You want experience in healthcare – but not just any experience. You want to actually do something, to contribute to the real work happening in your community. You want something that builds your skills, looks great on a resume, and, most importantly, makes a difference.
That’s exactly what the College Student Health Internship Program (CSHIP) is about.
What Is CSHIP?
CSHIP is a paid, 100-hour summer internship for Vermont college students who are curious about careers in health. It’s not clinical – you won’t be shadowing doctors or charting vitals – but you will be doing hands-on, meaningful work that supports health in rural communities.
Whether you’re studying nursing, public health, social work, biology, psychology, or just starting to explore the healthcare field, CSHIP helps you build real-world experience in a flexible, supportive way. You’ll:
- Work on a community health project with a local organization
- Complete ~80 hours of direct service + 20 hours of online learning on rural health and health equity
- Get a $1,500 stipend
- Learn new skills in areas like public speaking, research, data analysis, outreach, and communication
- Make professional connections (and some serious résumé moves)
Northern Vermont AHEC’s CSHIP Interns Are Making Waves
In summer 2025, 10 students from across northern Vermont (and beyond) were selected to join the Northern Vermont AHEC CSHIP cohort. That’s up from five students in 2024 – because the demand (and the impact) is growing.
Here’s a look at where they landed:
- 7 towns represented: From Newbury to Newport
- 5 counties represented: Orange, Caledonia, Lamoille, Orleans, and Washington
- 9 host organizations like Little Rivers Health Care, the Department of Health, and Northeast Kingdom Human Services
And the projects? They’re anything but busywork. Interns helped:
- Create outreach materials on lead poisoning prevention
- Develop a nutrition-focused TV show for older adults
- Build an education program on sepsis detection for nurses
- Analyze data on independent living for rural seniors
- Map community relationships to amplify impact stories
- Assist with credentialing for rural healthcare providers
Projects are hybrid – so you might meet with your team in person and also do remote work like research, writing, or design.
Why Students Love It
You’ll hear a lot about résumé boosts and skill-building (and yep, those are real). But for many CSHIP interns, it’s also personal.
Here’s what past applicants have said:
“I grew up in a rural area, so these projects hit close to home.”
“CSHIP helped me explore my interest in public health while building communication and planning skills.”
“I want to be the kind of healthcare provider who understands disparities and works to close those gaps.”
The self-paced online course, Roots of Health Inequity, gives every intern a chance to dig deeper into the why behind health challenges – and reflect on the kind of provider or advocate they want to become.
So, Should You Apply?
If you’re ready to explore rural health, get hands-on experience, and contribute to something meaningful – this program is for you. Especially if you’re someone who:
- Grew up in a rural area
- Is studying any health-related field (clinical or non-clinical)
- Wants to make a real impact in Vermont communities
- Is open to learning more about health equity, systems, and people
You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just have to be curious, committed, and ready to learn.
Questions?
Reach out to Tracy Truzansky, Director of Training & Curriculum, at ttruzansky@nvtahec.