Student Programs
We coordinate programs that connect students and caregivers in immersive, hands-on learning experiences, offering students the opportunity to understand what a career in health care could look like.
Job shadowing and internships
Learn more about our job shadowing and internship opportunities.
A job shadow, also called an observation, is an opportunity for a student to observe a provider in a clinical setting. According to our policies, we only allow observations in our care sites if they are required as part of class curriculum or as a prerequisite to apply for another program.
- We don’t provide observation experiences for career exploration unless you are a current employee.
- Observational hours do not allow students to provide hands-on care to patients. We generally limit total observation to 12 hours, or the number of hours required for the class or program prerequisite.
- If you are a student over the age of 18 who needs observation hours for school credit and/or school application, search for the hospital and provider type you’re hoping to connect with. Please contact a provider, and then contact us at Intermountainstudents@imail.org to confirm your placement.
We provide opportunities for high school students to complete observation hours at our care sites if they are enrolled in a Work-based Learning class or other vocational class where exposure to various careers is required curriculum. Please contact Elisabeth Orozco at elisabeth.orozco@imail.org to discuss observation opportunities for high school students.
Internships, also called rotations, are paid or unpaid short-term experiences that offer meaningful, practical exposure to work that is related to your field of study. Internships can be clinical or professional learning experiences. You will use the Intermountain Placement Center to coordinate your internship.
Paid internships
Paid internships are not necessarily tied to a class requirement but can provide the student with additional work experience in their field of study. Since the experience is not a class requirement, the student must apply for the opportunity as a temporary employee through Intermountain’s career site.
Unpaid internships / rotations
Unpaid internships, generally called rotations, are needed for a student to pass a class (course syllabus) or as part of their clinical license requirement.
Unpaid internships can be in a business or clinical environment.
Whether you are applying for a business or clinical internship/rotation, there are certain requirements needed before you can begin your experience, which you’ll find in the Placement Center.
Using the Placement Center
- If you are a student enrolled in Intermountain’s Placement Center system, follow the instructions provided there for your onboarding requirements.
- If you are not enrolled in the Placement Center, our Student Training website can help you determine what is needed to complete your onboarding requirements. Be sure to read the instructions on the initial site and any sub-pages.
- On the Business site, you should choose paperwork assigned to the business facility noted.
- On the Clinical site, scroll down to the appropriate program type to access the appropriate paperwork.
Your Intermountain Student Placement Coordinator can assist you with any questions you might have.
Opportunities for high school students
Its important to explore health care careers at an early age. We offer tailored programs to help students get an early start.
Youth outreach programs are part of a dynamic student programs team that designs, identifies, and coordinates events for youth to discover careers at Intermountain. Our Youth Outreach initiatives are driven by our passion to help strengthen the healthcare pipeline in our youth populations. We foster career exploration and make entry-level careers accessible to students of any background.
Are you passionate about youth healthcare? Sign up now to be the first to know about exciting events and initiatives at Intermountain Health. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to make a difference use the link below to sign-up via our interest form!
Our Outreach Coordinator connects Intermountain caregivers with opportunities to engage with youth at career fairs, classroom presentations, and on-site immersion events. After signing up and being notified of these exciting opportunities, you will receive detailed information about youth opportunities across the state. If you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us using the button below. We look forward to your participation!
IHealth is an Intermountain Health-sponsored program for sophomore to senior-level high school students. It provides interactive experiences where students can explore different health care careers throughout the school year. Students are invited through their school to participate in hands-on learning and observations. We invite anyone interested in health care to learn more. IHealth cohorts run in June & July. Class sizes range from 20-30 students.
- OFFERED: Summer - Enrollment starts in March
- AUDIENCE: 16–18-year-olds
- CONTACT: Your high school counselor, Work Base Learning coordinator, or Career Technical Education CTE coordinator.
In partnership with Utah Area Health Education Centers high school students embark on a semester-long work study. Students will visit Intermountain Health, Salt Lake Community College, Shriners Hospital for Children, and MountainStar Health. Students will observe a variety of departments and learn using a hybrid model of observation and non-patient hands-on skills lab held in education classrooms at Intermountain Health campuses. Class sizes range from 20-40 students.
- AREA: Salt Lake County
- OFFERED: Fall and spring
- AUDIENCE: High School Seniors
- CONTACT: Your high school counselor, Work Base Learning coordinator, or Career Technical Education CTE coordinator.
In partnership with Primary Children’s community health team, students will complete 21 observation hours at Primary Children’s Hospital, learn about public health from medical residents, and learn about different careers in health care from current Intermountain Health caregivers. Students will also participate in a non-patient hands-on skills lab held in an education classroom at Intermountain Health campuses.
- Class sizes range from 20-40 students
- AREA: Salt Lake County
- OFFERED: Fall
- AUDIENCE: Highschool Juniors and Seniors
- CONTACT: Your high school counselor, Work Base Learning coordinator, or Career Technical Education CTE coordinator.
The NUAHEC program is tailored for junior or senior high school students to give them a head start on their health care career. Students will be on-site at McKay-Dee Hospital, observing a variety of departments and earning a total of 12 observation hours. Students will engage in a hybrid model of observation and non-patient hands-on skills lab.
- Class sizes range from 30-40 students.
- AREA: Northern Utah
- OFFERED: Spring and fall
- AUDIENCE: High School Seniors
- CONTACT: Your high school counselor, Work Base Learning coordinator, or Career Technical Education CTE coordinator.
High school students participate in targeted, work-study health care programs for a full semester at Intermountain Health. Students visit Intermountain Health’s Utah Valley Hospital, Primary Children's Hospital, Lehi, and American Fork Hospital. The program includes observation in a variety of departments and a hybrid model of observation and non-patient hands-on skills lab held in education classrooms at Intermountain Health campuses.
- Class sizes range from 20-40 students
- AREA: Utah County
- OFFERED: Spring and fall
- AUDIENCE: High School Seniors
- CONTACT: Your high school counselor, Work Base Learning coordinator, or Career Technical Education CTE coordinator.
This program is being implemented in Park City High School, Wasatch High School, and Provo High School. Please visit the following websites for more information.