Intern candidates are motivated undergraduates (usually college juniors, seniors or recent graduates) interested in pursuing careers in healthcare. HCC places a priority on recruiting students from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. HCC recruits nationally, but most students attend California or New England universities. Candidates typically have written, verbal, computer and analytical skills that contribute to their project assignments.

Internships are 10 week, fulltime placements. They begin around the second week of June and end in mid to late August. The host organization can determine appropriate start dates.

Organizations pay $6,500 for each summer intern. Payment in full is expected when candidate selection is finalized. This amount is split between direct pay to the intern during the course of the placement, and the cost of administering and supporting the program. Support services include applicable taxes, extensive national student recruitment, site recruitment, applicant screening/interviewing and site matching, intern orientation sessions, student employment and payroll expenses, summer workshop expenses, networking events with local professional organizations, website management, organizational and internship support during placement, post internship evaluation of participants and overall program operations.

Interns are employees of Health Career Connection or host organizations. HCC will typically place interns at your site under an independent contractor arrangement. HCC will manage all payroll issues, including coverage of worker's compensation benefits and issuance of paychecks. This assures program consistency, and minimizes administrative management by the host organization.

If there is a need to directly employ interns within your organization, exceptions may be considered by HCC.

First, organizations are expected to identify a preceptor willing to supervise and support the host student. Management of this relationship is crucial to the student's success during the internship. Preceptors should have both the interest and time to work with energetic, inquisitive students! Secondly, organizations should identify meaningful project work that an undergraduate intern can complete within the ten-week timeframe. In conjunction with site leadership, students will be expected to develop an internship plan with project goals and timeframes by the end of their second week of placement. Plans also should incorporate orientation and networking activities that will familiarize the student with the business of the organization and further the student's understanding of healthcare in general. Sites are expected to arrange for dedicated workspace and computer access for student use during the placement.

A number of workshops (including Career Planning, Cultural Competency in Healthcare, Graduate Educational Opportunities and Professional Development) are core to the program's success. Students will also attend regular internship program meetings, where they will be asked to formally present information regarding their placement experience. Additionally, a number of networking dinners with local professional organizations are planned. Sites are asked to release students from their placement responsibilities to participate in these valuable sessions.

To help familiarize us with your organization and help you get the right intern, we ask participating sites to complete a brief Site Placement Description Form. This helps us identify characteristics necessary for a successful organizational and student experience. HCC conducts an initial rigorous screening of internship applicants for skills, motivation, maturity and potential fit with participating organizations. HCC will then provide sites with candidates whose background and interest are considered a match for participating organizations. Sites will interview candidate(s) and will work with HCC to make a final selection.

The Internship Program Coordinator will work continuously with student interns to address the ongoing challenges they face during their placement. The Coordinator will make a site visit midway during the placement to assess placement progress with the student's preceptor. The Coordinator will also work with the preceptor to complete a student evaluation at the end of the placement.

The HCC Internship Program Coordinator or Program Director is always available by phone for questions and consultation.

1. Contact HCC to let us know you are interested.Complete a intern placement form.Interview final pre-screened candidates and select your top choices.Decide on a start-date and submit a check to HCC.
2. Provide an informative experience and enjoy assisting a motivated, talented intern.

To start the process or obtain more information, please contact:

Jeff Oxendine
joxendine@healthcareers.org
510-642-2414