Are you a student or recent graduate eager to explore diverse paths within the healthcare industry? The Health Career Opportunity Program (HCOP) at NYU Langone Health’s Rusk Rehabilitation offers an exceptional career opportunity program designed to provide you with invaluable insights and hands-on experience. This program is specifically tailored for individuals with limited clinical exposure, making it a perfect stepping stone to discover various health professions.
This unique and completely free program welcomes college students, recent college graduates, and motivated high school seniors aged 18 and above. It consists of three distinct internship sessions, each lasting four weeks, immersing participants in observational clinical experiences across a range of healthcare fields. By participating in this career opportunity program, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the daily realities and diverse roles within healthcare settings.
The Health Career Opportunity Program was established by the visionary Dr. Howard A. Rusk, a pioneer in rehabilitation medicine, and is generously supported by the DeWitt Wallace Foundation. Over its impressive 55-year history, this impactful career opportunity program has successfully guided more than 6,000 students, helping them shape their future in healthcare.
Hands-on Internship Training and Structured Schedule
As a participant in this intensive career opportunity program, you will be assigned to a specific medical specialty for the duration of a four-week session. This focused approach allows for a deeper understanding of a particular field within healthcare. It is important to note that participation is entirely voluntary, and while this program provides immense value and experience, interns do not receive a salary or stipend. The primary benefit is the unparalleled exposure and learning it offers as a career opportunity program.
Internship placements are held at prestigious NYU Langone Health facilities, including Tisch Hospital, NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn, NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital, NYU Langone Orthopedic Center, NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, and NYU Langone Ambulatory Care Center East 38th Street. All group activities and orientations are conveniently located at Tisch Hospital.
Each internship session begins with a comprehensive orientation, providing a detailed overview of the career opportunity program. Upon acceptance, interns receive crucial information regarding their responsibilities, professional dress code expectations at NYU Langone Health, and essential compliance training covering Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations, fire safety protocols, and the hospital’s code of conduct, ensuring a safe and ethical learning environment.
During orientation, participants are provided with a program jacket and a photo ID badge, fostering a sense of belonging and professionalism. Depending on the assigned specialty, interns may also receive scrubs or a lab coat. All provided apparel and photo ID badges must be returned at the conclusion of each session, maintaining program resources for future participants in this career opportunity program.
A typical day in the program starts between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM, with some departments requiring earlier arrival, and concludes around 4:00 PM. The majority of the day is dedicated to observing healthcare professionals in their respective roles within the assigned specialty. Each afternoon at 3:00 PM, interns gather for a one-hour session that may include lectures on various branches of rehabilitation medicine or different health professions, seminars led by Princeton Review to aid in future academic pursuits, or engaging Q&A panels with experienced healthcare professionals. These sessions are designed to broaden understanding and provide valuable insights into diverse healthcare career opportunities. Weekly conferences are also held, inviting interns to participate in discussions on critical topics such as medical ethics and the challenges faced by individuals with mobility issues, fostering a holistic and empathetic approach to healthcare.
2025 Internship Schedules: Plan Your Experience
The 2025 internship session dates are structured to accommodate various summer schedules, offering flexibility for students to participate in this valuable career opportunity program:
- Session One: Monday, May 19–Friday, June 13, 2025
- Session Two: Monday, June 16–Friday, July 11, 2025
- Session Three: Monday, July 14–Friday, August 8, 2025
- Sessions One and Two (Research Focus): Monday, May 19–Friday, July 11, 2025
- Sessions Two and Three (Research & Emergency Medicine Focus): Monday, June 16–Friday, August 8, 2025
Upon completion of each session, interns are required to take a final exam to assess their understanding of the material covered throughout the program, including group meetings, lectures, and discussions. Students who successfully pass the final exam receive a personalized, signed certificate recognizing their completion of at least 140 hours of observation and instruction at NYU Langone Health. This certificate serves as a tangible acknowledgment of their dedication and experience gained through this career opportunity program.
Furthermore, depending on your academic institution’s policies, participation in this program may qualify for school credit. Interns are encouraged to consult with their school administrator to explore this possibility, further enhancing the academic and career opportunity benefits of the HCOP.
Summer Internship Housing Options
For interns requiring accommodation during their participation in this summer career opportunity program, information and application details are provided for Summer Housing at NYU. NYU summer housing is available across all three internship sessions, offering a convenient and supportive living environment. The program typically reserves a dedicated floor in an NYU dormitory, creating a community atmosphere for HCOP interns. To secure housing and increase the likelihood of living alongside fellow HCOP participants, it is highly recommended to apply for housing promptly upon acceptance into the program, maximizing the networking and collaborative aspects of this career opportunity program.
Connect With Us
For any inquiries or further information about this exceptional career opportunity program, please do not hesitate to contact the HCOP team via email at [email protected]. Take the first step towards exploring your future in healthcare and unlock your potential with the NYU Langone Health Career Opportunity Program.
