Who we are
Community Healthcare Network (CHN) is a not-for-profit organization providing more than 65,000 New Yorkers with primary and behavioral healthcare, dental, nutrition, wellness, and needed support services.
Our network is made up of 14 federally qualified health centers throughout Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, and Manhattan, along with a fleet of mobile vans that bring health services to underserved people in need throughout New York City. We provide judgment-free, high-quality healthcare, without regard to race, religion, orientation, gender identity, immigration status or ability to pay. We turn no one away.
Reporting to the Director of Quality and Healthcare Innovation, the Intern - Population Health Intern works within Community Healthcare Network’s population health department to ensure patients receive quality medical care that aligns with our quality indicators. This internship provides valuable hands-on experience in care coordination and quality improvement efforts that strive to improve patient health outcomes. This fully remote position works closely with the interdisciplinary team and serves as a telephone liaison between patients and their care team.
Program Purpose
The Medical Affairs Summer Health Equity Internship Program is designed to provide interns with meaningful exposure to interdisciplinary clinical care while supporting operational priorities related to preventive care, patient access, and health equity. Interns will contribute to measurable outreach, quality improvement, and access-related initiatives while gaining practical experience within the workflows of a FQHC.
Through clinical observation, operational support, community engagement, and project-based learning, interns will strengthen their understanding of care coordination, preventive health strategies, and the application of health equity principles in practice.
Program Format
- Weeks 1 – 6: Monday – Thursday (.8FTE)
- Daily
- Hours: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Standard
- Format: 2 in-person days and 2 remote days, unless otherwise specified
Core Program Components
Intern experiences will align with the following priorities
- Organizational onboarding and orientation
- Social determinants of health (SDOH) and health equity
- Preventive care and patient outreach
- Clinical shadowing across interdisciplinary teams
- Community engagement and referral coordination
- Quality improvement and data support
- Capstone development and final leadership presentation
Ongoing Remote Responsibilities
Throughout the internship, remote work may include
- Dental reminder calls
- HPV reconciliation
- Referral outreach support
- Portal screening and portal sign-up outreach
- Prenatal-newborn chart linking
- Capstone planning and development
- Daily activity tracking and weekly metrics submission
Learning Goals
By the end of the program, interns will be able to
- Describe how interdisciplinary teams support whole-person care in an FQHC setting
- Identify how SDOH and health equity shape patient outcomes and access to care
- Participate in preventive care outreach and operational workflows
- Support referral coordination, patient engagement, and quality improvement activities
- Analyze a health equity or operational challenge and present recommendations through a capstone project
Intern Expectations
Interns are expected to
- Arrive on time and maintain professionalism in both in-person and remote settings
- Complete all onboarding, compliance, and training requirements
- Participate actively in shadowing, outreach, and operational support activities
- Maintain accurate daily tracking logs
- Submit weekly metrics by the designated due date
- Contribute meaningfully to capstone development
- Maintain patient confidentiality and comply with HIPAA and organizational policies
