Local hospital helps students explore healthcare careers through internships
At HCA HealthONE Aurora, students are gaining hands-on exposure to healthcare careers through partnerships with local schools and training programs.
Working with Aurora Public Schools, Cherry Creek Schools, DSST Public Schools and Pickens Technical College, the hospital offers observation and internship opportunities that give students a closer look at hospital operations and patient care.
One key initiative, the Pickens Technical College and Aurora Public Schools Executive Internship Program, provides students with an in-depth experience across clinical and non-clinical settings, helping them better understand all career paths available in healthcare.
Each semester, HCA HealthONE Aurora accepts approximately six to nine students into the program. Students rotate through a range of departments, including radiology, emergency care, labor and delivery, surgery, imaging, admissions and patient transport. Some students also focus on one area throughout the semester.
Through these experiences, students see healthcare in action. Some observe surgeries, including open-heart procedures and C-sections, while others gain exposure to the lab, pharmacy or patient transport departments. Many students leave with a clearer sense of direction — whether the experience confirms their interest in healthcare, helps them narrow their focus or introduces them to new career possibilities. Some students log more than 200 hours of volunteer internship experience in a single semester, and eligible students may also be considered for employment after graduation.
For Jaylanie B., a student at Vista PEAK Preparatory, the opportunity to intern at HCA HealthONE Aurora is an important step toward her dream of becoming a pediatrician.
Jaylanie is entering her junior year and is part of Vista PEAK’s four-year biomedical pathway. She says she is the first person in her family to pursue an interest in a healthcare career, and exposure through her school and peers has helped fuel that interest. Having always loved working with children, Jaylanie applied for the Executive Internship Program to better understand what it is like to work in a hospital.
During her summer semester internship at HCA HealthONE Aurora, Jaylanie hopes to gain exposure to labor and delivery, the neonatal intensive care unit, radiology and surgery. For her, the internship is more than a resume-building opportunity. It is a chance to see how healthcare professionals care for patients and families during some of life’s most important moments — and to imagine herself in that environment one day.
After high school, Jaylanie plans to major in biology in college before continuing to medical school. Her path is still unfolding, but her experience at HCA HealthONE Aurora is helping her take meaningful steps toward a future in medicine.
HCA HealthONE Aurora’s investment in students like Jaylanie reflects a broader commitment to building an inclusive healthcare career pipeline. The hospital also participates in Aurora Public Schools career fairs, supports the Executive Internship Program and other student observation opportunities, and funds two annual $2,500 scholarships through the Aurora Public Schools Foundation.
Through continued partnerships, HCA HealthONE Aurora is helping students discover what is possible. For students like Jaylanie, that support can help turn curiosity into a clearer path forward. For the community, it helps build a healthier tomorrow for all.