Internships provide a mechanism for students to function as a professional within a healthcare organization for a limited time in order to gain experience. All Health Policy and Management students must complete an internship (which may also be called a field practicum), typically 400 hours, prior to receiving their degree. In order to provide a consistent mechanism for ensuring that every student completes an internship, students register for either HADM 695 or HADM 728 (depending on the bulletin under which you will graduate).
The Department of Health Policy and Management does not provide internships, nor is a stipend guaranteed for every intern! The School of Public Health does have a central clearing house for known jobs and internships, available to registered students in the SPH Community on Blackboard. Faculty may also assist in finding opportunities. In addition, there are managers within the Loma Linda University Medical Center who are often looking for interns to work on short-term projects. Many students find internships at either the nearby Loma Linda University Medical Center or the Loma Linda Veterans Affairs Medical Center. However, the School is also located close to the administrative offices for many agencies of both Riverside and San Bernardino County. These agencies including Public Health, Office of Aging, and Behavioral Health. There are also many medical and dental groups, hospitals, and other private healthcare-related organizations in the Inland Empire.
Normally students register for this class just prior to graduation. However, DON’T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST QUARTER to think about this class. The most important aspect of the internship is the opportunity to apply newly learned knowledge to a real-world setting. However, in order to receive academic credit, there are a few paper-work related tasks and the requirement to write a one-two page executive summary and a more detailed report. This summary and report is retained by the Department and may be reviewed during an accreditation site visit.
Many students will need to spend at least 2 quarters of part-time effort to accumulate the necessary hours. It is recommended that early into your coursework you talk with your advisor to determine which internship may be most appropriate. Consider your career goals, areas of interest, professional strengths and weaknesses, skills you wish to develop, preference for organization or agency, geographical location, and educational needs. If already employed at an organization, a specific project at that job may be used to satisfy the internship requirements.
Sometimes there are formal internships offered by organizations, sometimes students “make” their own internship. Keep in mind that when applying for an internship, you may be asked to provide a resume and go through an interview. While in the negotiation stage, it is helpful to use INTERN Form 1 and Form 2, to help clarify what will be done during the internship. INTERN Form 1 requires a description of tasks and expectations. Even if this description is only a few sentences, it should be very clear to you at the outset what is expected of you! The INTERN Form 2 attachment requires you to more formally present your personal and profession learning objectives, and discuss an evaluation plan, i.e., how will you know if those objectives were met.
Please note that the content of the internship/field practicum must be approved by your advisor or program coordinator. The initial defining of the internship is typically done through the preceptor, who is an individual at the organization, typically at senior management level, with expertise in the assigned project areas, recognized management effectiveness, and an interest as well as competence in mentoring. The preceptor guides the intern's professional development and integration into the organization. The preceptor and intern are encouraged to schedule regular meetings for mentoring, professional guidance, project supervision, and special instruction. The preceptor must complete the final evaluation at the end of the internship (INTERN Form 3). Faculty advisors are available to students and preceptors for guidance, support, consultation, technical assistance, and problem solving.
It is recommended that you have INTERN Form 1 and INTERN Form 2 completed and signed (and thus actually be in an internship) BEFORE registering for the internship. However, INTERN Forms 1 and 2 are not actually turned in to the course instructor until after you have registered.
Forms to be completed:
Contact informationSusan Beaman
Phone: (909) 558-4573
Email: sbeaman@llu.edu
Last Revised: Wed, Aug 29, 2007
