Graduate Administrative Intern Program - Summer 2027

Northwestern Memorial Healthcare • Chicago, IL

6h

About The Position

The Graduate Administrative Intern Program is a 12-week paid summer internship designed for graduate students to gain experiential education and exposure to healthcare administration and leadership. Interns are paired with a director or department leader to complete a project aligned with Northwestern Medicine’s organizational goals and strategic initiatives. They engage with management teams, medical leadership, and cross-functional partners and gain exposure to healthcare operations.

Interns may be placed in departments such as the Project Management Office, Strategy, Quality, Operations and Performance, Performance Improvement, or other administrative and operational areas. Supporting departments may include Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech and Language Pathology, Social Work, Spiritual Care, Clinical Nutrition, Patient Relations, Interpretation Services, Environmental Services, Patient Transport, and Food Services. Project work and day-to-day responsibilities vary by placement and may involve strategic planning, operational improvement, process optimization, project management, quality initiatives, data analysis, performance metrics, stakeholder engagement, and research.

The program includes orientation, midpoint and final feedback meetings, networking with senior executives, management meetings, community service activities, shadowing, and executive presentations. Interns are expected to complete an assigned project, participate in program activities, collaborate with project sponsors and stakeholders, submit a final project presentation summarizing outcomes and recommendations, and complete program evaluations and feedback activities. The program is 40 hours per week and is scheduled for summer 2027, with a start date in May or June.

Requirements

• Be enrolled in an accredited graduate program, such as a master's program in healthcare administration, business administration, or an equivalent program.

Nice To Haves

• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including presentation skills.
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills.

Responsibilities

• Complete the assigned internship project.
• Participate in program activities, including orientation sessions, shadowing opportunities, and management meetings.
• Collaborate with project sponsors, department leaders, and key stakeholders.
• Submit a final project presentation summarizing project outcomes and recommendations.
• Complete all program evaluations and feedback activities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern