Graduate-Level Health Equity Internship

Health & Medicine’s health equity internship program is an excellent opportunity for current and recent graduate students to gain exposure to health policy careers with a focus on advancing health equity and eliminating and redressing structural inequities. A successful internship can be an integral part of a person’s education and professional development. Our paid internship program provides on-the-job learning, network growth opportunities, and mentorship toward a successful career launch. Under the supervision of a staff preceptor, interns contribute to health-related policy and/or public health practice projects under one of Health & Medicine’s main focus areas.

We are now accepting applications for the 2026 Equity Intern Program! This paid internship runs from February 2–April 20, 2026, and offers $16 per hour for graduate students pursuing careers in health policy, public health, social work, or related fields.

Our internship program supports the next generation of professionals who believe in our mission of health equity and social justice. We are especially interested in applicants pursuing careers focused on health policy, public health, social work, and advancing health equity through addressing root structural causes.

Applicants must be currently enrolled in (or recently graduated from) a graduate degree program in the greater Chicagoland area. Graduate students residing in the Chicagoland area and enrolled in online graduate programs out of state are also eligible.

While projects vary depending on organizational needs throughout the year, interns may be involved with the following types of work:

• Researching and analyzing policy and writing reports, briefs, or fact sheets relevant to public health, health care, health workforce, and topics relevant to Health & Medicine projects
• Helping track the progress of bills and ordinances at the state, county, and city level and Health & Medicine’s advocacy for each of these
• Planning, sharing resources for, and following up on health policy forum and roundtable events
• Organizing information and coordinating projects related to health policy and public health capacity building
• Joining staff at various collaborations and coalitions
   

Health & Medicine’s Internship Program Model

In 2018, Health & Medicine created an Internship Equity Committee charged with developing a new model for internships, called the Equity Intern Program. The new model replaced unpaid intern labor with paid internships and established a “one door” application process. Rather than internships given to those most well-connected, all applicants complete the same application and are subject to the same review and selection requirements. Providing paid internships is an important step toward creating and sustaining a diverse, equitable, accessible, and inclusive workforce.

Health & Medicine is an independent policy center that conducts research, educates, and collaborates with other groups to advocate policies and impact health systems to improve the health status of all people. Our mission is to build power and momentum for social justice and health equity in Illinois.