Intern at a Community Medical Clinic
Are you passionate about healthcare and eager to explore rural medicine firsthand? Interning at a community medical clinic offers a unique opportunity to gain experience while serving our community members with limited access to healthcare.
Community medical clinics serve an essential role in our healthcare system. Access to care is of vital importance in our area, where our local hospital’s community needs assessment revealed that 29% of individuals surveyed were unable to see a doctor when they needed to, principally due to insufficient funds or absence of insurance (Southern Tennessee Regional Health System – Sewanee, 2019).
We work with three medical clinics providing free medical care for communities in Beersheba Springs, Tullahoma and Winchester, Tennessee. Learn more about each clinic at the bottom of the page.
Why Intern at a Community Medical Clinic?
Interning at a free medical clinic allows you to serve those who face significant barriers to accessing care. These clinics provide essential services to underserved populations, including the uninsured, underinsured, and low-income individuals. Your work will help you develop a better understanding of health disparities and the challenges faced by our community members, allowing you to become a better healthcare provider.
Experience the rewards and challenges of practicing medicine in a rural, free clinic. You will work alongside physicians and/or nurse practitioners and gain a deep understanding of patient care and the practice of medicine in a rural setting.
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.
Working in a free clinic offers a firsthand look at the challenges in accessing care that are faced by marginalized communities. You’ll connect with community members and gain insight into the systemic barriers that affect access to healthcare. This understanding will deepen your empathy and service orientation.
We welcome all applicants interested in health careers and serving our surrounding communities. Whether you are a first-year pre-med student or a senior who has recently decided to pursue occupational therapy, this internship is for you. If you speak Spanish, we highly encourage you to apply to both this internship and the Spanish interpreter internship.
Submit Your Application: Provide your resume, cover letter, and answer to the provided questions.
Selection Process: Be available to respond to questions via email.
Training: Participate in a mandatory orientation and training to prepare for your role.
The following materials will need to be submitted via Handshake (incomplete applications will not be viewed):
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.
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.
This clinic 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.
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.
