Authored by Malia Weatherspoon.
Meet our Amazing Interns!
MDF is excited to highlight the work of two MDF interns, who are contributing to MDF's mission of Community, Care, and a Cure this summer! We appreciate all of their enthusiasm to improve our support of the DM community!
Malia Weatherspoon
Communications Intern
Malia is a Media and Communications major with an Applied Minor in Medical Humanities at Earlham College. She joined MDF this summer to help expand outreach and awareness through creative and accessible content. As someone who’s passionate about digital storytelling, visual design, and health equity, she is excited to apply her skills in a meaningful and community-driven environment.
What project(s) are you working on?
Malia is currently working on graphics and video content to promote MDF programs like IMDAD and MDIM, as well as resources and tools created by the organization. She’s especially excited to work on upcoming graphics for awareness days and to contribute to updating the financial resources page, a project she believes can make a significant difference for patients and their families by providing accessible, practical support.
What inspired you to join MDF?
Malia was drawn to MDF because of its strong emphasis on advocacy, education, and empowering people living with myotonic dystrophy. She saw this internship as an opportunity to combine her interests in media, public health, and community engagement.
What have you enjoyed about working at MDF?
Malia enjoys the authenticity, drive, and passion the organization brings to everything it does. Being part of the team has shown how deeply committed everyone is to the mission, and she has loved learning more about the true impact being made in the myotonic dystrophy community.
A fun fact about Malia:
Malia loves visiting art museums, practicing photography, and exploring new bookstores and coffee shops. She also enjoys spending time in nature and traveling to experience new places and cultures.
Lydia Dunn
Clinical Education Support Intern
Originally from Ohio, Lydia now lives in Ann Arbor, and is entering her third year in an MS/MPH program, working towards Masters degrees in Genetic Counseling and Health Behavior and Health Equity. Lydia's thesis work involves surveying healthcare providers throughout West Virginia on their utilization of and confidence in offering genetic services. She hopes to identify potential interventions to increase the accessibility of genetic testing and counseling in rural states. With a unique blend of genetic counseling expertise and public health education, she is well-equipped to bridge the gap between individual care and broader community health initiatives.
What project(s) are you working on?
Lydia is finishing up a landscape assessment of available clinical education resources related to myotonic dystrophy (DM), gathering and compiling online tools and materials accessible to healthcare providers. This work will help inform how MDF approaches future clinical education strategies. She’s also conducting a literature review to identify evidence-based best practices for educating clinicians on rare diseases. Looking ahead, she’s excited about contributing to the Find a Doctor map, which uses community-sourced data to help patients connect with trusted healthcare providers.
What inspired you to join MDF?
Lydia was inspired to join MDF as part of her public health internship requirement and was thrilled to find an opportunity that aligns so closely with her dual passions for genetics and public health. Lydia learned about MDF during a genetic counseling internship last summer, where she worked with a family living with DM and connected them to MDF's resources. After seeing firsthand the impact of MDF’s resources, she was eager to contribute to an organization that uniquely connects community members, researchers, and physicians.
What have you enjoyed about working at MDF?
Lydia appreciates how MDF bridges the gap between community members, researchers, and physicians, creating a supportive and unique network. Being part of this collaborative environment has been both meaningful and inspiring for her.
A fun fact about Lydia:
Lydia has a pet bunny named Violet who is litter box trained and free roams the house. Violet is five years old, and Lydia has cared for her since she was a baby in May 2020.