Many health professional schools require that students be actively engaged in shadowing or working in health care environments. This shows commitment to the profession and ensures that you begin to understand the human condition and the state of the health care system. The Office of Medical and Health Programs and the Office of Civic Engagement work with three medical clinics (learn more about the sites below) in the local area that allow our pre-health students to intern during the semester.

These internships are open to all pre-medical and pre-health students. Applicants will be expected to follow HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, passed by Congress in 1996) regulations and will be expected to understand and follow a standard code of conduct for professional decorum. These expectations will be discussed during orientation, which is mandatory before interning at the clinics.

Clinic Sites

Beersheba Springs Medical Clinic
Beersheba Springs, TN

Beersheba Springs Medical Clinic is a not-for-profit clinic that has served over 1000 people since it opened in 2010. Their mission is “to provide comprehensive ambulatory medical services for the community including diagnosis and treatment of acute episodic illness." Services include "on-going supervision of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and depression; minor wound management; stabilizing more serious injury patients, and arranging appropriate hospital and or specialist referral; prenatal care, well-child care, school physicals, and family planning; and health education including nutrition counseling, weight control and smoking cessation.” Sewanee interns work directly with clinic staff to take patient histories and vitals, while also shadowing nurses and physicians. Interns will help with patient files and medicines and may be asked to speak with patients for follow-up care. 

Distance from Sewanee: approx. 45 minutes
CCGB Clinic
Winchester, TN

CCGB is a nonprofit dedicated to building a network of sustainable free primary healthcare clinics for the uninsured in local communities. Their mission is “to promote and guide the development of a national network of free clinics emphasizing the use of retired medical and community volunteers within a culture of caring to improve access to health care for America’s underserved, particularly the uninsured.” Sewanee intern volunteers work directly with clinic staff to take patient histories and vitals, while also shadowing nurses and physicians. Interns will help with patient files and medicines and may be asked to speak with patients for follow-up care.

Distance from Sewanee: 20 minutes
Partners for Healing
Tullahoma, TN

Partners for Healing medical clinic was established in 2001 to provide free primary healthcare to a population of low income, working uninsured. Started by area community leaders, the clinic was initiated to improve access to healthcare. Their mission is “to open our hearts and hands in love and understanding by providing compassionate health care and nurturing to the working uninsured of Coffee, Franklin, and Moore counties”. Sewanee intern volunteers work directly with clinic staff to take patient histories and vitals, while also shadowing. Interns will also work to help the clinic locate patients that might be eligible for care and to research about grants and ways to help support the clinic. 

Distance from Sewanee: approx. 45 minutes
Tracy City Free Clinic
Tracy City, TN

The Tracy City Free Clinic was founded in 2022 by Sewanee alumn Dr. Tom Phelps. Their mission is “To provide holistic primary and preventative medical care to the uninsured people in Grundy, Marion, and Franklin, Tennessee counties free of charge." 

Distance from Sewanee: 20 minutes

Applicant Information

Requirements, Qualifications and Skills

Eligibility
Additional qualifications and skills of a successful intern
  • A Sewanee first year through senior student 
  • Interested in medicine or public health
  • Reliable and open to communication with clinic site leader (must respond to emails promptly)
  • Must have a valid driver's license and be responsible for own transportation to and from the clinic sites or carpool with another student (please be aware the driver assumes the responsibility of transport to the clinic and not the University)
  • Knowledge of health care system
  • Basic knowledge about public health concerns
  • Awareness about how health interacts with social, cultural, economic and environmental factors
  • Overall computer literacy
  • Strong writing, communication and public speaking skills
  • Excellent interpersonal skills
  • Strong organizational and time management skills
  • Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently
  • Cultural sensitivity and enthusiasm for engaging with people from a variety of contexts
  • Patience and humility

Application Details

The following materials will need to be submitted via Handshake (incomplete applications will not be viewed):

  1. Cover Letter. This is a very important part of your application and should be done with considerable thought. Career Center's Brightspace course offers help and guidelines on writing a cover letter, click the How to Write a Cover Letter link below. Address your cover letter to the Selection Committee. 
  2. Resume or CV.  Click the Resume/CV How-To link below to review Career Center's Brightspace resources on composing an effective resume, as well as what a CV is and how to write one.
  3. Complete the series of questions on this Google form.

How will I know if I was accepted?

You will be notified of your acceptance into the internship via email and are expected to be available for questions via email in a timely manner. Please note that previous interns with good reviews from medical site leaders will be given preference for sites.