Held every summer since 2002, the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD) Summer Internship Program (SIP) provides opportunities for 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 participate in professional development sessions and in person 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 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.

Summer Internship Program details: 

• Internship placements are hybrid, with some telework and in-person activities
• Internship Application acceptance period: Please check back in fall 2026 for internship application dates
• Internship dates: yearly from mid-June to early August
• Intern hours: 24 hours per week during regular business day hours
• Internship stipend: Each intern will receive a stipend for participation
• Housing provided: No
• Interns are paired one-on-one with a supervisor in various roles throughout the Institute on Development and Disability at OHSU.
• Our internship placements change each year. Past years' disciplines have included public health education, sexual health education, assistive technology, policy and advocacy, physical therapy, psychology, and social work.
• Past Summer Internship Placements: This document has examples of placements from past internships that may be offered in the future
• The continuation of SIP programming is dependent on available funding.

Internship requirements: 

To qualify, applicants must-  

• Be 16 years of age or older on or before the first day of the internship up to undergraduates in their first two years of college. Students entering their senior year of college are not eligible.
• Be able to participate during summer break from high school or undergraduate college or university
• Be available to participate the entire 8 weeks, 24 hours per week, during business hours 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• To experience all the internship has to offer, interns cannot have a planned absence longer than one week
• Be an Oregon or southwest Washington resident and be able to attend weekly OHSU Portland on-campus events.
• Be able to attend a one-day in-person orientation in mid-June.

If selected, interns must- 

• Complete and submit 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 
• COVID-19 Policy 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.

UCEDD webinar series: Bridging Your Knowledge in Disability Careers

Each of these webinars included conversations with medical professionals' who have careers in the disability field. The panelists discussed why they chose their profession, the required schooling, what work looks like day to day and provided examples of a road map to their career.

This 2020 webinar series was brought to you by the University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities.

Watch recorded webinars:

Watch Webinar 1: Disability Studies and Disability Justice/Advocacy

Watch Webinar 2: A Career in Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Recreational Therapy

Watch Webinar 3: A Career in Mental and Behavioral Health

Watch Webinar 4: Disability Careers in the Outdoors

Watch Webinar 5: Careers in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

Watch Webinar 6: Careers in Public Health