Summer Enrichment Program Host Information
Apply to Be a Host SiteShow your commitment to developing leaders and advancing excellence in healthcare. Become a host site for the ACHE Summer Enrichment Program, a 10-week, paid internship designed for graduate students ready to take the next step in their healthcare leadership journey.
Based on feedback from each host site, ACHE matches the most qualified student applicants with leading healthcare organizations where they gain hands-on exposure, one-on-one mentorship and the opportunity to learn directly from accomplished executives in the field.
The program offers a powerful combination of experiential learning, professional development, and career connections—all designed to help students grow into the next generation of healthcare leaders.
Host organizations play a vital role by providing mentorship, training, and meaningful project work that enriches the intern experience. During the program, ACHE supports the in-person internship experience by providing students with eight weeks of virtual instruction (1.5 hours per week) focusing on core leadership competencies.
For more information, contact Scholarships@ache.org.
2026 Summer Enrichment Program Schedule
Dates are subject to change
- December 1, 2025
Applications open for host sites - January 15, 2026
Priority deadline for host site applications - February 15, 2026
Applications open for interns - March 23, 2026
Applications close for interns - April 1, 2026
Virtual interviews with intern candidates begin - April 30, 2026
ACHE finalizes matches of interns with host sites - May 2026
Onboarding for host sites and interns - June–August 2026
10-week internship program at host sites, plus virtual ACHE curriculum - August–September 2026
Interns present capstone projects, host sites submit evaluations, ACHE hosts virtual recognition ceremony - October 2026
Students receive their evaluation and feedback from host site
Frequently Asked Questions
The program’s interns are students enrolled in graduate school. Students are usually pursuing an MHA/MPH/MBA or comparable graduate degree. ACHE will give preference to individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to their communities. We do not place undergraduate students. Participants must be a U.S. citizens or non-U.S. citizens who are authorized to work in the United States and, if hired, able to provide proof of employment authorization in the U.S.
If you’d like to help shape the next generation of healthcare leaders, apply to become a host site for the Summer Enrichment Program. For 2026, there’s no administrative fee to participate.
Sites are expected to offer interns a stipend, but there is no fee to ACHE for administering the program.
For qualifying sites with financial constraints, a subsidy of up to $5,500 is available to help cover the cost of hosting an intern.
All host sites are expected to provide a paid internship experience. Each intern should receive a stipend for the duration of their internship. ACHE recommends an hourly rate comparable to the city’s cost of living or more. Typically, organizations provide a total of $6,000 for the internship. Interns are responsible for their own housing and transportation.
ACHE recognizes that some critical access and rural healthcare organizations may face financial constraints in offering paid internships. To ensure equitable partnerships, funding from the Foundation of ACHE is available for eligible sites to earn up to $5,500 to subsidize part or all of the internship. To apply for a subsidy, fill out a subsidy consideration statement within the host site application.
There are two tracks this year for interns to gain valuable experience with employers.
- General Management, Operations and Innovation
Interns explore real-world applications of their MHA/MPH coursework, while supporting process improvements with data tools.
Host sites receive support for operations, planning and quality improvement initiatives. - Community, Population Health, & Quality
Interns learn about public health delivery & programming, along with quality programs.
Host sites receive support for outreach, equity and access projects; interns also contribute to program teams dealing with regulatory projects.
Summer Enrichment Program interns complete a special project that utilizes the skills, knowledge and professional development they received during the program. Host sites provide guidance to the intern on the capstone project; the completed project is to serve as a beneficial tool or resource for the host site.