Data Equity and Interoperability Implementation Intern

DPH Paid Internship Program, Fall 2026-Spring 2027

Office of Health Data, Strategy, and Innovation (OHDSI) 
Project Name: Data Equity and Interoperability 
Intern Title: Data Equity and Interoperability Implementation Intern 

Eligible Academic Level: Master’s 
Preferred Field(s) of Study: Public Health, Health Policy, Data Science, Health Informatics, Health Sciences, Public Administration, or related fields 

Semester: Fall & Spring 

Total Hours: 288 

Hours Per Week: Part Time (approx. 12 hours) 

Work Arrangement: Hybrid 

On Site Location: 250 Washington or 100 Cambridge Street, Boston MA 

Position Overview:  

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is accepting applications from graduate students to support the Office of Health Data Strategy and Innovation (OHDSI) implementation of the Advancing Health Equity in Massachusetts (AHEM) Initiative. This project offers students the opportunity to contribute to statewide efforts to improve the quality, consistency, and interoperability of public health and healthcare data used across agencies and partners. 

The AHEM Initiative, through its interagency EHS Health Equity Data Interoperability (EHEDI) group, works to advance data interoperability by aligning measures to the Quality Measures Alignment Taskforce (QMAT) recommendations for data used by payers, providers, health and human services agencies, and other partners. EHEDI is also supporting EOHHS’ alignment with the M.G.L. Chapter 6A, § 109, Data Equity Law, which requires state agencies, boards, bureaus, commissions, councils, departments, offices, divisions, and quasi-public agencies to collect granular demographics data. 

The graduate student will support the implementation of EHEDI recommendations on data standardization and interoperability, in partnership with DPH, EOHHS agencies, the Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA), and the Health Policy Commission (HPC), to help ensure coordination and alignment. Project 4 EHEDI Implementation Intern will collaborate with others, including Project 5 DPH Data Standards and Technical Assistance Intern.  

Responsibilities: 

• Participate in coordinating and scheduling interagency interoperability working groups meetings with key partners to support coordination and information sharing across initiatives. 
• Develop written materials such as meeting summaries, presentations, briefing documents, and frequently asked questions (FAQs) to communicate data standards and interoperability efforts to DPH stakeholders. 
• Support comparative reviews of federal, state, and program-specific data standards, measures, or reporting frameworks used across agencies. 
• Create/update crosswalks and summary materials that document similarities, differences, and gaps between measurement frameworks to support alignment and decision-making. 
• Provide research and briefs related to health informatics, interoperability (i.e., HL7/FHIR), EMR systems upgrades, and change management in support of the OHDSI data modernization and interoperability efforts. 
• Support the development of a resource guide with best practices for demographics data standards implementation and interoperability. 

Skills & Qualifications:  

• Enrollment in a graduate program in public health, health policy, data science, health informatics, public administration, or a related field. 
• Interest in health equity, data standards, data governance, or data modernization. 
• Strong written communication skills and ability to synthesize technical or policy information for diverse audiences. 
• Ability to work collaboratively across teams and engage in meetings with multiple partners of senior and mid-management level seniority. 
• Attention to detail and ability to organize and document complex information. 
• High level of discretion and commitment to confidentiality.