Pre-Physician Assistant Undergraduate Intern Program - Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital - Summer 2026

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?

The Northwestern Medicine Pre-Physician Assistant Undergraduate Internship offers a valuable opportunity for undergraduate students interested in the Physician Assistant career track to become immersed in the healthcare environment through project work and observation. This paid summer program based at Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital provides students with an opportunity to be placed within a department to gain exposure to see what it’s like to work in a healthcare setting. This internship culminates in a PowerPoint presentation with Advanced Practice Providers and department leadership.

The Physician Assistant 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.
• Develop working relationships with staff, leadership, physician assistants, nurse practitioners 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 leadership
  • Weekly clinical shadowing rotations
  • Skill development workshops
  • Final PowerPoint presentation

See what our staff have to say about working in this department and at Northwestern Medicine! Be Part of Better: What It’s Like to Work at Northwestern Medicine

Program Dates & Schedule:

Application Due Date: 1/5/2026

Program Dates: June 24th - August 19th, 2026

Hours: Interns must be available to work Monday through Thursday during standard business hours. Depending on the clinical rotation schedule or project assignments, hours may occasionally vary.

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 physician assistant program. 
• We are seeking students who demonstrate high academic performance, maturity, professionalism, initiative, attention to detail, and the ability to collaborate with others.

Required Documentation for Application Submission to be Uploaded

• Resume
• Transcripts (unofficial or official accepted)
• 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 assistant.
  • 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 assistant.

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 [email protected] if you have any questions.

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

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.