The Institute for Diversity and Health Equity’s Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) is a 10-week, paid internship program for graduate students that are in the process of pursuing an advanced degree within health care or a related field. Students in the program are paired with a health care organization where they benefit from experiential learning, mentorship, networking and the opportunity to learn from experts in the field.
Experienced administrators serve as preceptors and mentors, providing support and career advice as well as critical early-career connections. The Summer Enrichment Program seeks students with a demonstrated commitment to advancing diversity and health equity through lived experiences to strengthen the pipeline and build the next generation of diverse executives and leaders in health care.
Host sites are to provide professional development, mentorship, training and education for interns that are placed at their organization. IFDHE will give preference to host sites that are committed to diversity, equity, inclusion; and have the commitment integrated into their work practices and policies.
The intern and host site application cycle for 2025 will open on October 14, 2024.
If you are a healthcare organization or host site and have questions or want to learn more about the Institute's SEP, click here.
If you are a student or intern and have questions or want to learn more about the Institute's SEP, click here.
What Participants are Saying about the Program
Annually, the Summer Enrichment Program brings a new cohort of creative, diverse and talented students to Main Line Health. The program helps us to challenge and broaden the thinking of both the students and our organization. It is especially exciting and rewarding when we are fortunate to retain talented SEP interns as employees within our organization, who can help to innovate and grow the health system and its work in and for our community.
Our experience as a host site for the Health Equity Fellows (SEP interns) at Grady Health System was very positive…. Their input was invaluable, and they were agile, adept and intelligent. They were resourceful and a big benefit to the Office of Health Equity and Grady Hospital. One of our fellows remained on after the fellowship concluded and was hired and continues to work on access projects.
“I am so thankful for the opportunity (the Summer Enrichment Program) provided to help me connect with a health system. The things I learned this summer at Grady helped develop me professionally… I would recommend the Summer Enrichment Program to anyone who wants to develop professionally and get real-life experience.”
You can also read about the experience of SEP intern Oladimeji Twaino in an ACHE Blog post. Twaino interned with ACHE in summer 2024 through the Institute’s Summer Enrichment Program
More About the Summer Enrichment Program
The Institute and ACHE are co-promoting the SEP to increase the number of students who participate in SEP each year and, accordingly, increase the number of host sites. The SEP will be administered by the Institute and co-promoted by ACHE, primarily through ACHE Chapters across the country.
Since 1994, the Institute has placed more than 1,500 individuals in SEP internships at some of the nation's leading hospitals and health systems. Many former SEP participants now hold senior management and board positions at organizations nationwide.
As a healthcare field, we must accelerate our efforts to diversify our workforce, leadership teams and governing boards. Research has shown that diverse groups and inclusive work environments lead to better patient care, help solve difficult problems, innovate new strategies and improve employee engagement. SEP offers a practical, proven way to strengthen inclusion in healthcare organizations and advance the next generation of healthcare leaders.
Questions?
For more information on becoming a host site, visit diversityconnection.org/SEP or contact one of the following:
Senior Inclusion and Diversity Specialist | Institute for Diversity and Health Equity |
155 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 400, Chicago, IL 60606
(312) 422-2690
ifd-sep@aha.org | www.aha.org