Student Stories

Miguel Joshua Tan Kai-Chen (Life Sciences Major)

Internship (May-July 2018): Regional Medical Affairs, Sanofi Pasteur

My internship at Sanofi allowed me to understand the relevance of pharmaceutical companies in the healthcare sector and provided me with the opportunity to gain invaluable, practical and cross-functional skills. During my stint under Sanofi Pasteur’s Regional Medical Affairs team, I learned that the intersection between public and private healthcare serves as an organised, systematic system, and that commercial interests within the public health sphere and health consumer behaviour influence the purchases of pharmaceutical products.

As a Life Science major pursuing a Minor in Public Health, my understanding of the biological concept behind vaccines and knowledge of public health allowed me to apply what I learnt in school to real world problems, as well as take a more active role during discussions with my diverse and talented colleagues. Looking back, this internship was indeed invaluable in providing me with the opportunity to gain industry-specific experience and hone the soft skills necessary for multidisciplinary work in the healthcare sector.

Miguel with fellow Sanofi interns
Miguel (middle) with his fellow interns at Sanofi, Vishara Prakash (Year 3 NUS Chemical Engineering student) and Ang Xian (Year 4 Business Management student in Singapore Management University)

SPH3201: Public Health Practice

This module introduces students to the public health infrastructure and functions in Singapore, as well as provides hands-on work exposure by way of attachments at selected public health agencies. During their internships from May to July, students not only explore career opportunities in public health, they also develop essential skills such as public health communication, advocacy and the management of resources, time and money.

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