The Clinical Research Internship is a 6-month, full-time, paid training program that combines direct participation in clinical research centers of excellence with focused didactic learning and training in our simulation lab.
Interns spend 9 days in each clinical department (Neuroscience, Cardiology, Pediatrics, Orthopedics, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Infectious Disease, Multispecialty Medicine/Surgery, Oncology and Transplant), as well as Biobank/Translational, Regulatory Support, and IRB/Quality Assurance/Research Finance.
On Friday afternoons, the interns come together for guest lectures, guided study sessions, informed consent practice, and clinical assessments training. Interns also attend community outreach events, volunteer activities, Ochsner resource fairs, resume writing workshops, and interview skills training.
In the final month of the program, interns select their top 3 rotations for employment interviews.
Contact Information
Applications open in August for the October incoming class.
Applications open in February for the April incoming class.
Ochsner Research is looking for professional, personable, adaptable and naturally curious individuals to join our Clinical Research Internship. Those interested should have a minimum of a high school diploma or GED, ideally with experience in a healthcare profession or a bachelor's degree looking to find a home to build their career.
Ochsner Health is an integrated healthcare system with a mission to Serve, Heal, Lead, Educate and Innovate. Celebrating 80 years in 2022, it leads nationally in cancer care, cardiology, neurosciences, liver and heart transplants and pediatrics, among other areas.
Ochsner Research pioneers new treatments, deploys emerging technologies and performs groundbreaking research, including over 700 clinical studies. It has more than 34,000 employees and over 4,500 employed and affiliated physicians in over 90 specialties and subspecialties.
Program Goals
Reach & Representativeness: The majority of the internship class will represent females, racial, and ethnic minorities.
Effectiveness - Curriculum: Two-thirds of graduates will pass the NIH Clinical Research Curriculum exam on the first try.
Effectiveness - Job Preparation: Two-thirds of program graduates will begin working in Clinical Research at Ochsner.
Adoption: Graduates will be hired across our clinical research centers and support teams (measured by distribution of interns hired by center/team).
Implementation: Curriculum and rotations will be representative of clinical centers, support teams, and skill sets required for a role within the clinical research infrastructure.
Maintenance - Retention: 80% of interns that join Ochsner after graduation will still be employed in a research role after 2 years.
Program Results (July 2022-July 2024)
Reach & Representativeness: We met our targets for our first 3 cohorts. Our 4th cohort is in the match process for an October 2024 start.
Effectiveness - Curriculum: 67% to 100% of graduates in Cohort 1-3 passed the NIH Clinical Research Curriculum exam on the first try.
Effectiveness - Job Preparation: 80%-100% of program graduates in Cohorts 1-3 began working in Clinical Research at Ochsner.
Adoption: 7 of 9 Research Centers of Excellence have hired a graduate. 3 of 3 support teams have hired a graduate.
Implementation: Curriculum and rotations are representative of our 9 clinical research centers, 3 support teams, and the skill sets required for a role within the clinical research infrastructure.
Maintenance - Retention: In May 2024, 80% of our first class was still with Ochsner 1 year after graduation. We are proud to report that one of these grads was accepted to medical school and left Ochsner for a new adventure in the summer of 2024.
