Introduction

My name is Colm Fay and I'm a second year Erb student at the University of Michigan.  I am pursuing a dual MBA and MS in Natural Resources with a specialization in Environmental Policy and Planning.  This summer I will be interning with Abt Associates in their Delhi office.  Abt Associates is a US based company with offices all over the world with expertise in international development, business research, and social, economic and health policy.  For my internship I will be working with Abt Associates and a local Indian NGO to develop a center of excellence for market based partnerships in health.  This is part of a USAID program to promote health improvement in India through Indian organizations.  I am expecting that this internship will provide the opportunity to shape the future role of an organization that could have a huge impact on market based approaches to healthcare at the base of the pyramid and give me the opportunity to observe some of these projects first hand.  I'm looking forward to piecing together the methodology and goals of the organization based on a combination of direct observations on the ground, cutting edge research from WDI and other research institutes and using the skills and experience from my time at Ross to develop a solution that is innovative and robust and has a lasting impact on the health landscape in India and beyond.

I look forward to sharing my experiences on this blog throughout the summer!