Summer Internship Program

Program Description: The internship program at the Department of Health Professions (DHP) provides an opportunity to spend a summer working side-by-side with knowledgeable staff in an environment devoted to protecting the public. Our mission is to ensure safe and competent patient care by licensing health professionals, enforcing standards of practice, and providing information to health care practitioners and the public. DHP consists of over 250 licensing/discipline specialists, investigators, inspectors, legal and administrative professionals working at its headquarters in Henrico, VA and throughout the Commonwealth.

This internship will cover a period of ten weeks, starting June 5th through August 11th. The DHP internship offers a wide range of activities including data analytics projects, special projects in support of board meetings and hearings, research and policy development, and presentations to the agency leadership. DHP is currently looking for seven summer interns this year:

1.  An undergraduate student majoring in nursing, criminal justice, law enforcement, or public health care administration, or pursuing a health-, science-, or justice-related degree, to work with the Board of Nursing. Duties to include creating and maintaining physical and electronic files, generating report numbers and entering data on the agency’s licensing and discipline database.

2.  An undergraduate college student (any major) to work with the Boards of Funeral Directors & Embalmers, Long-Term Care Administrators, and Physical Therapy; the successful candidate will be proficient in the use of Microsoft Office and Adobe products. The duties of the intern will include providing support to the daily licensing and disciplinary operations of the Boards of Funeral Directors and Embalmers, Long-Term Care Administrators, and Physical Therapy. Special projects include drafting and updating website content, assisting with inspection documentation, and creating and maintaining physical and electronic files.

3.  Rising senior or graduate student in economics, public policy, political science, social science, computer science, or administration, with coursework in statistics, econometrics, programming, and/or survey research or data analysis to work with the Healthcare Workforce Data Center; the successful candidate will have an interest in healthcare workforce issues, experience conducting literature reviews, and familiarity in the use of common statistical software programs such as SPSS.

4.  A junior or senior enrolled in a four-year journalism, communications or public relations degree program with hands-on experience in digital and other mass communications. Assignments will include: drafting content for DHP’s social media; supporting video production; scriptwriting; conducting research for media relations; supporting select DHP special events; and, other duties as assigned. Candidates will have strong writing skills, an interest in healthcare communications and a demonstrated appreciation for the dissemination of governmental data and information to the public and other stakeholders, including the news media. Candidates for this position will be proficient with software including Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Cloud, and web development platforms and will be required to submit two three-paragraph writing samples as part of their application.

5.  An undergraduate college student majoring in psychology, sociology, social science, pre-law, or health care administration to work with the Boards of Counseling, Psychology, and Social Work. The successful candidate will have knowledge of social services, and have an interest in a career in the behavioral sciences or health care administration. The intern will rotate throughout the Behavioral Sciences Unit. Candidates will spend 2 weeks working on the licensure process for each of the boards. This will entail learning the licensing process and updating Standards of Procedure, creating licensing handbooks and FAQs where needed, and improving the website. Candidates will also spend a couple of weeks working on the discipline side, creating compliance forms and standards of procedure.

6.  An Undergraduate college student majoring in computer science or information technology with a minor or experience in criminal justice, nursing, public or health care administration to work with the Enforcement Division. The successful candidate should be proficient in the use of Microsoft Access. The Enforcement intern will assist with a number of Enforcement technology projects including (but not limited to) the creation of a database for tracking results of quality reviews, transition and maintenance of shared electronic folders/drives, assisting in the development of an integrated electronic investigative report and collection/scanning of case evidence. These assignments will require good communication and collaboration skills as well as computer technology proficiency.

7.  An undergraduate college student majoring in criminal justice, public policy, pre-law, or a related field of study to work with the Boards of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, Optometry, and Veterinary Medicine. The successful candidate should be proficient in the use of Microsoft Office products and have an interest in administrative law. The duties of the position will include assisting in the daily operations of disciplinary case management and adjudication for the Boards of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, Optometry, and Veterinary Medicine, and several special projects including assisting in updating documents related to probable cause review and the development of discipline standard operating procedures.

All candidates should have an interest in a career in the public sector, health services or administration and should be proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Products, including Word, Excel, Outlook, Internet Explorer, PowerPoint & Publisher.

Eligibility: The DHP Summer Internship Program is for undergraduate, in some cases graduate, students currently enrolled at an accredited college or university with a minimum 3.0 GPA who are at least eighteen years of age at the time they begin the program. To be eligible, candidates must be either U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Official transcripts will be required for selected candidates.

Stipend Information: This is a paid internship, with participants working approximately 30 hours a week earning $10.50 per hour.

Application Procedures: Prospective candidates must submit a complete application packet by Friday, March 31st, 2017. A complete application packet includes:

·  A curriculum vitae or resume,

·  A complete summer internship application,

·  A cover letter describing the applicant’s interests and career goals.

Selection: The DHP Summer Internship Program is highly competitive. Applications will be reviewed thoroughly, and selections will be based on the quality of the complete application packet. Prospective candidates may be interviewed either in-person, over the phone or via Skype. Candidates will be informed of their selection by the hiring manager, generally in April. Selected candidates will be required to complete an I-9 form and provide documentation of identity for employment purposes.

Please email complete application to:

To be considered for this internship program, you must have a completed application submitted by March 31st, 2017. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure all application materials are submitted on time. This application and supporting documentation (resume and cover letter) are important factors in our selection process. You are encouraged to submit your application early. The deadline for summer internship applications is March 31st, 2017.

Part I: Applicant Information

Name:
Current Address:
Phone:
(cell number is preferable)
Email:
(include date good until)
Other contact method:
Name of University or College:
Year in school:
Major:
Permanent Address:
Date of Birth:

Part II: Application Information

1.  Do you consent for DHP to contact your references when evaluating your application?

Yes No

2.  Can you perform the essential functions of the intern position as defined in the “Internship Program Description”?

Yes No

3.  Do you have the legal right to work in the United States?

Yes No

4.  In the space provided below, please respond to the following question - What unique skills, experiences, or talents would you bring to the Department of Health Professions summer internship program?

Part III: Personal References

Please provide two personal references. You may include an employer, professor, or someone else who knows you well. Below, please list the name, address, phone number, and your relationship with each reference.

Reference 1

Name
Address
Phone
Email
Relationship

Reference 2

Name
Address
Phone
Email
Relationship

Thank you for your interest in the Department of Health Professions!

The Department of Health Professions does not discriminate against eligible participants because of such factors as race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, religion, or political beliefs.