Diversity by Doing HealthTech (DxD) is holding a Summer Innovation and Exploration Series for college student interns from underrepresented groups.
The series is on its second day today at Fogarty Innovation and Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign — the two organizations that jointly formed and support DxD. The event debuted last year in an online format with 20 interns. But this year’s series is the first in-person event — bringing together 44 students from more than 30 colleges. The students are interning at medtech companies across the country.
Interns during the June 23–24 program will participate in lecture-style presentations, small group activities and hands-on workshops. They’ll explore career trajectories, various aspects of running a company, and the biodesign innovation process. There will also be a “speed mentoring” event in which each intern will have one-on-one conversations with health technology executives.
“We developed the Summer Innovation and Exploration Series to target the early funnel of healthtech employees,” Ingrid Ellerbe, executive director of DxD, said in a news release. “Participation in the program makes a company’s internship program more competitive while at the same time encouraging companies to hire interns from underrepresented groups. Once we get these interns in the pipeline, we give them tools that can help them succeed — a better understanding of opportunities, high-level contacts, role models and mentors, and a supportive community of peers.”
