This Summer Marks a Milestone for Our Healthcare Internship Program

This summer marks a milestone for our healthcare internship program. More than 500 applications were received in preparation for the healthcare summer internship program. A record number of over 70 paid internships were made available by the local healthcare community with Advocate Sherman Hospital hosting 35 students this summer. 

Summer Internships 2026 also introduced students to the behavioral health professions as Alignment works with School District U-46, Elgin Township, and the United Way Metro Chicago Elgin Neighborhood Network to address the need for greater resources focused on youth mental health.

None of these placements would be possible without our host sites and our stipend sponsorships provided by Elgin Community College’s Taking Back the Trades grant in its third year of funding.  Alignment partnering with Northern Kane County Region 110 wishes to express our appreciation to those host partners:

Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital
(Pharmacy)

Advocate Sherman Hospital
(Medical Assisting, Medical Rotation, Medical Scholars & Pharmacy)

Athletico
Bartlett and Schaumburg Clinics
(Physical Therapy)

Diamond Physical Therapy
(Physical Therapy)

Ecker Center
(Behavioral Health)

Family Services Association of Greater Elgin
(Behavioral Health)

Luna Behavioral Health Center
(Behavioral Health)

Northern Illinois Medical Scholars Program
(Physician Mentorship, Clinical Shadowing and Laboratory Experiences)

OrthoIllinois
Algonquin Clinic
(Physical Therapy)

Streamwood Behavioral Healthcare System
(Behavioral Health)

VNA Healthcare
(Medical Assisting, Medical Rotation & Public Health)

Well Child Center
(Dentistry, Nutrition, and Public Health)

Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital and Advocate Sherman Hospital open their doors for nine students to receive “hands on” experience partnering with Talent First to prepare students while in high school to work as pharmacy technicians.

Advocate Sherman Hospital sponsors ten Medical Rotation interns introducing future medical professionals to over a dozen different hospital specialties.

Advocate Sherman’s Outpatient Clinics demonstrate their critical role in providing quality, healthcare services to further help develop the region’s future medical professionals.

Athletico hires three students from Central, St. Charles East, and South Elgin high schools to begin employment as rehab aides in preparation for the physical and occupational therapy professions.

Ecker Center pilots the first behavioral health internships partnering with Family Services Association of Greater Elgin, Luna Behavioral Health Center, and Streamwood Behavioral Healthcare System.

Elgin Neighborhood Network partners with Elgin Township, Kenneth Young Center, and School District U-46 to offer teen mental health first aid certifications (tMHFA) to the region’s healthcare interns, students representing School Districts 300, 301, 303, and U-46.

Northern Illinois Medical Scholars Program championed and mentored by Dr. Jamilah Okoe, Dr. Irene Wu, and Dr. Justin Macariola-Coad, practicing physicians affiliated with Advocate Sherman Hospital, select six students from Elgin, Hampshire, Jacobs, St, Charles East, and South Elgin high schoolsfor this prestigious internship program.

VNA Healthcare introduces future medical professionals to the role of community health in clinical settings, critical to providing equitable healthcare services for the greater Elgin area.

Well Child Center hosted ten interns linking the importance of nutrition to the fields of dentistry and public health stimulating career interests in these three industry sectors while providing each student with individualized mentoring and career planning.