Working with the President’s Office of Planned Parenthood

Hi everyone! My name is Sanjali De Silva and I am a rising junior majoring in Public Health and International Development and minoring in Spanish. Next year I will be the Editor-in-Chief of the Tulane Hullabaloo and a Research Fellow for the Center for Academic Equity. This summer I have the opportunity to combine my passion for public health, equity and journalism as I further my professional career. Thanks to the support of the Newcomb College Institute I will be interning in the President’s Office of Planned Parenthood in Washington D.C.

Walking into the summer I have five primary goals I am looking to achieve.

• First, as the next Editor-in-Chief of The Hullabaloo, I think it is important that this summer I develop leadership skills such as public speaking, team delegation, and confidence. This will allow me to be the best possible leader on campus and for my staff.
• I also hope to gain skills in media analysis. I will be monitoring the news coverage of Planned Parenthood which will give me insight into how issues such as women’s health care are covered in the media. As Editor-in-Chief I will be monitoring our coverage with my new skills and ensure all groups on campus are represented.
• Next, I hope to work on skills that will help in my professional development. I will be writing memos, reporting to leaders, learning workplace culture and communication styles, building a network and more. These are all important to me growing as a professional in the Public Health sector.
• As a Public Health major, I also need to develop a vocabulary and a deep understanding of the healthcare system. At Planned Parenthood I hope to continue learning and feel confident in my understanding of the healthcare world.
• Finally, I hope to understand non-profit workplace management. I will likely be working for a non-profit in my future career and this opportunity will allow me to learn the logistics and administrative infrastructure that goes into making a robust non-profit run.

The missions of Planned Parenthood and Newcomb College Institute are very closely aligned. Around the world, Planned Parenthood is working to educate and empower women, similar to what NCI is doing on Tulane’s campus. Planned Parenthood is dedicated to empowering women with the information and healthcare services that will give them the tools to become the leaders and innovators they are so capable of being.

Like NCI, Planned Parenthood understands the importance of elevating women in order to create an equitable society. By providing women worldwide access to healthcare, it gives them the opportunity to be educated, follower their dreams and become influencers. While there are many problems to be solved, the health and wellbeing of women should be the priority as their empowerment is crucial in giving communities stability and for many, bringing them out of poverty.

In preparation for this internship, I have started by keeping up with the news. Women’s reproductive rights are at risk every day. At home in the United States, we have seen a rise of restrictive and sexist policies that prevent women from making decisions and receiving care for their bodies. Around the world, similar issues of corrupt leadership and harmful gender norms are causing similar problems.

I have taken it upon myself to stay current with specific leaders and policies that are accelerating these restrictions. In addition, I will be traveling to Sri Lanka a few days before and will be there until my internship gets started. This will be a good opportunity for me to reflect on my own privilege as a woman and begin to understand the immensity and intersectional dimensions this issue presents across the globe.

I am very honored and excited to be a part of this Planned Parenthood internship program this summer. Planned Parenthood is a leader in the fight for health equity and a great model for how national organizations can make serious impacts around the world. Being at the Planned Parenthood headquarters this summer will give me a front row seat at what goes into making this happen on a daily basis.

I will also be able to see more clearly how my role as a journalist is so essential in fights for health equity. This will help me in my work as the Editor-in-Chief of the Hullabaloo as well as the career in public health that lies ahead of me. On a more personal level, I am eager to see myself grow in independence and confidence. Planned Parenthood will be the first time I am in an office setting. I am eager to be in an office environment and discover who I am in a professional team. I believe that a summer of independence will allow me to grow into myself as I continue to define myself personally and professionally.

Thank you again to NCI for making my dreams come true this summer! Stay tuned for more updates!