The Talent Garden Summer Internship is a competitive, six-week paid program designed for youth of color in 11th and 12th grade who are at least 16 years old and have a strong interest in pursuing careers in medicine. The program is tailored for students exploring roles such as physician, dentist, nurse, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. Interns interested in other healthcare professions—including pharmacy, physical therapy, and psychology—also gain valuable experience. To qualify, applicants must have attended one of the Youth with Stethoscopes Summits. This year, 81 students applied, and only 24 were selected as summer interns.
"This an opportunity for young people of color with a serious interest in pursuing a medical or nursing career to come to the hospital for six weeks to get firsthand experience at the side of providers, nurses and other skilled healthcare technicians," explains Jim Peters, Health Equity Program Development Manager. Those experiences will shape their education and will potentially shape the trajectory of their careers."
The summer experiences included learning CPR and other skills with Hennepin EMS, "shadowing" physicians and other professionals in surgery, the emergency department, clinics, and other areas to learn about healthcare careers, and concluding with the (planned) watching of a medical helicopter land on the rooftop of the Level I Trauma Center on Thursday. And thanks to this innovative program, these future healthcare providers have received emergency medical response certificates, equipping them with the ability to save a life.
What: Lunch Celebration for Talent Garden Interns
Where: Hennepin Healthcare's Clinic & Specialty Center, First Floor, Stillman Room, 715 S. 8th St., Mpls., MN 55404
When: Noon to 2 p.m., Friday, August 15, 2025
Hennepin Healthcare's Talent Garden inspires and supports historically excluded youth to pursue careers in healthcare. Programs are designed to make big strides in introducing youth to healthcare jobs. The Talent Garden's purpose is to change the trajectory of their lives and careers through youth summits and hands-on activities, mentorships, experience-based learning, and paid internships. For more information go to www.hennepinhealthcare.org/talentgarden.
