DURHAM – Over the summer, several Duke women's soccer team members once again had the opportunity to serve as interns with different companies to give them experience in the field prior to graduating. Below is an inside look at the student-athletes' opportunities they had.
Baleigh Bruster
Senior
Atlanta, Ga.
CAPE (Collegiate Athlete Premedical Experience) Summer Internship at Duke Hospital in Durham, N.C.
Job Duties: For six weeks, I shadowed a different surgeon or physician and get to witness a day in the life of their specialty. I spend some days in the operating room watching surgeries and others I spend in clinic talking to patients and looking at imaging.
On my Experience: "CAPE has allowed me an invaluable opportunity to watch the best of the best in action and also insightful exposure to the wide range of specialties that medicine offers. I get to learn from world renowned doctors and simultaneously take a step closer to finding what type of medicine appeals to me and my attributes the most. Seeing patients in these environments also gives me a new perspective and appreciation for life."
Nicky Chico
Graduate Student
Wyckoff, N.J.
ABC Intern
Title: Disney Advertising Sales Intern in New York, N.Y.
Job Duties: This summer, I had the opportunity to work at The Walt Disney Company on the Advertising Sales team in New York City.
Disney Advertising is responsible for advertising sales and integrated marketing for The Walt Disney Company's entertainment and sports offerings through linear, digital, social, audio and ad-supported streaming businesses. This includes ABC, ABC News, Disney+, Disney Channels Worldwide, Disney Digital, ESPN Networks, ESPN+, Freeform, FX, National Geographic, Hulu, and its eight ABC-owned local stations.
During my time, I gained exposure to how Disney helps craft the digital entertainment and marketing space by learning the complexities of the sales ecosystem. Through attending weekly team meetings and client calls, I was able to interact with different business units to help understand how Disney executed those advertising buys. In addition, I put together and sent weekly newsletters with company, client, and agency content for the team to view, with the intention of informing them with not only what is going on in their business, but also their competitors. My internship at The Walt Disney Company has helped me shape so many ideas for my future and I could not be more grateful for this incredible experience.
On my Experience: "I had the highest of expectations coming into this summer, however, from day one, they were exceeded because of the people I was surrounded by. I not only learned more than I could ever imagine, but I received unwavering amounts of support and guidance throughout my time there. This team and the Walt Disney company is definitely a place I see myself in in the future and I am so grateful for the time I got to spend there."
Kaeden Koons-Perdikis
Sophomore
Chevy Chase, Md.

Children's National Hospital Intern in Washington, D.C.
Job Duties: This summer, I had the amazing opportunity to intern at Children's National Hospital in Washington D.C., under Dr. Elizabeth Wells, a neurologist and Senior Vice President of the Center for Neuroscience and Behavioral Medicine. I primarily worked in the Neurology Department, attending morning rounds in the hospital ward, observing various procedures and shadowing many different doctors at both inpatient and outpatient clinics. I also participated in a handful of research studies. For example, I helped a social worker put together a mindfulness group for children diagnosed with a functional neurological disorder (FND). I also joined a research team working to create a database for Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) patients aimed at discovering the social determinants behind this autoimmune neurological disease. I will continue to work with the MOGAD team for the rest of this summer and through the fall semester.
On my Experience: "I am so grateful to have had this awesome experience at Children's National Hospital this summer. I went into this internship with limited experience in the medical field, curious and excited but unsure of my desire to study medicine. I come out of this internship confident in my pursuit. At Children's, I learned so much by observing the doctors working as a team to create a unique treatment plan for each patient, which reminded me so much of how I work with my teammates on and off the field. I also loved interacting with the patients, as children are truly so resilient and joyful to be around, even when they are dealing with severe medical problems. Now that I have secured a strong interest in the medical field —and pediatrics specifically— I am excited to see where my Duke education takes me!"
Kelly Wilson
Senior
Manhatton Beach, Calif.
Media & Marketing Intern for Burnley Football Club in Burnley, England
Job Duties: I helped prepare Premier League players for media engagements, conducted media analysis, and edited programs for the Club's Communications & Commercial department. Managed marketing activation space at The Soccer Tournament in Cary, N.C., to grow Club's U.S. audience.
On my experience: "Working for Burnley was an incredible experience that offered me invaluable insights. I had countless opportunities to learn and engage with the Premier League environment, giving me a firsthand look into what it's like to work in the professional sports industry."
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