Job Description
The Northwestern Medicine Pre-Med Undergraduate Internship offers a valuable opportunity for pre-med undergraduate students to become immersed in the healthcare environment through project work, observation and educational seminars. This paid summer program based throughout Northwestern Medicine’s five main regional campuses (North, Central, West, Northwest and South regions) matches each student with a department to focus on a clinically oriented project culminating in a poster presentation. Throughout the summer, students will rotate through different clinical specialties to gain observation experience and also participate in the educational series led by NM leaders.
Important Location Information: The NM Pre-Med Internship is offered at five main regional campuses, including:
- North Region (can include Lake Forest Hospital, Gurnee, Grayslake, Sherman Plaza Center, Evanston, IL)
- Central Region (can include Northwestern Memorial Hospital or another clinical site near the Streeterville Campus)
- West Region (can include Central DuPage Hospital, Delnor Hospital, Valley West Hospital, Kishwaukee Hospital, Proton Center)
- Northwest Region (can include McHenry Hospital, Woodstock Hospital, Huntley Hospital and surrounding areas)
- South Region (can include Palos Community Hospital or another clinical site near Palos Heights, IL)
Candidates should be sure to list ALL campuses they would like to be considered for in the application. It is important to list the locations in order of preference.
The Pre-Med Undergraduate Intern’s responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:
- Uphold the mission, vision and values of Northwestern Medicine which include Patients First, Excellence, Teamwork, & Integrity.
- Develop a working knowledge of healthcare operations in a complex academic medical center.
- Develop a professional network with students, leadership, and physicians.
- Participation in activities designed for development of interns during their assignment at Northwestern Medicine; which include:
- New Employee Orientation
- Project assignment(s)
- Networking opportunities, including luncheons with other interns and senior and physician leaders
- Physician lectures and rounds
- Weekly clinical rotation
- Skill development workshops
- Final poster presentation
Program Dates & Schedule:
Application Due Date: December 26, 2025
Start Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2026
End Date: Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Hours:
Interns must be available to work Monday through Thursday during standard business hours. Occasional travel to various NM sites across Chicago/Chicago suburbs may be required. Depending on the clinical rotation schedule or project assignments, hours may occasionally vary.
Note - Students must be available for the full 8-week internship due to pre-scheduled intern activities throughout the summer.
Qualifications
Required:
- Candidates must have a High School Diploma or the General Equivalent.
- Candidates must be currently enrolled in a four-year undergraduate university with the intent to enroll in a medical school program.
- Preference will be given to students who have not previously completed a paid NM Pre-Med Internship. Recent graduates with the intent to enroll in medical school will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Preference will be given to students with a GPA of 3.3 or higher.
- Preference will be given to students entering their junior or senior year with a graduation date in 2027 or Spring 2028.
- We are seeking students with demonstrated interest in this program as well as the in the field of medicine. We also consider evidence of well-roundedness, community involvement, maturity and ability to collaborate with others. A student’s ability to add diversity of background or experience to the healthcare workforce is desirable. While academic excellence is a prerequisite it is not emphasized more than the above mentioned qualities in our candidate selection.
Required Documentation for Application Submission:
- Resume
- You must also attach a one-page statement, in a Word Document or PDF format, addressing the following:
- Describe why you have an interest in a career as a physician.
- Describe an obstacle you’ve faced when working towards your academic, career, or personal goals and how you’ve worked to overcome it.
- Describe the lessons you’ve learned through those experiences and how they will help you be successful in your career as a physician.
The use of generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT, DALL-E, etc.) are not permitted, the Pre-Med Selection Committee is looking for responses in your own words.
Please note, to be considered for this role, you must submit BOTH attachments. When you apply, you will receive an automated email to set up an account. Once your account is set up, you can log back into your application, please navigate to the upload section and press the "+" sign to submit additional attachments if necessary. Please contact careers@nm.org if you have any questions.
Additional Information
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
This internship role is non-benefit eligible.
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.
Benefits
We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section to learn more.
Sign-on Bonus Eligibility: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position at NM may be eligible depending upon the job family.
