HCOP Internship Opportunities
Each student spends the majority of the day observing health care professionals and the roles that they play in the department to which he or she is assigned. Students typically start their day between 8:00 and 9:00 am. At 3:00 pm, all the students meet together to attend lectures related to rehabilitation and hospital care. Students also meet for weekly small group conferences to have discussions about medical ethics and problems faced by individuals with various types of handicaps and disabilities. Students may be placed in any one of the buildings that are part of the NYU Medical Center System such as NYU Langone Hospital, Hospital for Joint Disease, Bellevue Hospital, and the Ambulatory Care Center. All group activities will take place at the main campus, NYU Langone Medical Center.
How to Apply
Application Deadline: December 18, 2020
We accept applicants who are 18 years or older, including high school students or students matriculated in college or university. If you are a high school senior please send us your most up-to-date grades with your application by the deadline. If you are a college freshman, please send us your high school transcript until you receive your first semester grades. When you receive additional grades in December/January, please send them as well and we will attach them to your application packet. The transcript can be unofficial. You do not have to go through the registrar to obtain an official transcript. A cumulative grade point average of 3.2 is a minimum for acceptance to the program, and admission is highly selective.
The online and PDF application must be submitted and postmarked by December 18, 2021. Due to the large volume of applicants, applications submitted earlier will have a greater advantage. The applications will be reviewed throughout the application period. The earlier you send in your application, the better. Applicants will be notified of our decision by email in March, 2021. Because both acceptance and non-acceptance letters will be sent via email, it is CRITICAL to provide an email address that you check regularly.
To Apply:
Complete the HCOP Online Application and the HCOP 2021 Application
Departments and Supervisors
NYU Langone Medical Center prides itself on having a world-renowned faculty and staff. In many cases, students will be working alongside people who are the leaders of their specialties. The following departments will be available during the summer of 2021:
Anesthesiology |
Pharmacy |
Care Management |
Physical Therapy |
Clinical Nutrition and Food Services |
Physician Assistant |
Comparative Veterinary Medicine |
Population Health |
Creative Arts Therapy |
Psychology |
Diagnostic Radiology |
Rehabilitation Medicine |
Emergency Medicine |
Research |
Horticultural Therapy |
Social Work |
Nursing |
Speech Pathology |
Nurse Practitioner |
Vocational Counseling |
Occupational Therapy |
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Placements
Anesthesiology: The anesthesiology internship is a clinical experience which has as its major clinical focus the operating room environment. Students receive daily operating room assignments involving surgical specialties which may include general, pediatric, cardiac, ENT, urologic, gynecologic, plastic surgery as well as obstetrics. Students learn about the anesthesia and medical issues involved in caring for patients and the surgical considerations in performing the procedure. In addition, students will be exposed to faculty, residents, and other members of the department for operating room discussions. Students will be expected to do some preparation in the form of reading about the cases the night before surgery so that they can maximize the learning experience. Finally, under the supervision of an attending anesthesiologist, each student will give a case presentation to a small group of departmental members.
Care Management (Nursing): Students will get a full understanding of another area within nursing. The RN Care Manager, in collaboration with other members of the health care team is responsible for organizing, coordinating, and providing care coordination to their patients while in the hospital and for those who need ongoing care after their hospitalization. Care coordination is the deliberate organization of patient care activities to facilitate appropriate delivery of health care services. Care management nurses ensure that patients receive medically necessary services, promoting quality care while encouraging responsible utilization of resources. They are knowledgeable about public and private insurance reimbursement policies regarding healthcare services. Case managers review charts, assess patients, and meet with other health care professionals to ensure that patients are receiving appropriate levels of care. Care managers need to be savvy communicators, well organized, and creative as well as patient advocates and educators.
Clinical Nutrition and Food Services: When assigned to the nutrition department in either NYU Langone Medical Center or Hospital for Joint Disease, students spend half of their time shadowing nutritionists around the hospital and half of their time working in the hospital’s food service facilities. While shadowing nutritionists around the hospital, students have the opportunity to read charts and observe the entire medical team in action through rounds and conferences. They observe patient interviews and the nutritional counseling of patients. While working in the hospital’s food service facilities, students have the opportunity to prepare food in the kitchen and aid in the preparation of the hospital’s food service budget.
"I followed different registered dietitians in different departments and specialties, including Transplant, Pediatrics, Oncology, Prenatal Intensive Care Unit, and the Natal Intensive Care Unit. In this way, I learned a great deal about the jobs carried out by registered dietitians. I also tested food trays and took the temperatures of food pods in the Food Service area. I evaluated and measured the ingredients in food products served in the cafeteria, and re-evaluated the nutritional facts on cafeteria menus."
Comparative Veterinary Medicine: In the Department of Comparative Medicine, we provide veterinary care and regulatory oversight for animals in research at NYU Langone. We perform clinical rounds and procedures, advise on animal research protocols by serving on the animal care and use committee (IACUC), and provide handling and procedure training to research staff. Students will learn to handle and perform basic clinical procedures on common species as well as to assess and correct common clinical and operational issues in the vivarium.
Creative Arts Therapy: In this department, students may take children to the other departments when they have classes. Students play with children using various therapeutic toys and sometimes participate in arts and crafts projects during free time. The children thoroughly enjoy the individual attention they receive. There is also time for outings throughout the month, intended to boost self-esteem and confidence. For adult recreational therapy, the functions of the student are basically the same with adjustments made to the age and maturity level of the patient. Students can work with music and art therapists in various clinical settings.
Diagnostic Radiology: Students will be exposed to multiple aspects of medical imaging, from image acquisition to clinical interpretation. The student will spend approximately 50% of his/her time shadowing modality-specific technologists (i.e. ultrasound, X-ray, computed tomography, MRI) with the goal of observing the acquisition of medical images and technologists’ interactions with patients. The rest of the time will be spent in the radiology reading rooms, shadowing medical students, residents, and faculty to get early exposure to image interpretation. Introduction to radiologic anatomy will be presented as a didactic lecture during the course lecture series to help students orient with the images. Lastly, each student will work with a faculty advisor to submit a case report of their choosing for an online publication, to be completed by the end of the 4-week rotation.
* Emergency Medicine: The HCOP Emergency Medicine rotation is a holistic approach to the medical field. Participants will work in the Emergency Department but they will also have rotations in Social Work, Internal Medicine, Stroke, Orthopedic Immediate Care, & Sports Medicine. We want to give participants a well-rounded experience in the world of medicine outside of Emergency Medicine. Please note, all rotations except Emergency Medicine are subject to change at any time. The Emergency Medicine Department requires a two session commitment, and is only available for session 2 and 3.
Horticultural Therapy: Horticultural therapy is the use of plants and nature as a modality for therapy. The Horticultural Therapy Department works with both pediatric and adult inpatients, out-patients and community programs. An integrated approach allows patients to practice the skills and strategies learned in PT, OT and SLP while participating in a stimulating, enjoyable educational experience. Students will experience direct patient contact while working with the Horticultural Therapist during individual, group and co-treatment sessions as well as opportunity to observe the goal building and charting processes.
Nursing: Students spend the day learning about various medications and procedures within a specialized nursing setting. Students have a great deal of patient contact because a lot of time is spent visiting with and talking to patients. Students also get to see the interactions between doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Some students will be placed on floors where they can observe the many different staff nurses at work on the floor, whereas other students are placed with one nurse practitioner and shadow them throughout their day seeing inpatients and outpatients.
"It was way more than I expected – I have nothing but compliments! "
Occupational Therapy: Some students are assigned to work in the occupational therapy department at the Rusk Institute and other students are assigned to work in the occupational therapy department at the Hospital for Joint Diseases, Acute Care Center, or Bellevue Hospital. Students have daily contact with patients as they observe and actively help and assist with patient treatment. They often aid therapists in preparing material and equipment necessary for treatment. The students have the opportunity to observe and ask many questions.
"I followed different therapists and got to ask a ton of questions, and was even able to view a total knee replacement. I assisted with some daily chores such as cleanup after therapy sessions, and was taught how to read patient charts. Overall, the experience was very hands-on, and I had a lot of interaction with the patients."
Pharmacy: Students work in the various hospital pharmacies and assist in various tasks, as well as shadowing pharmacists on rounds. Working in a hospital pharmacy and a retail division gives a student a broad range of diverse job characteristics to observe and participate in. Research projects are also available. Depending on availability, students may be assigned to an outpatient or inpatient setting.
"I worked in manufacturing with the pharmacy technicians for a week. I then moved on to clinical pharmacy and went on transplant rounds. Other days I was part of the investigational pharmacy, satellite pharmacy, unit dosing, and clean room."
Physical Therapy: Some students are assigned to work in the physical therapy department at the Rusk Institute and other students are assigned to work in the physical therapy department at the Hospital for Joint Diseases, the Acute Care Center or Bellevue Hospital. There are a number of departments under the umbrella of physical therapy (i.e. pediatric, adult, inpatient, outpatient, acute, cardiac, pulmonary, vestibular, etc.). Depending on availability, students may be placed in any of the mentioned subspecialties for Physical Therapy. Students have daily contact with patients as they observe and actively help and assist with patient treatment. They often aid therapists in preparing material and equipment necessary for treatment. The students have the opportunity to observe and ask many questions.
"I followed a therapist as she went from patient to patient. She explained to me each patient’s chart before beginning a therapy session with that patient, and taught me about certain precautions and different types of ailments related to each therapy performed. I assisted with the exercises performed by the therapist, and was shown how to evaluate the patient as well as how to record patient information in a chart."
Physician Assistant: Students spend the day shadowing Physician Assistants and learning about various medications and procedures within specialized settings. Students get to see the role PA's play through interactions between doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Students also have the opportunity to observe appointments alongside their supervisors. Some students will also have the opportunity to observe specialized procedures if desired.
*Population Health: The Department of Population Health at NYU School of Medicine is working to bridge the worlds of medicine and public health, leading research to improve the health of populations in New York City and around the globe and educating students to become leaders in healthcare delivery, health policy and public health.
*Students will be expected to stay for a period of 8 weeks, one placement offered runs through the first two sessions (8 weeks) and the other placement runs through the second two sessions (8 weeks).*
Psychology: An HCOP student’s primary responsibilities in this department may include participating in group cognitive and interpersonal remedial training sessions and giving structured feedback to our trainees (patients), under supervision. In addition, they are tasked with assisting the staff in preparing various program training materials. Research may play a role in this department and students could be asked to help with literature searches and enter data into spreadsheets for ongoing studies.
Rehabilitation Medicine: Students have the opportunity to attend rounds and conferences alongside attending physicians and residents at Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, Bellevue Hospital, and Hospital for Joint Diseases. They are able to track the progress of the patients that they see during rounds and discuss during conferences by observing their various therapy sessions.
"I followed the unit chief resident, who works for the department’s attending physician, while she did some computer work and managed and assisted the first-year residents and medical students. She talked me through the physical medicine and rehabilitation procedures, explained the medical conditions that I was witnessing, and discussed possible treatments. Every morning, at 8am, I went on Grand Rounds with the doctors, and throughout the day, I sat-in on lectures and patient evaluation sessions. I learned a lot, but it is important to ask questions! Often, the doctors are very busy, and I reminded them of my presences by speaking up, taking initiative, and tagging along."
* Research: The student has the opportunity to become involved in the research of a clinical professional. Students also have patient interaction as they observe the psychologists while they conduct treatments. Students in this department are usually given two month placements. With the guidance of some supervisors, students may have the opportunity to aid psychologists in research. The student may help with data entry, data processing, literature search, writing part of research protocol, basic statistics (under supervision). The positions available fall under the categories of Stroke Research (A), Cardiopulmonary Research (B), Pediatric Research (C), Musculoskeletal Research (D), Vision Rehabilitation Research (E), and Research Administration (F). On the application page, indicate the letter that represents the research in which you would like to be involved, immediately after the number indicating preference. (For example, if your first choice is Pediatric Research you would write 1C next to the research category, if Pediatric Research is your second choice, you would write 2C.)
*Students will be expected to participate for either 8 weeks (two sessions) or 12 weeks (all three sessions). Indicate your intended length of involvement by circling all the sessions you’d like to take part in where indicated on the hard copy application (ex. If you would like to do an 8 week placement in the second and third session, you would circle 2 and 3 on the hard copy).*
Social Work: Students have the opportunity to follow a social worker while they meet with inpatients and outpatients. They learn how to assess clients and even have the opportunity to write summaries and comments about the patients that they meet with. Students often are given the opportunity to practice counseling and evaluation by way of staff members acting out characters/scenarios for the students.
"I did a lot of observing – I observed the clinics at the Center for Children and followed the supervisor as she talked with ACS, provided care services, worked with insurance companies, and recorded data. I also went on rounds and observed the assessment of incoming and current patients and how to read patient charts. I observed patient interactions and sessions and the many aspects of the processes required to help the patients with concrete and emotional needs. I also gained a better understanding of all that is required for assisting patients after they leave the hospital, and how to make easier the lives of patients."
Speech-Language Pathology: Some students are assigned to work at the Rusk Institute and other students are assigned to work at the Hospital for Joint Diseases, Bellevue Hospital, Acute Care Center or Tisch. Students spend time observing speech therapy sessions and evaluative procedures such as modified barium swallows through a daily in-service training and participate as part of the rehabilitation team. Students may have the opportunity to observe both pediatric and adult cases.
"I spent two weeks at the pediatric speech department and two weeks at the adult speech department. I had the ability to observe the sessions of various therapists, as well as perform clerical work for a portion of the day. I also observed therapy sessions at the Cochlear Center, Swallowing Center, and Head and Neck Center, allowing me to see the diversity of workplaces for a speech language pathologist."
Vocational Therapy: Students have the opportunity to observe vocational counselors as they assist patients in re-entering society with a newly acquired disability or handicap, or assist adults born with a disability in entering the work force. Students may have the chance to sit-in on counseling sessions, during which they might assist patients in practicing tasks of daily living or watch as counselors aid patients in revising their resumes with respect to their individual handicaps or in regaining functions crucial to their former careers. Students experience a lot of one-on-one time with patients in this department. Student can help vocational counselors organize patient charts, score exams, and add job opportunities to the database. This is a great placement for students interested in a career in social services.