The posting
Close Concerns, a healthcare information company that advocates for people with diabetes and obesity, seeks undergraduate applicants for its prestigious two-year Associate Program, based in San Francisco.
- The Associate Program provides new college graduates unparalleled exposure to the real worlds of healthcare and business, significant work experience and responsibility, national and international travel, and extensive support for graduate school applications.
- For candidates considering work experience before post-graduate studies - such as medical school – this Program is an outstanding way to enhance your skills and knowledge, interact with healthcare leaders (clinical, scientific, and business), and use a different part of your brain, all the while improving your chances of being admitted to a top graduate program.
Our organization, led by Kelly Close, has a meaningful social purpose: improving life for people with diabetes and obesity, two of the most pervasive public health problems of our time. This is a mission that everyone here takes to heart - if you feel that you can share it, please apply.
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The Close Concerns Associate Program
Close Concerns, founded in 2002, is a healthcare information company focused on diabetes, pre-diabetes, and obesity, dedicated to improving patient, clinical, and system outcomes.
We do this by educating physicians, researchers, business leaders, policy makers, and manufacturers about the most important news and research in the field via an online publication. With thousands of subscribers at academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, drug and medical device companies, and government bodies, Closer Look (our premium subscription news service) is widely read and respected in the healthcare community.
Close Concerns Associates research and write our products, frequently by attending scientific conferences and interviewing experts, including world-class endocrinologists, cardiologists, as well as a range of other scientific and business leaders. Associates broaden their minds, sharpen their communication skills, and quickly become experts in all aspects of diabetes – such as therapies, medical devices, digital health, clinical research, public health, regulatory, and business issues. On occasion, Associates author and publish research papers in peer-reviewed journals or speak at major conferences. Most are excited by the significant level of responsibility they are given and their access to thought leaders, researchers, clinicians, and business executives.
Close Concerns provides ongoing support for graduate school admissions. Nearly all our Associates go on to attend a top ranked graduate program. One hundred percent of those who have applied to grad school have been accepted. Since 2007, over half have attended either Penn, Columbia, Harvard, UCSF or Yale (most for medical school). The specific work at Close Concerns and the reputation of the Associate Program help to create a much stronger application and turn applicants into better prepared and more compelling candidates. To support associates in the application process, Close Concerns provides customized and compelling reference letters, free consults with an excellent graduate school admissions advisor, and access to our alumni network – together with time off and some financial support for exams and exam prep (e.g., MCAT).
Typically, the Associate Program involves significant travel in the United States and internationally, which Associates find enriching. Our conferences have allowed our associates to travel to global destinations such as Florence, London, Madrid, Boston, Seattle, Chennai, Aspen, Austin, Barcelona, Berlin, Busan, Chicago, Keystone, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Liverpool, Miami, New Orleans, New York City, Orlando, Paris, Washington DC, Stockholm, Rome, Chicago, San Diego, Lisbon, and Abu Dhabi. Our Associates typically travel 30% to 40% of the time and collect a lot of air miles!
Our organization is located in San Francisco – an exciting and beautiful city. Our compensation package is commensurate with living in San Francisco, and we provide support in finding nearby accommodation and offer excellent work benefits (including quality healthcare, 401(k), free public transportation pass, gym/yoga membership, a kitchen stocked with healthy foods, and a great team atmosphere).
----------------------------------------------------- About You
The Associate position at Close Concerns is ideal for someone with a science or pre-medical background. If you have an additional interest in data analysis, computer science, public health, health policy, economics or business (in addition to science or pre-medical) this is considered a bonus! Strong critical thinking and strong writing skills are both essential.
Requirements for successful candidates:
- Demonstrated academic excellence
- Scientific background; research and/or data science experience is encouraged
- Exceptionally strong writing, editing, and synthesizing skills
- Strong critical thinking and analytic skills
- Adaptable and flexible approach to work
- High energy and ability to keep multiple projects moving simultaneously
- Ability to work independently and to collaborate frequently within small teams
- Reliability; commitment to schedules and deadlines
- Two-year commitment to the position
We pride ourselves on our friendly and inclusive environment. Through our recruiting, we are committed to sustaining our diverse workplace.
----------------------------------------------------- TO APPLY
This is a highly sought-after position. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and applicants are encouraged to apply early. The final deadline is November 30, 2026. Those who apply before October 15 may receive an in-person interview invitation early. The final round of interviews will be held in San Francisco January 7-9, 2027.
Please apply through Workable. Please do not apply through your school’s career portal – we will not receive these applications.
Close Concerns treats everyone equally and encourages candidates of all backgrounds and from all schools to apply. We are looking forward to hearing from you!
In addition to the question fields in our online application, please attach the following as a PDF document in the “Resume” field: Resume as PDF – please include undergraduate GPA, major, and graduation year.
Please email [email protected] if you have any challenges with the application form.
----------------------------------------------------- Testimonials
We are really proud of helping our Alumni of Close Concerns take another important step in their journey. Our alums have attended medical school and other graduate schools at UCSF, Stanford, the University of Pennsylvania, Harvard, Dartmouth, and many other outstanding institutions. Those that have delayed graduate school have done so many interesting things ranging from teaching high school biology to working with start-ups to founding their own start-ups, often funded by prestigious sources (e.g., Route 66 Ventures, Y Combinator, etc.)
Here are some reflections about the role from previous Associates:
“By the numbers, Close Concerns gave me the opportunity to attend nearly 50 conferences, plan nearly two dozen events, and conduct over a dozen interviews with clinical trialists, clinicians, and business leaders. The mentors I found through Close Concerns supported me in countless ways, and the connections I made through them led to impactful and valuable experiences. Through it all, I developed poise and perspective – qualities for which I find myself deeply grateful as a medical student today.”
- Elaine Young (Dartmouth College '22, Ohio State University College of Medicine '30)
"At Close Concerns, I absolutely loved the opportunity to scale a steep learning curve and gain deep expertise in the scientific, business, and policy aspects of the diabetes and obesity fields, all while working with some of the brightest, kindest people I've met. I savored being able to interview clinical trial leaders and pharmaceutical executives and ask pressing questions. My work at Close Concerns has shaped my interests in medical school and has enabled me to ask worthwhile research questions."
- Ashwin Chetty (Yale College '21, Yale School of Medicine '27)
"As my first position out of college, Close Concerns provided me an excellent opportunity to learn, travel, lead, and most importantly, spend time with truly great people. In modern public health, few issues rival the urgency of diabetes and obesity, so it was a great opportunity to work in that space and develop subject matter expertise."
- Albert Cai (University of Michigan '19, Senior Regulatory Affairs Specialist at Biolinq, Co-Founder of Harbor)
"Close Concerns was possibly the best gap year job I could imagine before heading to graduate school. I certainly wouldn’t be at Harvard Medical School without it. It was an amazing opportunity to dive headfirst into the inner workings of the pharmaceutical industry. The job provides a front row view, ranging from basic science research to clinical trials to market dynamics. It was an immersive learning experience that blossomed into a passion for diabetes and obesity that I carry with me each day in my clinical interactions. I also built incredible relationships with my colleagues that have transformed into lifelong friendships. I am forever grateful for the two years I spent there!”
- Claire Holleman (Amherst College ‘21, Harvard Medical School ‘27)
“Associates at Close Concerns have more independence and responsibility than almost any other graduates fresh out of college. The job is exciting, fast-paced, and the best testing ground I could imagine for learning how to become successful in any field. “
- Jenny Jin (Harvard College ’06, UCSF School of Medicine ’12, Resident, Orthopedic Surgeon, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, General Orthopedic Surgeon, Saint Alphonsus, Boise, Idaho)
“Simply put, I loved working at Close Concerns because I was able to work with incredibly bright, driven, and fun people all committed to working together to make an impact. The best part about Close Concerns is that you never leave the community. I even ended up co-founding Adventris Pharmaceuticals with a fellow Close Concerns alum.”
- Jen Herbach (Amherst College ’07, Harvard Business School ’13, Co-Founder and CEO, Adventris Pharmaceuticals)
“While I certainly value the skills I learned at Close Concerns, I am most appreciative of the perspective I gained. The work gave me an exhaustive understanding of the many forces driving medical care and health policy – where those forces succeed and where they fall short. My experiences at Close Concerns have fueled my own passion to be persistent, resourceful, and dedicated in my own career.”
- Eric Chang (Pomona College '09, UCSF School of Medicine ’14, Radiation Oncologist, UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles ‘18, University of Colorado School of Medicine Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Resident ‘21)
“Being an associate at Close Concerns was the experience of a lifetime and one I think back to often. I got a unique insider look at the worlds of diabetes care, the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, and the healthcare system as a whole — all while traveling the world. Close Concerns was an amazing place to work, and my time there primed me well for a career in healthcare.”
- Manu Venkat (UCSF School of Medicine '19, Columbia University Resident '22, NYU Langone Gastroenterology Fellow)
"Working at Close Concerns was a unique opportunity to deepen my understanding of chronic disease management, health technology, and metabolic health. The experience helped shape my decision to pursue an MD/MBA at Penn and taught me to approach healthcare challenges from both clinical and business perspectives. I had the privilege of working with some of the most brilliant and interesting people I’ve met, all while living in one of the most remarkable cities in the country. Now that I primarily occupy clinical roles, I continue to draw on the problem-solving skills, intellectual curiosity, and efficiency I developed during my time at CC."
- Armaan Nallicheri (Washington University in St. Louis '21, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine MD/MBA '27)
"Close Concerns is one of the most unique and special organizations I have been a part of. The experience opened my eyes to the various players in healthcare, helped me build early autonomy and critical thinking, and has given me lifelong friends I still keep in touch with. Most importantly, Kelly very much cares about your personal goals for the future and will ensure that you figure out your path moving forward.”
- Rhea Teng (Yale University '19, Harvard Medical School '25, Wills Eye Hospital Resident Physician)
