SU HEALTH

Applicants to medical and other health professions school must accrue numerous hands-on experiences related to healthcare, including clinical experience with patients (volunteer or paid), shadowing and health-related internships. Health professions schools want you to road test the career before you apply to make sure it’s a good fit for you.

Southwestern University offers students three exclusive opportunities to gain healthcare-related experience through the SU HEALTH (Healthcare Experiences at Local Texas Hospitals) Program:

1. Rotational shadowing program at St. David’s Georgetown Hospital involves four hours weekly for 10 weeks per fall and spring semester (4 slots). Students earn one academic internship credit.

2. Observership program at Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital involves 40 hours weeks for 4 weeks each summer (4 slots) (rising junior or senior only). Students earn $1,500 in funding through SU’s Funded Internship Program.

3. Hospital administration internship program at Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital involves 40 hours weekly for 8 weeks each summer (4-6 slots) (rising junior or senior only). Students earn $3,000 in funding through SU’s Funded Internship Program.

BENEFITS

All of the SU HEALTH programs offer valuable benefits:

• Exposure to the healthcare environment and insight into various healthcare roles
• First-hand learning from experiences professionals
• Information for career decision-making
• Mentorship and networking opportunities
• Personal growth

Additionally, for the hospital administration internship, gain practical experience and develop career-readiness skills.

THE PROGRAMS

ST. DAVID’S GEORGETOWN HOSPITAL SHADOWING PROGRAM

This opportunity consists of once a week shadowing for a 10-week rotational shadowing program each fall and spring semester. Shadowing students visit eight departments, including emergency (twice), endoscopy, laboratory/pathology, outpatient surgery, radiology, rehabilitation, surgery, women’s services and one additional week of the students’ choice. Selected students must also register for a one-credit internship course, which includes supplemental activities such as creating a reflection poster, writing a reflection paper and submitting an updated resume which includes the student’s shadowing experience.

HOUSTON METHODIST WILLOWBROOK HOSPITAL SUMMER OBSERVERSHIP PROGRAM

This program allows SU students to spend four weeks observing full time in a department of the Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital, a full-service, acute-care hospital serving Northwest Houston and surrounding communities. Participants benefit from exposure to the healthcare environment, gain insight into various healthcare roles, learn firsthand from experienced healthcare providers, build their network, and have the opportunity to discern their career choices. Available departments from which to select include Internal Medicine, Family Practice, OBGYN, Cardiology, Neurology, Orthopedics & Sports Medicine and Outpatient Therapies.

HOUSTON METHODIST WILLOWBROOK HOSPITAL HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

This program allows four to six SU students to spend eight weeks interning full time at the Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital, a full-service, acute-care hospital serving Northwest Houston and surrounding communities. Participants will be immersed in the daily operations of a hospital environment, gaining a holistic understanding of careers in healthcare and hospital management. The internship provides a career exploration opportunity offering hands-on experience in the healthcare environment, networking opportunities, and a chance to gain valuable insight and specific skills from the immersive rotations. As part of your program with Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital, you will be going through the onboarding process with the Human Resources department. Additionally, your program will start with a three-day Houston Methodist orientation exposing you to full orientation all new Houston Methodist employees are exposed to. Other program elements include:

• Process improvement
• Strategic planning
• Quality and clinical research
• Spiritual care
• Orthopedics and sports medicine
• Center for innovation
• Patient experience

QUALIFICATIONS

Students are selected through a competitive application process for both opportunities. To qualify, you must have:

• A preferred cumulative GPA of 3.6+
• Strong communication skills, interpersonal skills, the ability to follow directions throughout the application process and program, maturity, professionalism, dependability, and a willingness to represent the University positively for the duration of the program
• For the St. David’s shadowing program: Completed at least one full semester of college to apply
• For the HMW opportunities: Apply as a rising junior or senior

If you do not meet these criteria, please consider applying again in a subsequent semester.

APPLICATION PROCESS

You can apply for either of the HMW programs AND / OR the St. David’s program using the same application. Please note there are separate application deadlines for the programs. The application will remain open through the last application deadline, but your materials must be submitted by your chosen program deadline(s). (If you are applying for multiple programs, you only need to submit one application by the EARLIEST deadline.)

Application materials (links posted in September 2025 for Spring 2026) include:

• Application form: Includes a well-developed essay

   

• Recommendation forms from two recommenders: One recommender must be an SU faculty member; one can be from anyone else who knows you well. You must send them the link to complete the form

• Resume: Submit to Mary Claire Angle at angle2@southwestern.edu. Visit our page on resume writing resources, samples and templates.

• Unofficial transcript: Submit to Mary Claire Angle at angle2@southwestern.edu

This application process helps you practice important skills for future applications, including to medical school. Use professionalism, attention to detail, proper grammar/spelling/punctuation, and direction-following. Make sure your essays are well constructed, address the prompt and provide sufficient details for the selection committee to get to know you.

In order to put your best self forward in the application, we recommend you work with the Center for Career & Professional Development to review your application materials. You can schedule an appointment here.

APPLICATION DEADLINES

Summer 2026 Houston Methodist Willowbrook (Observership and Internship Programs): January 2026 (TBD)

Spring 2026 St. David’s Georgetown Hospital (Rotational Shadowing Program): October 2025, TBD

future application cycle

The St. David’s Georgetown Hospital Shadowing Program for Spring 2026 (shadow February - April)

• Info session September 2025
• Application opens September 2025
• Application due October 2025

Other Shadowing Experiences

In addition to the SU HEALTH opportunities, the most likely source of a shadowing experience is a personal contact with a healthcare provider. Shadowing experiences can be short-term - even a day or half day - or more sustained. Try to identify all of the health professionals you and your family see as patients, as well as any family members, family friends, etc. In addition, SU alumni working as healthcare providers are excellent resources. Use tools like PirateConnect and LinkedIn to research alumni contacts.

Internships

While most “internships” in medicine happen after you go to medical school, some opportunities exist for undergraduate students that are entitled “internship.

SUMMER HEALTH PROFESSIONS EDUCATION PROGRAM (SHPEP)

The Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) is a free summer program for students to explore their interests in medicine, dentistry, nursing, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, public health, and more. The program takes place at 12 partner institutions across the country and offers students a chance to develop competencies for becoming successful applicants to health profession programs, plan academic journeys, get clinical exposure, and network. SHPEP’s goal is to strengthen the academic proficiency and career development of students from economically or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds and those with demonstrated interest in issues affecting underserved populations to prepare them for a successful application and matriculation to health professions schools. The SHPEP is a national program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation with direction and technical assistance provided by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the American Dental Education Association (ADEA). 

Qualifications

• First-year or sophomore student at the time of application (no more than 60 college credits, not counting AP/IB, but including dual credit courses).
• Minimum 2.5 GPA
• US citizen, permanent resident for DACA status

To apply

Applications open November 1 and all application materials are due on February 5 (11:59 p.m. EST). For more information and to apply, visit:

Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP)

OTHER INTERNSHIPS

Additional internship opportunities may exist at healthcare facilities, public health agencies, and health-related non-profits (e.g. American Cancer Society). A few examples include:

St. David’s Hospital Cardiac Rehab Unit internship (Georgetown and Round Rock locations)

Texas Department of State Health Services

Williamson County and Cities Health District

Volunteering / Working

Volunteer or paid clinical experience in a healthcare setting is also required for competitive health professions schools applicants. 

Most hospitals, including the St. David’s Georgetown Hospital, have volunteer programs. Volunteers must usually commit to regular volunteering for a sustained time period (e.g. weekly for six months).

Earning a healthcare certification, such as Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), phlebotomist, and pharmacy technician, can give you the opportunity to earn clinical experience while also earning income. Conducting a search online for “Austin Certified Medical Assistant programs”, for example, can help you locate opportunities to get the training for these certifications. 

Visit HireSU and join the Health | Wellness | Life Science Career Community on PirateConnect to keep informed of additional opportunities.

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More information

Director of Academic Internships Mary Claire Angle, angle2@southwestern.edu

CCPD health professions advisor Alexandra Anderson, afca@southwestern.edu 

Faculty pre-med committee chair Dr. Maria Cuevas, cuevasm@southwestern.edu 

International student advisor Monya Lemery, lemerym@southwestern.edu (note: International Students must have approved CPT to participate in shadowing or internships)