My name is Catalina Alfaro Ladino and I am pursuing a degree in Anthropology and minoring in Social Studies of Medicine. My interest in anthropology and the human behaviour has always been there. It all started when my parents made me watch Bones, a show about a forensic anthropologist who uncovered crimes. From that moment, the intelligence of the main character captivated me. Then, over time, my interest in health care grew. I became interested in how health care functioned- not the scientific aspect, but the humane and its advances. I realized quickly that my major and minor went perfectly with my interests.
When I saw the posting for the Ï㽶ÊÓƵ Health Center Foundation, which had an intern position open for Arts students at McGill, I decided to apply to understand further how the advancement of medicine and access to care works. A hospital foundation is an essential part of hospitals due to the amount of funds they bring, with the aim of helping. My only aim when I applied was to learn as much as possible from the foundation and to get out of my comfort zone. I accomplished both goals, gaining more knowledge than planned and continuously pushing myself out of my comfort zone.
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The MUHC foundation raises funds for various research and to enhance patient care. Their Dream Big campaign aims to raise 200 million dollars for cutting-edge research, such as catching ovarian cancer in its early stages or preventing heart diseases. The MUHC uses multiple fundraising techniques, such as their signature event, Le Bal Rouge, and email campaigns.
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Throughout my internship, I was in multiple departments, which allowed me to learn so much about the different aspects of a foundation. I worked with the events team for the first month of my internship. They welcomed me so warmly that despite being their most hectic month of the year, I adapted quickly and learned a lot. That month, my tasks were mainly focused on preparation for the Bal Rouge and their Rising Stars Gala, dated two weeks after their signature event. I had to update the guest list for both events daily, reach out to the guests when there was an issue with their tickets, create tickets, create multiple visuals for the Gala, arrange a virtual auction and much more. That month went by quickly, and when le Bal Rouge came, I was in awe of how a team of two people could create such magic. It was indeed a magical night; we raised two million dollars. Knowing that the money would help so many was such a beautiful moment.
Afterwards, I started working with multiple departments. I helped reorganize a vast file, which took at least two weeks. It ended up being a considerable project. It did teach me a lot about myself. How much I loved to organize and keep things tidy, yet it could also be my downfall since I wanted it to be perfectly organized. Thus, I slowly learned to let go of such perfectionism and start making things look understandable while organizing them.
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I also worked for the social media department, where I learned how much time goes into one post. Preparing one post can take at least a week! Can you imagine? I realized I knew nothing about social media and how the content world worked. Luckily, my colleague helped me, and I learned how to make a reel! Most of my time with social media was spent taking videos and pictures, editing them, creating captions, and writing scenarios.
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Before going into my internship, with all honesty, I had no idea what I would do after university, especially knowing that I am finishing my bachelor's in Fall 2024. After my experience at the MUHC foundation, I fell in love with healthcare foundations. They do so much for the community, and the amount of help they provide is heartwarming. Now that my bachelor's degree is ending, I am interested in taking courses or getting a certificate in fundraising.
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Lastly, I received funding through an award, which was very helpful throughout my internship. Since my internship was full-time, I could not have a job. Thus, the award money allowed me to pay my transport and monthly bills. It also helped me save a lot of money, which I plan to use for my academic plans.
