Graduate Administrative Intern Program - Summer 2027

Location: Chicago, IL, us Employment Type: {'id': 'permanent', 'label': 'Full-time'}

Company Description

At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient-first approach is what sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry. As an integral part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to join our quest for better health care, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system. We pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, our goal is to take care of our employees. Ready to join our quest for better?

Job Description

The Graduate Administrative Intern reflects the mission, vision, and values of Northwestern Memorial, adheres to the organization's Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

The Administrative Internship presents a valuable opportunity for graduate students (e.g. M.B.A., M.P.H., M.H.A., M.H.I., M.P.P., etc) to gain experiential education and for Northwestern Medicine to benefit from the service, skills and knowledge that graduate students can offer.

The internship is a 12-week paid summer program designed to provide experiential learning and exposure to healthcare administration and leadership. Graduate Administrative Interns are paired with a director or department leader to complete a project aligned with organizational goals and strategic initiatives. Throughout the program, interns engage with management teams, medical leadership, and cross-functional partners while gaining exposure to various aspects of healthcare operations.

Interns may be placed in a variety of departments across Northwestern Medicine based on departmental internship requests, organizational needs, and project availability. Placement areas may include, but are not limited to:

Project Management Office (PMO)

Strategy

Quality

Operations and Performance

Supporting: Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech and Language Pathology, Social Work, Spiritual Care, Clinical Nutrition, Patient Relations, Interpretation Services, Environmental Services (EVS), Patient Transport and Food Services.

Performance Improvement

Other administrative and operational departments

Because interns are placed in a variety of departments, project work, responsibilities, and day-to-day experiences will vary depending on the assigned department's objectives and needs. Interns may contribute to projects involving strategic planning, operational improvement, process optimization, project management, quality initiatives, data analysis, performance metrics, stakeholder engagement, research, and other healthcare administration functions. Regardless of placement, all interns gain meaningful exposure to healthcare leadership and play an active role in supporting initiatives that advance organizational performance and patient care.

The internship program includes orientation sessions, mid-point and final feedback meetings, networking opportunities with senior executives, management meetings, community service activities, shadowing experiences, and executive presentations. These experiences are designed to enhance professional development, build leadership skills, and provide insight into the complexities of healthcare management.

The Graduate Administrative Intern is responsible for successfully completing all program requirements, including but not limited to:

Completing the assigned internship project

Participating in program activities, including orientation sessions, shadowing opportunities, management meetings

Collaborating with project sponsors, department leaders, and key stakeholders

Submitting a final project presentation summarizing project outcomes and recommendations

Completing all program evaluations and feedback activities

Application Deadline: November 29, 2026 at 11:59pm CST

Program Start Date: May or June 2027

Qualifications

Required

Graduate Interns must be enrolled in an accredited graduate program. Programs can include Master's degrees in Healthcare Administration (M.P.H, M.H.I, M.H.A., M.H.S.A., etc), Business Administration (M.B.A) or equivalent (M.P.A.).

Preferred

Excellent communication skills, written and oral, including presentation skills.

Strong quantitative and analytical skills.

Additional Information

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.

Background Check

Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check.  Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

Artificial Intelligence Disclosure

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.

Benefits

Internship roles are not eligible for benefits