences and to communication. As an intern with Dartmouth's Women and Science Project, she assisted Children's Hospital at Dartmouth researchers compile data on infant and child nutrition and on Hepatitis B vaccination rates. She has been the associate managing editor for the Dartmouth Coalition for Global Health's journal STANDPOINTS, a collection of student- and faculty-written articles and essays about personal experiences in global health. And she is a writing tutor for students in Dartmouth's Research, Writing, and Information Technology program.
While Vanessa hopes to eventually attend medical school, she's also considering graduate programs in science writing. Her time at DARTMOUTH MEDICINE has helped to solidify her dedication to detailing the significance of scientific discoveries for a general audience.
Vaness's comments on the internship:
My time at Dartmouth Medicine was exceedingly rewarding. I learned much from Dartmouth
Medical School researchers and physicians as well as from the magazine's journalists
who report on their work. And I worked at the interface between medicine and writing,
a field whose importance most assuredly will grow in the coming years. Being given
the opportunity to read about important studies, conduct interviews and craft
(and revise!) articles for the magazine meant that I felt fully immersed in the
world of science journalism, and not simply like a sidelined observer. The staff
at the magazine makes it their mission to ensure that you get as much out of this
internship as you decide to invest in it. Without a doubt, you gain real appreciation
for the immense task of "translating" medical findings into readable prose. In
the process, you are able to elucidate for yourself what started out as murky
and intimidating topics. It's an internship that encourages you to ask questions
and be critical about what you're reading and writing, skills that are undoubtedly
essential in any line of work. Although I'm still headed along the medical path,
this internship has helped confirm my desire to remain involved in science journalism.
Vanessa can be reached by e-mail at: Vanessa.B.Hurley@Dartmouth.edu.
Amanda Thornton
Amanda Thornton (editorial intern for the Fall 2007 term) was a second-year student at Dartmouth Medical School when she did the internship. Because she was splitting her second year--taking courses over two years instead of one--she had time to combine learning about medicine with learning to WRITE about medicine for the general public.
Amanda, who has extensive literary interests, was already a gifted writer when she came to DARTMOUTH MEDICINE. She was sports editor and reporter for her high school newspaper. At Harvard, where she earned her undergraduate degree with a concentration in biology, she wrote for campus publications and took classes in creative writing. At DMS, she crafted insightful, thoughtful essays as part of her course work, and participated in the Biomedical Libraries Book Club elective. In the summer of 2006, she was a counselor and teacher at a South Dakota science camp for Native American high school students, and part of her job entailed researching and writing up a one-week curriculum in entomology, botany, and other environmental science topics. She has also written articles for APOLOGIA, an Episcopal students magazine.
Amanda has lots of other interests, too. She was a disaster services volunteer for the American Red Cross in Boston. At Harvard, she worked in an entomology (study of insects) lab and wrote her senior thesis on weevils; was an assistant trip leader in the Freshman Outdoors Program; and ran on the varsity track team. In addition, she was on DMS's marathon team (Burlington), and is currently a female mid-weight competitor in Brazilian Jujitsu.
Amanda's comments on the internship:
Because I am a medical student, often I knew people who were being interviewed, or had had contact with them in the past. I had many more connections with the school, I had more mobility and freedom with what I felt comfortable doing, and probably didn't get hung up on things that someone who was not a medical student might. That did not mean there was nothing to learn. I just found out where the holes were in my knowledge and how best to fill them. It was great to find out about Dartmouth as an institution and its relationship with DHMC and also have a view into some of the [internal] politics. Students do not often get such an opportunity and I think that it will be helpful in my future. I don't think that being a medical student was a huge setback or a huge advantage for the internship. It was just something else to add to what resources I had to get things done. . . . The flexibility of the internship is one of its greatest strengths. . . . I really enjoyed working in the office and felt welcome and appreciated.
Amanda can be reached by e-mail at: Amanda.V.Thornton@Dartmouth.edu.
Alissa Poh
Alissa Poh (editorial intern for the summer term of 2007) expected to become a biomedical researcher so she could do science, but she recently developed a passion for writing about science. Now, as a student at one of the nation's highly regarded science-writing programs-at the University of California, Santa Cruz-she's well on her way to becoming a science writer.
Alissa was born and raised in Malaysia and has a B.Sc. in biochemistry from the University of Bristol in England. She recently completed her master's degree in Dartmouth Medical School's Pharmacology and Toxicology program and did her thesis research-on cancer cells and their resistance mechanisms to cell cycle checkpoint inhibitors-at Dartmouth's Norris Cotton Cancer Center, in the lab of Alan Eastman, Ph.D.
She is driven to learn about many areas of science and wants to communicate that knowledge to other people. "I have always loved language and wordplay," she says. "The idea of stepping into a scientist's world of discovery . . . while piecing the information . . . into a coherent story that bridges the 'science jargon gulf' so nonscientists may share my experience . . . is intensely appealing."
Alissa's comments on the internship:
If I were to think of a single word with which to use in describing my internship experience with Dartmouth Medicine, it would be "serendipity". I started out the year 2007 feeling quite lost, in terms of where I was going with my graduate degree in pharmacology. I knew I had no great love for benchwork and laboratory research, but it didn't seem like there was anything else I'd be able to do for a career, with the training skills I'd already been equipped with. Any fleeting thoughts that I'd entertained of pursuing science writing had been swiftly squashed by openly voiced concerns about the practicality of such a career, especially in terms of job options in the general region of the world that I hail from.
Still, I finally decided to listen to the little voice in my head that had been persistently nagging me to snap out of my retreat behind practicality, and things started moving pretty rapidly from there. Then I happened to read an e-mail from the graduate dean about the editorial intern position with Dartmouth Medicine. I applied and was pleased when I was accepted.
I really did enjoy this chance to step out of my isolated laboratory world and explore, through my writing assignments, other research areas that I might have paid little attention to otherwise. Getting to be a "run-of-the-mill journalist" for a little while-setting up appointments, interviewing, transcribing-was quite a heady experience too, although I must admit that I may never get used to, much less enjoy, hearing myself on a digital voice recording. It still seems pretty amazing (to me, at least) that the pile of information I accumulated for any one assignment was eventually cropped down to a neat 500-word article, but I did learn a fair bit from Laura Carter about the fine art of writing sparingly (rather than lengthy, adjective-filled sentences, which I'm unfortunately rather skilled at), and choosing with care from my treasure trove of material. It was also a wonderful, albeit unexpected, experience to not only have an opportunity to watch the recording process for a web extra, but to actually participate in one of them event (playing piano for a web extra in the Fall 2007 issue).
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of working with such a professional group of people, whose level of commitment to their job and sense of teamwork truly impressed me. I'm especially grateful for the way this serendipitous experience (what if I had simply discarded that email from the graduate dean, as I'm wont to do for non-personal messages?) has opened the door to a totally different career for me; I've taken my first sip of life as a science writer and am definitely coming back for more. So here's to my metamorphosis from lab rat to science-writing slug (for the unenlightened, UC Santa Cruz-where I'm headed-has the humble, garishly yellow banana slug as its mascot). . . . May it be a smooth transition!
Alissa can be reached by e-mail at apoh@ucsc.edu.
Kelley Meck
Kelley Meck (editorial intern, spring 2007) is from Boulder, Colorado and a member of the Dartmouth College Class of 2008. He is majoring in economics with concentrations in philosophy and cognitive science.
Before coming to DARTMOUTH MEDICINE, Kelley already had extensive experience in publishing as: the cofounder and executive publisher of APORIA, Dartmouth's undergraduate journal of philosophy; editor-in-chief of Dartmouth's GREEN MAGAZINE: and layout editor and managing editor of the DARTMOUTH FREE PRESS. In his spare time he enjoys reading fiction, rock climbing, and hanging out with fellow members of Amarna, a Dartmouth undergraduate society.
Kelley learned a lot about the art and science of medicine as well as about journalism and science writing. Although he's not may not pursue a career in journalism, he is confident that his growing ability as a writer will serve him well in his future.
Kelley's comments on the internship:
Writing for DARTMOUTH MEDICINE was good fun, and I anticipate, excellent preparation for a career in journalism. From the beginning, I was utilized as a writer and member of the editorial staff—not as cheap (free) labor. The internship was very well balanced between immediate immersion in sink-or-swim self-driven journalism, and a more collaborative approach. I learned a lot from the intern experience—both about medicine and about science writing more broadly. I am not sure that it will be a long-term profession, but I am confident that my growing ability as a writer will serve me well.
Kelley can be reached by e-mail at Kelley.H.Meck@Dartmouth.edu.
Danielle Thomas
Danielle Thomas (editorial intern, fall 2006/winter 2007) is now working as a financial consultant for Mercer Oliver Wyman in New York City. She graduated from Dartmouth College in 2007, majored in Geography and Economics, and completed premedical courses. She is considering a career in medicine, but for now she is exploring the corporate world
Danielle is from San Diego, California, where she loves to spend time at the beach. In her free time, she also enjoys reading, hiking, camping, and traveling.
Danielle, who has written for several undergraduate publications, enjoyed the challenge of working for Dartmouth Medicine magazine. Through the internship, she gained a better understanding of the publication process and developed more confidence in her writing style.
Danielle's comments on the internship:
Working for Dartmouth Medicine has been fascinating and rewarding. Dana, Matt, Jen, and Laura were accommodating and committed to helping me grow as a writer. I never felt intimidated if I had a question or embarrassed if I didn't know a medical term. They made a concerted effort to expose me to the whole range of publishing experiences, from staff meetings, to interviews, to board meetings, etc. Throughout the internship, I had access to great support for my articles.
One thing that I learned was how different writing for a news/informative publication is from writing academic essays or research papers. While the latter favors complex sentences and elegant language, the former is better suited to punchy language and quick, direct sentence/paragraph structure. You have to hook your readers and hold them since you are competing with many other distracting media sources for their attention.
Another thing that surprised me was how much information gets condensed into a tiny article. I would have stacks and stacks of papers and great facts and quotes that would somehow have to be distilled down into a 500-word article. This forces you to be very discerning and choose only the very best quotes and most relevant information. It feels like a lot is being left out, but there's no way around this if you want to retain your reader's attention.
Danielle can be reached by e-mail at Danielle.M.Thomas.07@Alum.Dartmouth.ORG.
Laura Evancich
Laura Evancich (editorial intern, spring 2006) is a 2004 graduate of the University of Colorado, Boulder, and has a B.A. in English Literature and Studio Arts Photography. In Colorado, she did not spend her free time skiing, but fly-fishing and rock climbing instead. She has worked as a rock-climbing instructor, a leader of wilderness survival expeditions, and a volunteer crisis counselor and trainer.
During the internship, she enjoyed the challenge of science writing and the thrill of working in close contact with the action at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. Laura hopes to fuse her writing, digital media, and photography skills into a career in publishing.
After the internship, she did a stint as a publishing production assistant—copyediting, color-correcting images, photographing events, and working with the publishing staff-at the Boston Bar Association. She now works as a Development Communications Coordinator at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston.
Laura's comments about the internship:
The Dartmouth Medicine internship was more than I expected and exactly what I had hoped for. What I had craved in an internship-the opportunity to learn and participate in the publishing industry-was just what I received. I also felt there was a great balance of supervision and autonomy as an intern. I loved the opportunity to dive in to the process and discover what it is like to write for a magazine, but also the knowledge that there were four people I could turn to for help if I needed it along the way.
I had a lot of "firsts" here (first interview, first time with science writing, first article) and I am even more excited to begin a career in publishing. I'm glad I had the wonderful opportunity of working with such a talented, patient, and dedicated staff.
Laura can be reached by e-mail at laura.evancich@joslin.harvard.edu.
Kristen Garner
Kristen Garner (editorial intern, summer and fall 2005) is a Ph.D. student in Dartmouth Medical School's Pharmacology and Toxicology program and is doing her thesis research-examining molecules involved in the control of the cell cycle-at the Norris Cotton Cancer Center in the lab of Alan Eastman, Ph.D.
She hails from Sandwich, Massachusetts (on Cape Cod), and has B.S. and M.S. degrees in biology from the University of Vermont. After completing her M.S., she moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, to pursue her athletic interests—backcountry skiing, climbing, and mountain biking. She has also traveled to such countries as Tanzania, Zambia, Thailand, Mexico, and Cambodia.
Even before entering the editorial internship program, Kristen had written several articles for the "Discoveries" section of DARTMOUTH MEDICINE. She hopes that her scientific training, combined with the writing experience she gained during her internship, will lead to a career in science writing. Kristen is continuing to write for DARTMOUTH MEDICINE and she is now a member of the magazine's Editorial Board.
Kristen's comments on the internship:
I am happy to have had the opportunity to intern in the DMS Office of Publications. Overall, I think the internship went very well. Every time I walked into the office I felt energized—I fed off of the hard-working, talented writers that I was surrounded by. The entire staff was very welcoming and I felt comfortable approaching all staff members with questions.
I enjoyed being the DMS Publications Editorial Intern and this experience has reinforced my desire to become a science writer. Although the internship is technically over, I am continuing to write for DARTMOUTH MEDICINE magazine and learning from the experienced staff.
Kristen can be reached by e-mail at Kristen.M.Garner@Dartmouth.edu.
Sion Rogers
DARTMOUTH MEDICINE's second editorial intern, Sion Rogers, added an international flavor to the office during the spring term of 2005. Sion is from Wales and graduated with a major in biochemistry and genetics from the University of Nottingham in 2004. When he came to DMS Publications, he was fresh from a job with BBC (radio and TV) and eager to learn about print journalism and about working in an academic medicine environment.
Sion's many strengths helped build his skills as a science writer—his basic science background; his experience with broadcast journalism; his ability to translate science into lay terms; his curiosity; his enthusiasm; his willingness to take on any assignment or task; and his ability to get along with people.
After he completed the internship, he went back to work for the BBC in London. Then he did an internship with NATURAL HISTORY magazine in New York City. He recently earned a master's degree from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism.
Sion's comments about the internship:
Coming to DARTMOUTH MEDICINE was a big jump for me, both geographically and creatively. To leave my position as a broadcast journalist for BBC News for an internship across the pond seemed quite daunting. I am pleased to say I made the right choice in coming here.
I gained so much from this experience. I recall back to a rainy afternoon in March, as I waited at the gate in Heathrow airport, how I was full of doubt and apprehension about this internship. My friends had called me crazy for leaving an organization like the BBC to pursue a science-writing career, and I must admit I couldn't help but wonder if they were right as I landed at Boston's Logan Airport.
Now, as I file away my articles, I look forward, with an immense sense of accomplishment and relief—I know I have chosen the right path. Doors are opening, ones that would have remained bolted had it not been for my time with DARTMOUTH MEDICINE.
Sion can be reached by e-mail at sionrogers@hotmail.com.
Mark Lawley
Mark Lawley was the first editorial intern in the Dartmouth Medical School Office of Publications, during the winter term of 2005. He recently won an honorable mention award from Zoetrope: All-Story's fiction contest for his story "The Bouncer's Thou Shalt Nots." Zoetrope: All-Story, a magazine launched in 1997 by Francis Ford Coppola, is devoted to supporting the brightest young voices in fiction. The magazine has received every major short fiction award, including the National Magazine Award for Fiction.
Mark, who is from Lawton, Oklahoma, earned a B.A. in English Literature and Writing and Music from Dartmouth College in 2004, and is currently working on his master's degree in the Draper Program in Humanities and Social Thought at New York University. In March 2006, he finished his first novel, which he had begun as a senior thesis at Dartmouth. He is currently querying agents and is working on a second literary novel and a young adult/children's book.
As a member of the DMS Publications team, Mark combined his creative writing talents with news reporting and writing, gaining experience in—and appreciation for—writing about medical topics for a general audience.
Mark's comments about the internship:
This was a good season. Day one: pen and pad in hand, I was off to Grand Rounds and writing about how music can soothe grief. Soon after, I was given the opportunity to write articles on incisionless surgery, employee health at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, wireless data-collection technology in football helmets, and on other topics.
By coming to this internship, I was looking for the answer to several questions. Was journalism for me? Was magazine writing something that should figure into my future plans? What was science writing anyway? The issues of DARTMOUTH MEDICINE that I read amazed me. Indeed, all my expectations were far exceeded and many of my questions answered. I truly believe that there is no way I could have picked a better use of my time than to come here.
Mark can be reached by e-mail at Mark.P.Lawley.04@Alum.Dartmouth.ORG.