August 13, 1999

The MGH is well known for teaching the next generation of physicians and other health care professionals. This summer, the MGH Human Resources Department gave college students an opportunity to learn about the administrative functions of a major hospital through a new internship program.

Twenty-seven students from colleges across the country participated in the 12-week pilot program that introduced them to various administrative and clinical departments.

"Every year, we get requests from students for internship placements, but we haven't had a formal, centralized program in place before," says Suzanne Culver of MGH Human Resources, who coordinated the program. "With this program, we were able to have a structured application process and developed guidelines to place the students in departments that fit their majors or areas of interest."

Allison Piatek, a student at Holy Cross in Worcester, spent her internship with MGH Geriatrics, which matches her interest in gerontology, the study of aging. "I've had a good experience here," says Piatek. "I've learned a lot from the entire staff and have had the opportunity to work in the outpatient practice, a nursing home, a retirement community and the billing office."

In addition to working in various departments throughout the hospital, the interns also had the opportunity to tour hospital facilities, such as the operating room suites, the new Northeast Proton Therapy Center and the Ether Dome.