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 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 internship class will represent the racial and ethnic communities we serve.
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-October 2025)
Reach & Representativeness: We have successfully recruited internship classes that reflect the racial and ethnic diversity in our community.
Effectiveness - Curriculum: 93% of graduates across 5 cohorts passed the NIH Clinical Research Curriculum exam on the first try.
Effectiveness - Job Preparation: 83% of program graduates across 5 cohorts began working in Clinical Research at Ochsner.
Adoption: 8 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 October 2025, 80% of matched interns from our first class are still with Ochsner over 2 years after graduation. All interns from our second class remained with Ochsner 1 year after matching and 2/3 of our third class have met this milestone.
