My name is Mara Bumbu, and I’m from Cluj-Napoca, Romania. I’m a Public Health graduate and am currently pursuing a Master’s in Health Economics. I also work as a Research Technician at the Department of Public Health within Babeș-Bolyai University here in Romania. My passion for public health comes from the fact that it’s about people — and about the powerful potential to enact change at a population level. The field’s ability to integrate diverse disciplines — from education to health policy, community engagement to data analysis — offers a truly holistic approach to health.
I applied for the EUPHA internship largely thanks to the encouragement of my colleague, Dr. Monica Brînzac, who works as a network coordinator and is deeply involved with EUPHA. Having already heard about EUPHA’s impactful work and meaningful initiatives, I was eager to seize the opportunity. I hoped to work closely with the team, immerse myself in a dynamic European public health environment, and grow professionally within the field. I saw it as an invaluable chance to gain practical experience and deepen my understanding of public health initiatives on a broader scale.
My internship primarily involved assisting with the organization of European Public Health Week (EUPHW). The overarching objective of EUPHW is to raise awareness about public health and promote collaboration among the public health community in Europe — and my tasks directly contributed to this goal. A significant part of my role involved supporting communication with both participants and organizers to ensure smooth information flow before and during the event. I also helped on the social media side, amplifying EUPHW’s messages and engaging a wider audience online. Additionally, I was actively involved in organizing and attending meetings dedicated to planning the week’s events. This gave me valuable insight into the coordination required for a large-scale public health initiative.
A particular highlight was seeing EUPHW come to life after months of preparation. Witnessing the engagement from participants and the insightful discussions in various webinars was incredibly rewarding — reinforcing the impact of collaborative public health efforts. At the same time, the fast-paced nature of organizing such a large-scale event came with challenges. Adapting to last-minute changes required constant flexibility. Coordinating different stakeholders and making sure everything ran smoothly was a learning curve, but each challenge strengthened my problem-solving skills and deepened my appreciation for effective teamwork in public health.
This internship was a rich learning experience. I gained practical skills in drafting clear and engaging content and learned how to reach different audiences within the public health sphere. Beyond specific skills, the internship gave me insight into the complex process of organizing a large-scale international public health event. From logistics to stakeholder engagement, I developed a stronger appreciation for the planning and collaboration needed to make such initiatives successful.
Perhaps one of the most important takeaways was the knowledge I gained through direct exposure to a wide network of public health professionals. Engaging in discussions with experts from diverse organizations helped me learn so much. These conversations gave me new perspectives on current public health challenges, innovative solutions across Europe, and the critical importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in tackling complex health issues.
One of the most pleasant and meaningful surprises during my internship was the exceptional quality of the EUPHA team and their teamwork. From day one, it was clear that everyone was dedicated to their mission, working with professionalism that was both impressive and inspiring. But beyond their expertise, what stood out most was the incredible support they offered me. Despite the demanding nature of organizing a major event like EUPHW, the team consistently made me feel welcome and valued throughout the internship.
This experience with EUPHA has profoundly strengthened my confidence that public health is indeed the right path for me — and it has solidified my commitment to a career dedicated to improving population well-being.
