In 2005, The Cleveland Clinic Office of Civic Education Initiatives developed a program to engage high school students in the world of science and healthcare. The Summer Internship Program is a nine-week program for high school students to receive hands-on learning opportunities with mentoring from medical and creative professionals. The program has expanded into seven unique internships:

• Science
• Nursing
• Creative Learning
• Medical Laboratory
• Pharmacy
• Radiology
• Respiratory Therapy

These paid internships provide students with life-changing learning experiences such as witnessing live surgeries, working with patients and conducting groundbreaking research. At the end of the program, students present scientific research or a creative project that they have produced during their internship.

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eXpressions™

Launched in 2005, eXpressions™ is an interdisciplinary initiative that utilizes creative expression to engage high school students in the world of scientific research. Through project-based, peer-to-peer learning, students produce artistic, language and mathematic interpretations of research studies conducted by Cleveland Clinic summer interns. Submissions are judged, and many receive awards.

NEOSEF

Students can enter their research studies in the Northeast Ohio Science & Engineering Fair (NEOSEF). The projects are judged by a panel of professionals. Several students have received awards and cash prizes. In fact, three interns have won the grand prize and have gone on to compete in the Intel International Science & Engineering Fair.

Scholarships & College Credit

To date, students in the Summer Internship Initiative have received more than $17 million in scholarships from colleges and universities throughout the United States.

By participating in the internship initiative, students can earn three undergraduate credits from Kent State University and John Carroll University. Students may also earn undergraduate credit by participating in the eXpressions™ programs through the Postsecondary Enrollment Options Initiative. Teachers may earn graduate credit from Cleveland State University and John Carroll University by teaching the eXpressions™ programs.

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Below are stories from interns about some of their experiences:

Khin-Kyemon Aung

"When premature infants are born, they often have a condition called RDS, where their immature lungs are unable to produce surfactant on their own. Surfactant reduces surface tension in the lungs and prevents them from collapsing. This infant was in critical condition and needed the surfactant immediately, so I administered it in a syringe through a tube, which directly deposited it into the trachea and the lungs. If I had administered the surfactant too quickly, some of it would come back up through the patient's mouth and the baby would almost gag. If I was too slow, the consequences could be dire."

"Knowing that I had a hand in making this baby's life healthier and that I was allowing this baby to go on and have his own set of experiences was remarkable and an experience that will stick with me forever. The whole process was extraordinary and truly affirmed that healthcare is a profession for me."

Ciara Delahunty

"I witnessed two breast surgeries. At first, I was having a hard time watching but by the time the second surgery came around I was watching very closely. In the second breast surgery, I saw a tumor that was removed from the patient's breast. I was under the impression that it was going to be fairly small, but when they were finished taking it out, it was about the size of my fist!"

"I have seen chemotherapy, radiation, breast surgery, bone marrow taken, been in the pediatric E.R. and the adult E.R., a fine needle aspiration and a Mamatone breast biopsy."

Christopher Kaul

"So far, I've removed stitches and been taught how to apply them to actual patients and have done so on one occasion."

"Also, on the second day of being an intern, I got to see a posterior instrumented spinal fusion on a girl with scoliosis. That experience was fantastic. The doctors exposed the spine and drilled holes into certain parts of the spine. After that, they put in screws and connected them with metal rods and physically shifted the spine to fix its curve."

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Cleveland Clinic Office of Civic Education Initiatives

Explore the Office of Civic Education Initiatives for other unique learning opportunities.

Internship Program

Read more about each individual internship. Find answers to frequently asked questions. Apply for the internship program.

Virtural eXpressions™

Take a tour of the most recent eXpressions™ gallery (includes art, language and math pieces).

mRi™: myRESEARCH illuminated

View the most recent episodes of mRi™, a Web-based television show that breaks down and explains five interns’ research projects. Projects featured on mRi™ may be used for an eXpressions™ project.

Student Letters to Tomorrow

Interns write messages to future generations demonstrating their confidence in Cleveland Clinic.

myRESEARCH™

View interns presenting their research.

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