KHPeople: Samara Ruberg

Boston University student Samara shares her experience of her placement at King's Health Partners, and offers advice to anyone wanting to work or study abroad.  

Can you tell us a little about your background and motivations?



I’m a rising senior at Boston University (BU) completing a five-year dual degree program where I’ll receive my BS in Health Science and MPH in Environmental Health and Infectious Disease in 2025. Growing up, I was always interested in health and medicine, but didn’t necessarily envision myself as a clinical provider. I was more enchanted by the overlap between health, social justice, and politics.

When I started at BU, I wanted to study Philosophy and Political Science and pursue law. However, the COVID-19 pandemic shifted my gaze toward public health. So, for elective credit, I decided to take a class on global environmental public health. It really resonated with me and inspired me to change my entire degree! At this point in time, I’m not quite sure what exactly I’ll do after graduation, but I definitely want to keep learning. And, after this semester, I’m certainly considering London for continued education!

Can you tell us about your placement scheme?



While I attend Boston University back in the United States, I’m currently studying abroad through the BU London Internship Program for the semester. Through this program, I take four BU classes — two electives, one required core course, and one internship-affiliated course — and complete one academic internship.

BU LIP has partnered with EUSA to match students with internships in London, and I’m lucky enough to have been paired with King’s Health Partners! At KHP, I work with the Women and Children’s Health Clinical Academic Partnership (CAP) and Communications Team simultaneously.

What have you learnt from your time with KHP Women and Children’s Health?



I think the most important skill that I honed during my time at KHP was collaboration. Over the last few months, I split my time between two distinct teams: Women and Children’s Health (WCH) and Communications. As a result, I had to balance the needs and expectations of both groups, even when they didn’t align.

This taught me to communicate clearly, frequently, and effectively to keep everyone on the same page. For example, one of my tasks was to redesign the WCH website. In developing a wireframe, I had to make sure I included the information that my teammates in IWCH wanted while also ensuring that it fit within the guidelines set by Communications. It was challenging at times, but very rewarding in the end. I’m so grateful to have had this experience.

What would be your advice to any staff or students looking to gain work experience in a different country and culture?



First of all, do it! If you’ve been considering going abroad, this is your sign. I think it’s invaluable to be well rounded, especially in the field of public health. And what better way to gain a unique intercultural perspective than to learn and work in a new country?



Before departing, however, make sure you do your research. Learn everything about your new destination: language, people, customs, culture, politics, and so on. It’s important to be prepared, especially because moving to a new country (even temporarily!) can be emotionally and physically taxing.

To mitigate this, I also recommend that you reserve time in your schedule to communicate with your friends and family. It’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of living abroad and you may occasionally forget to check in with your network back at home. Therefore, I recommend setting aside time for the people you care about, especially because you may start to feel a little homesick!



I won’t sugarcoat it: moving to a new country will be scary at first, but I promise it’s worth it. I’ve truly had a blast this semester and met some of the most amazing people here in London. I can’t wait to come back!

King’s Health Partners Women and Children’s Health aims to be a centre for excellence in women and children’s health.