Held every summer, the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) Summer Internship Program (SIP) provides opportunities for a diverse group of Oregon high school or early college students to gain experience in the disability field, develop transferable skills, and learn about various career paths in health care. Interns will receive training on disability justice, advocacy and career options.  Interns will participate in professional development sessions and tours at OHSU labs, clinics, and facilities.  

Interns will participate approximately 24 hours per week in a project at one of the Institute on Development and Disability centers, gaining knowledge in research, clinical care, information dissemination, or community programs. Interns also have an opportunity to network with other interns, as well as OHSU staff and faculty. At the end of the internship, interns present about their summer experience to their cohort, internship supervisors and IDD faculty and staff.  

This internship is designed for students who are interested in pursuing a career in health care, with an emphasis on disability.  

SIP Application Drop-in Zoom Sessions

Have questions about how to complete the SIP application?  

Please join us on Zoom for any of these times (feel free to drop-in for all or part of a session): 

• Monday, November 20, 2023 from 1-1:50 p.m. PST 
• Wednesday, December 6, 2023 from 4-4:50 p.m. PST 
• Tuesday, January 9, 2024 from 9-9:50 a.m. PST

Meeting ID for SIP Application Drop-in Zoom Sessions: 854 8417 0247

2024 Summer Internship Program Details: 

• Internship placements for SIP 2024 will be hybrid, with some telework and the possibility of in-person activities.  
• Internship Application acceptance period: November 20, 2023 to January 15, 2024 
• Internship dates: June 17th through August 9th, 2024 
• Intern hours: 24 hours per week during regular business day hours  
• Internship stipend: Each intern will receive a $1,800 stipend that will be disbursed over the 8 week, 24-hour per week internship. 
• Housing provided: No 
• Work experience disciplines: Our internship work experience placements change each year. Past years' disciplines have included public health education, sexual health education, assistive technology, policy and advocacy, physical therapy, psychology, diversity and inclusion, and social work.   
• Internship placement descriptions: This document has examples of placements from past internships that may be offered in the future.

2024 Internship Requirements: 

To qualify, applicants must-  

• be 16 years of age or older on or before the first day of the internship  
• be able to participate on summer break from high school or undergraduate college or university. Ideally, undergraduates will be in their first two years of college and are still exploring career options.  
• be available to participate the entire 8 weeks of the internship for 24 hours per week during regular (9 a.m. - 5 p.m.) business hours 
• Any student, regardless of immigration status, who meets the above requirements is welcome to apply. 

If selected, interns must- 

• complete and submit the required internship paperwork (called onboarding paperwork) at least 8 weeks before the start date of the internship  
• complete 3-5 hours of online training before the start of the internship  
• for in-person experiences at OHSU: In compliance with Oregon law, OHSU’s COVID-19 Immunization and Education policy went into effect Oct. 18, 2021. Visitors and volunteers who have an in-person experience at OHSU must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (14 days after last dose). Please be prepared to provide proof of vaccination, or to receive a Covid-19 vaccination, as a requirement for onboarding for your in-person experience at OHSU. You may not be allowed to participate in person at OHSU if you are not compliant with this policy.   

The following students are strongly encouraged to apply:  

• students who have a disability  
• students with siblings or family members with a disability  
• students who self-identify as a member of the LGBTQI2S+ community 
• students from historically underrepresented groups in the health and science professions 
  • * Underrepresented racial or ethnic minority defined in the OHSU Fact Book as: Black/African American, Hispanic/Latinx, American Indian/Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, Korean, Vietnamese, or any 2 or more races with at least 1 classified as URM   
• students who are first generation college students 
• students who live in Oregon 

Steps to Apply to the 2024 Summer Internship Program:

1. Please read the internship details and requirements above on this page.  
2. If you meet the requirements to apply, please submit your application in the online form (link provided below).  
3. You may return to the online application form multiple times until completed and submitted. Once submitted you will not be able to edit your responses.  
4. Before starting the online application, it may be helpful to download the PDF version of the application to complete the questions offline. Once completed, you can insert your answers into the online application. 
5. The deadline to submit your application is January 15, 2024 by 5 p.m. PST. We do NOT accept late applications.  
6. You can submit answers to the application questions through video or audio.  If you would like to request this accommodation or others, please contact Angie at stapleta@ohsu.edu  
7. Please see this flyer for the SIP application and selection process timeline.