[Photos provided.]
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Samantha Willner and Greg Kelly, both city natives, join a growing tradition of talented individuals who choose to continue their learning in the field of marketing and communications through a paid internship with the Patient Experience Project (PEP).
Willner is supporting the content and strategy department at PEP. She brings with her extensive experience in the field of type 1 diabetes and a passion for improving public health. Willner is the editor-in-chief at DiabeticFeature.com, a web-based startup aimed at using storytelling and social media to empower people living with diabetes. She is the founder and president of the Yale College Diabetes Network, a peer-based support program for students with diabetes. She is also a founding member of the Yale Coalition for Affordable Insulin, a partnership among researchers, physicians, political activists, and patient advocates to enhance drug-price transparency and improve worldwide insulin access.
Additionally, Willner is a member of the Global Ambassador Council at Beyond Type 1, a global type 1 diabetes advocacy organization based in Menlo Park, California. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communication from Cornell University in Ithaca and is pursuing her master’s degree in public health at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.
Kelly supports the digital strategy team at PEP, conducting market research and statistical analyses. Kelly is a senior at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, where he is pursuing—with honors—a bachelor’s degree in information systems and business analytics, with a minor in economics. He is also actively working on a research project that studies the effectiveness of electronic medi- cal records with a focus on cross-platform compatibility through the McDevitt Research Center at Le Moyne College.
While pursuing his education, Kelly has gained experience in healthcare finance through an internship at Glens Falls Hospital. He spent part of June doing mission work in Jamaica, where he worked at a food distribution center, tutored school-children, and helped to build a home. Kelly’s civic-mindedness is another reason he is a great fit at PEP. Additionally, he is also an accomplished NCAA Division II swimmer and a member of Future Business Leaders of America-Phi Beta Lambda.
“Samantha and Greg exemplify the high-caliber qualities PEP looks for when selecting candidates for its internship program,” explained PEP President Dan Bobear. “Our interns are valued contributors to our efforts to support patients living with chronic and rare diseases, and we provide them with invaluable, hands-on industry experience.”
