Editor’s note: Kyle Banker is a senior at the University of Miami majoring in Biology with minors in Marketing and Computer Science. He is one of our Spring Science Communications Interns at the Mass General Research Institute. Please join us in welcoming him to the MGRI team!
"How is the weather in Miami?"
As a University of Miami student, that is the first thing my friends, family, or co-workers ask when I am back in Boston. I always give a quick laugh before answering the question. People always think of a University of Miami student as someone who only desires sunshine, warm weather, and a regular at the beach.
Don’t get me wrong, I do love those things, but, there is so much more to my journey than warm weather and beaches. I want to take some time to introduce myself, share everything I have done so far at Miami, and why I am so excited to be starting as an intern here at Mass General.
Boston Roots
I grew up in Needham: a town about twenty minutes from downtown Boston. Ironically, our route to Boston usually involved passing Mass General at some point. As a child, I still vividly remember heading to dinner in my Mom’s dark blue Lexus, getting a quick view of Mass General from the car window, and thinking, “wow, that is such a cool place.”
Now, as a 21-year-old college student, I am excited to work in that “cool place.” But, more importantly, I am fortunate to collaborate with amazing people and see all the transformative work here at the Research Institute.
My three most important core values are kindness, working hard, and helping others (you will see why I bolded these soon). Whether it has been for patients, my friends, students, or strangers, I feel gratitude for using my abilities and skills to make a positive impact on the world. As a result, I have become passionate about a career involving healthcare and digital marketing, as it can provide me with a path that creates positive change in the lives of others and the world.
My Time at Miami
As a senior at the University of Miami, I can confidently say that my degree has gotten me closer to that goal. Let me share some of my past and current involvements throughout the past few four years:
I am the President of my mental health club UpliftingU, a goalie and Social Media Manager for the Men’s Club Soccer Team, and a writer for the science magazine The Scientifica. I am also a Student Ambassador for the University of Miami Office of Undergraduate Admissions, where I was recently responsible, as a Recruitment & Marketing Chair, for selecting ~40 out of nearly 300 applicants to become the next class of tour guides. Finally, I am a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa honor society and have held previous leadership experiences with the American Marketing Association and Harvard Medical School’s MEDscience program.
Woah. While it may seem like I just listed a lot of random involvements, everything I said above circulates back to a central theme: using my skills and background to help others. Whether on the soccer field, as a campus tour guide, or providing accessible mental health resources, I immensely enjoy how my degree path and involvement have closely correlated with my core values.
Why Mass General?
Now, the big question: why Mass General? All my academic involvements are great, but I find the most value in my internships in the healthcare industry. I have loved my experience working with companies such as Johnson & Johnson and Ipsen. As a healthcare marketer, I will never get tired of the feeling when seeing how my work directly helps or save patient lives. I am very appreciative to have been given these opportunities and to use my abilities, skills, and passions to create a positive impact on the world.
As a result, I realized there is no better place to spend my time this spring then as a Science Communications Intern with the Mass General Research Institute. By meeting investigators, physicians, and everyone that makes up this “cool place,” I am excited to use my experience and skills to contribute to the significant impact this hospital makes on millions of lives.
Overall, by combining this experience with all the involvements listed above, I aim, as an upcoming Cum Laude graduate, to reflect on my four years at the University of Miami with pride, thinking that I did all I could to elevate myself and help others worldwide.
I hope this quick summary hits the three questions I promised at the beginning of this piece: who is Kyle, what does he do, and why is he at Mass General? I am truly excited to be here, and I look forward to being at a place that aligns with my core values: working hard to help others with some of the kindest people in the world.
But that is all for now. Thank you to everyone for reading, and to learn more about me, check out my website!
My Go-To...
Hidden Talent:
Drone video and photography; I call it Kyle Presents! See some of my photos/videos from places such as Miami, Boston, and Aruba on my Instagram page and my website.
Thing to Watch:
Suits & the Boston Bruins #GoB’s.
Music:
A mix of R&B, hip-hop, pop, and throwbacks.
Fun Fact:
I went on the second-fastest roller coaster in the world when I was 13 (and do not believe I could do it again).
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