Summer Internship Programs

Discovering Healthcare Careers was created in 2001 and is a 6-week, paid internship for only Hispanic/Latinx & Black/African American students. This opportunity provides workforce development, healthcare career exposure, clinical skills practice, and mental health & wellness.

  • Type of Program: Internship
  • Incentive Method: Paid
  • Program Length: 6 weeks
  • Requirements:
    • Attend a partner school (ex: CPS, CTE & Noble Charter)
    • High school juniors or seniors (17+)
    • Black/African American or Hispanic/Latinx
    • GPA 2.75
    • All persons must comply with hospital vaccination requirements
  • Application Deadline: March
  • Application Link: workforcedevelopment@luriechildrens.org

Since 2003, we've been a placement site for the Mayor’s program. This 6-week long internship places students in an entry-level position and provides them with workforce development, soft skills, and mental health & wellness.

The focus of this 6-week program is on community health and public health through the lens of Lurie Children’s pillars (clinical care, research, education and advocacy). Students will get to work on their own public health projects and also participate in workshops on literature reviews, data analysis, visualization and resume building, and mental health & wellness.

  • Type of Program: Internship
  • Incentive Method: Unpaid
  • Program Length: 6 weeks
  • Requirements:
    • College students - undergrad or grad students
    • All persons must comply with hospital vaccination requirements
  • Application Deadline: June 13, 2022
  • Application Link: workforcedevelopment@luriechildrens.org

Develops a qualified, knowledgeable, skilled and confident pipeline of young healthcare professionals ages 18-24 through Year Up’s rigorous learning and development program that leads to a 6-month internship at Cook County Health.

  • Type of Program: Internship
  • Incentive Method: Paid
  • Program Length: 6 months
  • Requirements:
    • Year Up youth ages 18-24
  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Application Link: alecia.boyd@cookcountyhhs.org

In partnership with One Summer Chicago delegate agencies. Interns ages 18-24 will be placed in various departments within CCH to perform entry level duties to gain hands on experience to prepare for entry level healthcare position.

  • Type of Program: Internship
  • Incentive Method: Paid
  • Program Length: 6 weeks
  • Requirements:
    • Ages 18-24
  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Application Link: alecia.boyd@cookcountyhhs.org

6 Week Summer Enrichment Course- youth ages 16-17

  • Type of Program: Internship
  • Incentive Method: Paid
  • Program Length: 6 weeks
  • Requirements:
    • Ages 16-17
  • Application Deadline: Late May
  • Application Link: alecia.boyd@cookcountyhhs.org

MedSTEM Pathways is a paid internship program for rising high school juniors through recent high school graduates. There are three sessions: Summer, Fall, and Spring. Students will spend up to 12 hours per week gaining work-based learning skills while interning in departments throughout Rush University Medical Center and several other partner organizations. During the summer session, students also spend one day per week strengthening college readiness and life skills through academic and professional development classes.

  • Type of Program: Internship
  • Incentive Method: Paid
  • Program Length: 6 weeks
  • Requirements:
    • Rising Junior by summer
    • Minimum 2.5 weighted GPA
    • 90% attendance record
    • Preference giving to students with the following qualifications: Richard T. Crane Medical Prep High School student, Benito Juarez Community Academy student, Instituto Health Sciences Career Academy student, Michele Clark Magnet High School student, North-Grand High School student, SAME Network alum, Resident of one of our Anchor Mission communities (60607, 60608, 60612, 60622, 60624, 60639, 60644, 60647, 60651, 60302, 60303, 60305)
  • Application Deadline: Late March
  • Application Link: https://www.reachatrush.org/high-school/medstem-pathways/

MedSTEM Explorers is a paid enrichment program for rising high school sophomores and juniors. There is one, 6-week summer session in which students attend classes at Rush University Medical Center exploring various STEM and healthcare careers, developing workforce skills, and researching real-world issues that affect their Chicago communities.

  • Type of Program: Internship
  • Incentive Method: Paid
  • Program Length: 6 weeks
  • Requirements:
    • Rising Sophomore by summer
    • Chicago resident
    • Minimum 2.5 weighted GPA
    • 90% attendance record
    • Preference giving to students with the following qualifications: Richard T. Crane Medical Prep High School student, Benito Juarez Community Academy student, Instituto Health Sciences Career Academy student, Michele Clark Magnet High School student, North-Grand High School Student, Resident of one of our Anchor Mission communities (60607, 60608, 60612, 60622, 60624, 60639, 60644, 60647, 60651, 60302, 60303, 60305)
  • Application Deadline: Late March
  • Application Link: https://www.reachatrush.org/high-school/medstem-explorers/

The Rush Center for Excellence on Disparities in HIV and Aging (CEDHA) collaborates with the Rush Alzheimer's Disease Center to offer an internship program for highly motivated high school and undergraduate college students with a strong interest in health sciences, health disparities, and research. The internship itself is designed for students who are looking to pursue a career in healthcare to give them exposure to aspects of research and community relations in the area of health disparities.

  • Type of Program: Internship
  • Incentive Method: Paid
  • Program Length: 8 weeks
  • Requirements:
    • Current enrollment in a high school or undergraduate degree program
    • Live in the City of Chicago
    • Commit to attending internship full-time
    • Strong interest in pursuing a career in the health sciences, health disparities, and research
    • Strong written and verbal communication skills
    • Computer proficiency with Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
  • Application Deadline: End of February
  • Application Link: http://www.cedha.rush.edu/resrch-training.html

The Center for Community Health Equity is offering an eight-week, 40-hour per week internship program for four highly motivated undergraduate college students currently in their junior or senior year with a strong interest in research, health disparities, and community relations. The summer internship held at Rush University is designed to give relevant and needed exposure to students seeking careers in the health sciences and research. Summer interns will be provided compensation for the experience (up to $5,000 before taxes; partial bi-weekly payment). No travel or housing accommodations are provided.

  • Type of Program: Internship
  • Incentive Method: Paid
  • Program Length: 8 weeks
  • Requirements:
    • Undergrad student in their junior or senior year
    • Interest in research, health disparities, & community relations
  • Application Deadline: End of February
  • Application Link: https://www.reachatrush.org/college/

The College Career Pathways program is offering an eight-week, 32 hours per week internship program for twelve highly motivated undergraduate college students with a strong interest in nursing, radiology & diagnostic, Information Technology (IT), public/community health, and many more healthcare careers. The summer internship is designed to give relevant and needed exposure to hands-on workforce skills, on-the-job training, and provide the opportunity to gain industry-related credentials for those students seeking careers in the health sciences. Interns will be provided compensation for Summer and Winter Break experience. No travel or housing accommodations are provided.

  • Type of Program: Internship
  • Incentive Method: Paid
  • Program Length: 8 weeks
  • Requirements:
    • "Undergraduate college students
    • Strong interest in nursing, radiology & diagnostic, Information Technology (IT), public/community health, and many more healthcare careers
  • Application Deadline: February
  • Application Link: https://www.reachatrush.org/college/

Readiness skills, explore healthcare careers

Tangible pathway to enter a career choice.

Sinai offers year-round internships to college students, graduate students and other advance education students including legal Interns, Chaplins, HR Social Work and Behavioral Health

UI Health CHAMPIONS aims to 1) Expose participants to health careers and career pathways; 2) Motivate participants to pursue a postsecondary health career; and 3) Empower participants to serve as community health advocates.

  • Type of Program: Internship
  • Incentive Method: Paid
  • Program Length: 6 weeks
  • Requirements:
    • Chicagoland high school student
    • Ages 16 or older
  • Application Deadline: May/June
  • Application Link: https://www.healthchampionschicago.com/

UI Health offers a volunteer program that is open to anyone that is interested in gaining exposure to the healthcare environment. Volunteers will have the opportunity to help in both clinical and administrative departments within the hospital and surrounding clinics. Departments include Surgical Services, Oncology, Pediatrics, Emergency Room, Diagnostics, Social Work, NICU, Craniofacial Center, and more!

The Summer Undergraduate Research Program on Health Disparities (SURPHD) provides research opportunities to third and fourth year pre-medical undergraduate Hispanic/Latino or other underrepresented minority students interested in minority health and health disparities.