Pre-PA Gap Year Internship 2026-2027

At Northwestern Medicine, every patient interaction makes a difference in cultivating a positive workplace. This patient-first approach is what sets us apart as a leader in the healthcare industry. As an integral part of our team, you'll have the opportunity to join our quest for better health care, no matter where you work within the Northwestern Medicine system. We pride ourselves on providing competitive benefits: from tuition reimbursement and loan forgiveness to 401(k) matching and lifecycle benefits, our goal is to take care of our employees. Ready to join our quest for better?

APPLICATION WILL CLOSE JANUARY 5th.

The Pre-PA Gap Year reflects the mission, vision, and values of NMHC, adheres to the organization's Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

The Pre-PA Gap Year Internship Program places exceptional pre-Physician Assistant students into clinical environments for 13 months to work and shadow.

This program offers the valuable opportunity to be part of a team of knowledgeable and caring clinicians who are committed to providing world-class care in a premier academic medical center. Through the program, you will also be immersed in a network of other Pre-PA students. This is a paid benefits-eligible role.

Responsibilities:

Gap year interns work for 40 hours a week. Eight hours are spent in a variety of shadowing experiences. For the remaining 32 hours, they work in a patient support role, such as:

• Clinic assistant
• Technician (motility tech, emergency tech, rehab therapy tech)
• Immediate care assistants 
• Patient liaisons 

In addition, the gap year intern will participate in mock interviews and various social and community service events. When you apply, you can indicate your position-specific preferences, such as location, role and specialty. While subject to change, we offer pre-clinical intern roles (including the Pre-PA program) in a variety of clinical areas across Northwestern Medicine, including:

• Orthopedics
• Primary care
• Cardiology
• Hospital medicine 
• Dermatology
• Immediate care
• Pediatrics
• Neurosurgery 

Program Start Date - June 2026

Orientaion will take place at the Northwestern Memorial Hospital campus in downtown Chicago. 

Program Time Commitment: 1 year duration

Pay rate: $22/hr.

Required Documentation for Application Submission - uploaded as a PDF: 

1. Resume
2. Unofficial transcripts
3. You must also attach a one-page statement, in a Word Document or PDF format, addressing the following:

• Describe why you have an interest in a career as a Physician Assistant
• Describe an obstacle you’ve faced when working towards your academic, career, or personal goals and how you’ve worked to overcome it (including lessons you’ve learned through those experiences and how they will help you be successful in your career as a physician)
• Where you currently stand in your gap year               

Please note, to be considered for this role, you must submit ALL attachments after you apply.  After you apply, you will receive an automated email to set up an account.  Once your account is set up, you can log back into your application, please navigate to the upload section and press the "+" sign to submit additional attachments. Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions.

Required:

• Recent graduate of a Bachelor’s program.
• Minimum 3.4 GPA (exceptions made on a case-by-case basis).
• Completion of relevant coursework (or efforts toward completion underway).
• Demonstrates intent to apply to a PA program. 
• CPR BLS certification through the American Heart Association.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

Northwestern Medicine is an equal opportunity employer (disability, VETS) and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.

Background Check

Northwestern Medicine conducts a background check that includes criminal history on newly hired team members and, at times, internal transfers. If you are offered a position with us, you will be required to complete an authorization and disclosure form that gives Northwestern Medicine permission to run the background check.  Results are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and we follow all local, state, and federal laws, including the Illinois Health Care Worker Background Check Act.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits that provide employees with tools and resources to improve their physical, emotional, and financial well-being while providing protection for unexpected life events. Please visit our Benefits section to learn more.

Sign-on Bonus Eligibility: Internal employees and rehires who left Northwestern Medicine within 1 year are not eligible for the sign on bonus. Exception: New graduate internal employees seeking their first licensed clinical position at NM may be eligible depending upon the job family.