Shenbahum Vairavan ’24


WorldCare International, Boston, MA

WorldCare International is a business that provides expert medical second opinions to those who have been diagnosed with critical illnesses. Over the last 26 years, WorldCare has worked to create an effective process to help those who have been given life-changing news to make an informed decision that is best for their health and circumstances. WorldCare works with many medical centers, like Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Mayo Clinic and UCLA. Nurse case managers and medical directors work together with patients to bring clarity surrounding suggested treatment as well as answer any questions. Then, a team of experts for the diagnosis look through all the data and patient information to determine if the chosen treatment is the best based on the patient’s pathology and medical history. Treatment recommendations change 75% of the time, and diagnoses change 26% of the time. These changes can improve treatment and save the patient’s life.

Working at WorldCare was an important experience for me. I rely on undergraduate summer internships as opportunities to learn about industries that I don’t have experience in and to understand more about my career interests. Last summer I worked at a B2B company, and it was a new experience for me, an English major with no business experience. I really valued being able to learn about business without having taken an economics class. I applied to WorldCare wanting to understand healthcare and medicine without any prior education or experience. Now, I am considering taking a public health or economics class, because those skills will be valuable in any job and in whatever industry I choose.

Being able to experience another industry with very little experience has given me two important revelations: one about my education and one about the future projection of my career. I am very surprised by my ability to keep up in two industries I didn’t have experience in. I owe that success to the interdisciplinary structure of American Studies and English. No two classes in either majors have overlapped, and that diverse coursework gave me the skill to adapt to any new learning environment or topic. I am excited to have seen it actually happen in two different workspaces. In terms of my career aspirations, I have had a lot of fun learning from different industries and want to see what it would be like to continue doing that. Though I had no interest in exploring strategy or consulting as a next step in my career, it seems very interesting to do many projects from different industries and ultimately learn from each and every one of them.

This was a really incredible experience. I am so thankful to Mr. and Mrs. Case, Ed Wiggers ’90 at WorldCare and the ’68 Center for Career Exploration. Thank you so much for this fulfilling and rewarding summer. I have learned so much, and I could not have done it without you.