Administrative Internship Program

• About UNC Health Care
• Administrative Internship Program Description
• Internship Coordination
• Internship Features
• What Past AIP Participants Said About Their Experience
• Eligibility
• Application for Managers
• Application for Students

Through one or more core projects, weekly meetings with their mentor/manager, and participation in cross-functional educational experiences with the intern team, the Administrative Interns at UNC Health Care are exposed to a learning experience that is both broad-based and insular in nature; an ideal exposure to modern health care delivery practices. Throughout the summer, Administrative Interns will gain familiarity with the operations of a major university teaching hospital through full exposure within departments of the hospital. Administrative Interns have opportunities to become subject matter experts in their project work by gathering data, learning job skills, and sharing their findings with a host of constituents across the UNC Health Care. The internship program provides a challenging out-of-the classroom experience second to none.

Click here to view the Administrative Internship Brochure for 2009.

About UNC Health Care
UNC Hospitals opened in September 1952 under the name North Carolina Memorial Hospital. In May 1998, the N.C. General Assembly created the University of North Carolina Health Care entity as a unifying organization to govern constituent hospitals and physician practices and to project a modern and accurate identity of the health care services provided by of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. UNC Health Care includes North Carolina Children's Hospital, North Carolina Memorial Hospital, North Carolina Neurosciences Hospital, North Carolina Women's Hospital, North Carolina Cancer Hospital, UNC Physicians and Associates, and Rex Healthcare.

Currently under construction, the N.C. Cancer Hospital will offer enhanced amenities for patient treatment, as well as patient and family support, in an expanded and enhanced multidisciplinary clinic space. UNC Health Care is a public, academic medical center operated by and for the people of North Carolina. UNC Health Care's mission is to provide high quality patient care, to educate health care professionals, to advance research and to provide community service.

As a 723 licensed bed tertiary care setting, UNC Hospitals serves as the principal teaching hospital affiliate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. UNC Physicians & Associates is the physician practice plan for the School of Medicine, employing over 800 physicians. These two entities of UNC Health Care have over 7,500 employees and an annual operating budget in excess of $710 million. UNC Health Care provides sophisticated diagnostic and treatment services for people throughout North Carolina and surrounding states. Often, the advanced treatments provided by our facilities, such as Laparoscopic Robotic Surgery, and Cystic Fibrosis treatments, draw patients from across the nation.

Each year UNC Health Care cares for more than 32,000 inpatients and provides approximately 741,000 clinic visits. UNC Health Care is the patient care center of a health science complex that includes five professional schools — dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy and public health.

Internship Structure
The Administrative Internship Program (AIP) consists of nine to fourteen weeks of fulltime employment within UNC Health Care. With rolling start and completion dates between May and August, the paid internship creates an opportunity for the interns to be exposed to operations within a department in their area of interest. The intention of the AIP is to provide a formalized entry-level experience to both undergraduate and graduate students in preparation for their career and in pursuit of their interests. Our expectation of is that participants will contribute not only to the projects and departments in which they work, but also to UNC Health Care as a whole.

Internship Coordination
In order to facilitate the continuity of the internship program over time, and to ensure the best experience possible for our interns, the AIP is coordinated by a program liaison from the Executive Office of UNC Hospitals with hiring assistance provided by the Employment Office of UNC Health Care.

Internship Features
Program Offerings

• Exposure to a complex health care environment and a world-class teaching facility
• Involvement in work projects that affect the organization
• Communication with a dedicated mentor throughout the summer
• Participation in weekly “Learning Series” led by leaders from across the organization
• Completion of performance evaluations for both the mentor and the intern
• Opportunities to showcase experiences in an end-of-summer presentation

Past Projects and Areas of Emphasis Have Included:

• Process Improvement (both clinical and administrative)
• Profit/loss analysis and business line development
• Creation of business plans
• Site planning
• Public Relations writing and creation of a business image
• Clinical safety measurement and outcomes analysis
• Preparation of a Medicare cost report
• Creation and analysis of appointment access indicators
• Third-party reimbursement and contracting analysis

Examples of Past Departments in Which Interns Were Placed:

• Accounting
• Continuous Quality Improvement
• Carolina Dialysis LLC
• Executive Offices
• Family Practice
• Human Resources
• Legal
• Patient Relations
• Physician Practice Plan
• Planning
• Plant Engineering
• Public Affairs & Marketing
• Reimbursement

What Past AIP Participants Said About Their Experience
"I was really impressed with the level of commitment and support given to the Interns - thanks!"

"Thanks for this great learning experience!"

Eligibility
The Administrative Internship Program at UNC Health Care aims to attract motivated young adults with an interest in exploring health care opportunities. The internship program usually appeals to individuals with a proven ability to work independently and follow projects through to completion.

Students must be enrolled in an undergraduate or master's level degree program, and have completed at least one semester of classes.

Applicants must be legally eligible for employment in the United States.

Applicant generally must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, although exceptions are made based upon qualifications and experience.

Past majors represented in the program have included public health, business, the sciences, health administration, information technology, social work, statistics, and human resources. Any other degree with some professional interest in health care is eligible for the program.

Selected applicants are required to complete a background check, drug screening, and hospital orientation as part of the pre-employment process required by UNC Health Care policy.

Application for Managers 

Please complete the Administrative Intern Program application (intranet access only) and e-mail it to Dan Lehman by February 1, 2009.

Click here (intranet access only) to view Managers information about the Administrative Intern Program.

Application for Students 
We are accepting applications January 1, 2009 – February 1, 2009. To apply for the program, please submit the following information:

1. One page cover letter outlining the applicant's specific interest in the program indicating any particular areas of emphasis and/or relevant experience in a specific area
2. Current resume including current GPA and a current e-mail address to facilitate interview scheduling

Information will be accepted electronically and should be sent to Sharon Baker at sbaker@unch.unc.edu. All applicants will receive notification that the application was received and an indication as to whether or not the application is complete.

Application submitted before January 1st or after 5pm on February 1st will not be considered, no exceptions.

Students will be notified of selections by mid March.  Program orientation dates are tentatively scheduled for May 18 and 19, 2009.