WNC HEART Internship Summer 2027

Mahec • Asheville, NC

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The MAHEC HEART Student Internship is a six-week summer program for students interested in pursuing a healthcare career in rural medicine. Interns are placed in a rural Western North Carolina primary care practice and participate in clinical shadowing, weekly didactics, and a project at MAHEC. Interns explore healthcare through clinical and non-clinical shadowing based on their interests, contribute to and present a clinical or community project overseen by a MAHEC project leader, and learn about rural medicine and the complex social factors affecting rural communities.

The internship runs June 14 through July 23, 2027. Interns work 20 paid hours per week, up to 120 hours total: approximately 45 hours of shadowing, 45 hours of project work, and 30 hours of orientation, didactics, SIM Center experience, team building and peer learning, and final presentations. Interns must be willing to drive up to one hour to their clinical shadowing site each week. Regular on-site attendance at didactics and the clinical site is essential. Work hours must be flexible for special assignments and occasional evening or weekend activities.

Applicants must be from a rural North Carolina county; preference is given to students from rural Western North Carolina. Applicants must be rising sophomores, juniors, seniors, or post-baccalaureate students and maintain a 3.0 GPA. The application requires a resume, a 500-word personal statement addressing interest in the health professions, future professional goals, and qualifications for the internship, and transcripts (unofficial transcripts are accepted). A recommendation letter is optional. Applications close February 2, 2027, at 11:59 p.m.

Requirements

• Have a sincere interest in pursuing a healthcare career in a rural community.
• Be from a rural North Carolina county; preference is given to applicants from rural Western North Carolina.
• Be a rising sophomore, junior, senior, or post-baccalaureate student.
• Maintain a 3.0 GPA.
• Have superior organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Have excellent problem-solving, judgment, and decision-making skills and the ability to work under minimal supervision.
• Be able to work with diverse work styles and demonstrate an exemplary customer-service attitude.
• Use discretion when handling sensitive medical information, as appropriate to the position.
• Have excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Have intermediate skills using Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Be willing to drive up to one hour to the clinical shadowing site each week.
• Attend on-site didactics and clinical shadowing; be flexible for special assignments and occasional evening or weekend activities.
• Submit a resume, a 500-word personal statement, and transcripts; unofficial transcripts are acceptable.

Nice To Haves

• Experience writing research papers and reports is preferred.
• A letter of recommendation from a professor, advisor, supervisor, or mentor is optional.
• Applicants from rural Western North Carolina are preferred.
• Members of BIPOC communities, first-generation college students, and students from disadvantaged or rural areas are strongly encouraged to apply.

Responsibilities

• Participate in clinical and non-clinical shadowing based on individual interests.
• Participate in and present a clinical or community project overseen by a MAHEC project leader.
• Attend regular weekly didactics and program activities, including orientation, SIM Center experience, team building and peer learning, and final presentations.
• Attend on-site activities at the assigned clinical shadowing location and drive up to one hour to that site each week.
• Learn about rural medicine and social factors affecting rural communities.

Benefits

• Paid internship hours, up to 120 hours total.
• MAHEC is a qualifying employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program; eligible employees may qualify for loan forgiveness after 10 years of qualifying payments while working full-time at MAHEC.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed