ISHTaR at UNC-Chapel Hill

Interns shadowing with the Durham Tech Community Health Lab!

Interns on the bus after grabbing lunch on Franklin Street.

Eithar, Julianne, and Amina at the Castillo Scholar’s Research Symposium.

At the University of North Carolina School of Medicine (UNC-SOM), we aim to promote a compassionate culture focused on improving the health of all North Carolinians. The Internship in Science Health Training and Research (ISHTaR) program is sponsored by UNC’s Department of Emergency Medicine. This internship is designed to help local high school students develop research skills and explore career options in medicine and public health over the summer. The project aims to increase exposure to health care and public health by impacting and inspiring the next generation of clinicians and researchers. 

ISHTaR offers many opportunities to help interns gain experience in research and clinical medicine. Each year’s activities are unique and dependent on available research opportunities and interns’ interests. 

ISHTaR provides: 

• Working with a team of researchers on a variety of projects
  • Planning health communications materials for lay and clinical audiences
  • Creating informational documents for research partners
  • Developing educational courses
  • Reviewing literature on health conditions and programs related to emergency medicine
• Shadowing clinicians in practice and developing mentorships
  • Shadowing EMS paramedics on an ambulance
  • Shadowing physicians during inpatient and outpatient efforts
  • Discussing life experiences and careers pathways with clinicians and researchers
  • Other experiences tailored to student’s interests
• Team activities
  • Book club exploring complex healthcare-related issues

What to expect from ISHTaR: 

• Hybrid work environment
  • Each week consists of 1-3 in-person days. Interns must have reliable transportation to in-person days. 
  • No housing or food allowance provided 
• A minimum of 20 hours of paid work per week
• Flexible start and end dates to align with the intern’s school year

• Current enrollment in a North Carolina High School as a rising sophomore, junior, or senior 
• 16 years of age or older by June 1st, 2025 
• Strong interest in medicine, biology, nursing, emergency medical services, public health, or research 
• Cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher is not mandatory, but it is highly recommended 
• As a paid internship opportunity, applicants must be eligible for employment in the U.S.
• Some applicants come from socioeconomically challenged or disadvantaged backgrounds, and benefit from having the chance to gain additional, first-hand insights into the field of medicine. Examples include, but are not limited to: 
  • Attending schools located in underserved and rural areas of the state (e.g., Eastern & Western NC)
  • Low family income and individual income

Yani and Amina working on their research projects at Friend’s Cafe.