From June 1 to August 5, 2026, I completed a summer internship at TLC Healthcare, a digital healthcare company that runs a physician-network-based "medical concierge" service. TLC Healthcare's mission is to fill the gap patients face after a short doctor's visit, when they're often left to figure things out on their own.

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The first concept I learned was "Triage" — TLC's core service, which makes an initial assessment of a patient's condition, connects them to the right hospital or specialty, and guides them through what to do before and after a visit. While it doesn't involve direct diagnosis, I was struck by how the company turned "easy access to a doctor's advice" into a membership-based service. Looking at examples like Concierge Medicine in the U.S. and Amazon's acquisition of One Medical, I learned that online services alone have limits, and that combining them with an offline hospital network is essential.

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The area I focused on most was MTE (Medical Tailored Exercise) — exercise recommendations based on a person's health condition and medical needs. Among the platform's five categories (meals, exercise, supplements, counseling, and devices), the exercise category is still less developed than medication or supplements, but I saw real potential for future growth. I also learned a practical challenge: current regulations limit off-site rehabilitation therapy in Korea, meaning policy expansion will be needed to fully realize this space.

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This internship helped me see how healthcare is evolving beyond simple diagnosis and treatment into something that supports patients' everyday lives. As someone interested in pursuing Sports Management, I found real meaning in seeing how tailored exercise solutions like MTE could expand into personal training, home training, and sports medicine. It was a valuable experience that convinced me the sports industry will only grow more connected to healthcare, AI, and data-driven services.

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Bonne Chance!

 - TH KIM