Maryona Vicente '25, a biochemistry major on the pre-med track with minors in business and health care management, engaged in unique internship opportunities while at Simmons, locally and abroad.
“I knew I wanted to be in a small to midsize school,” says Maryona Vicente ’25, reflecting on applying to colleges. “I wanted to be able to build relationships with teachers and peers, and have a sense of community. Simmons really stood out to me. [I could tell that] the professors genuinely care about their students.”
Vicente came to her undergraduate studies with an interest in the medical field; Simmons’ proximity and connections to the Longwood Medical Area were certainly a bonus.
“I’m fascinated with figuring out the how and why behind biological processes, and biochemistry really lets you explore that in depth,” says Vicente, who was on a pre-med track while at Simmons. “It builds a strong foundation for the medical field.”
Exploring Medicine in Italy
To further her experiences in medicine and science, Vicente ventured beyond the classroom. In Spring of 2024, she was a fellow in the Doctors in Italy program, which invites students to shadow healthcare professionals in different specialties at a prestigious hospital in Italy.
“I stayed in Rome for three weeks. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” Aside from enjoying the beautiful location, she was able to observe open heart surgery and a hip and knee replacement. She was also invited to watch a treatment of Ménière's disease, demonstrated by the surgeon, Fabrizio Salvinelli, who developed the procedure.
“Beyond the surgery, I got to see how Italy’s healthcare system works, and how the system influences patient care,” says Vicente. “It’s good to see how different systems operate, and how the culture impacts healthcare. Medicine is not just science, it’s also about humanity.”
Not only was Vicente impressed by the passion the medical professionals had for their work, but she also learned a bit of Italian language and culture.
“We visited the Colosseum, and I learned to cook tiramisu and homemade pasta from scratch!” says Vicente. “Personally and professionally, it reinforced my desire to pursue medicine, enhanced my knowledge of global health, and my cultural understanding.”
Rewarding Internships in Boston
After her junior year internship at Boston Children’s Hospital, Vicente learned about further opportunities through Project Onramp, which offers paid summer internships in the life science industry.
In summer of 2024, Vicente worked at Mothers' Milk Bank Northeast, a donor milk pasteurization lab, ensuring the safety of human donor milk; her experience was featured on the Mothers' Milk Bank website.
“Mother’s Milk Bank donates pasteurized human milk to the NICU [Neonatal Intensive Care Unit] at Boston Children’s,” says Vicente, noting that donated breast milk reduces the risk of conditions like necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a gastrointestinal disease for which premature infants are at increased risk. “I was a lab technician in the lab processing the milk,” she says. The work was hands-on: running quality control, safety checks, and microbiome testing to prepare the milk for shipping and pasteurization.
“There was a window in the lab, so people could see us,” she recalls. “Little babies and moms would wave to us! I saw how preventive care impacts communities. Medicine is not just about solving problems after they happen, it’s about preventive care and supporting families." Vicente used her experience at the milk bank as the topic of her Capstone paper and presentation.
“Simmons has prepared me to better communicate with people,” says Vicente. “That’s vital for working in a team.”
Teamwork was central to other experiences at Simmons, including her role as an Orientation Leader and in the Dotson Bridge program. “The faculty really want to help you succeed. I still go to faculty for help and advice, and they send me notices about internships and conferences they think I will be interested in,” she says.
Vicente also made a lot of valuable connections with healthcare professionals in the Boston area, and sees this as vital to her development.
“It’s helpful to have experiences and receive critical feedback, especially in the medical field,” she says, reflecting on her internship experiences. “You won’t always get a pat on the back.”
The hands-on and shadowing experiences she had while at Simmons have inspired her future career ambitions.
“I hope to combine medicine with advocacy and research on neonatal health in the future,” she says. “I hope it will make me a better doctor and a better professional. After all, you’re not just there for the paycheck, you’re there for the people.”
Project Onramp, founded in 2019 out of the nonprofit Life Science Cares, is dedicated to broadening access to internships in the medical field. As many internships are filled by internal referrals, this creates a barrier for external applicants. Project Onramp is dedicated to helping students break into the industry by working with local institutions to reserve roles for Pell Grant recipients attending four-year colleges.
Recruiting for the next cohort will begin in December 2025. Contact the Career Education Center or Heather Davis at Project Onramp for more information. Business and Chemistry students are especially encouraged to apply.