INTERNSHIP DETAILS: Lucie Smith – HDVCH Healthy Weight Center
Contact Person:
Lucie Smith, MS, RCEP
616.391.7999
Lucie.smith@helendevoschildrens.org
Area of focus:
Paid or Unpaid:
Days/Week:
Exercise Science/ Research
Flexible, 10 – 40hrs. Per week (one intern = 40, two interns = 20)
(depending on needs of student and availability at HWC)
Start Date:
Semester Start
Projects/Duties:
Assist with: anthropometric measurements, measurement of resting
blood pressure, graded exercise testing, pulmonary function
testing, maintenance and preparation of equipment, data entry,
literature searches, and NEW ME evening/weekend program at
YMCA (exercise leader).
Other information/details: See Attached Internship Description below.
Internship description for the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital
Healthy Weight Center
The Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Healthy Weight Center is a comprehensive program for
children and adolescents ages 0 to 18. We are one of 25 children’s hospitals in the nation
working together to provide best practice medical treatment, nutrition information, education,
emotional support, exercise prescriptions and clinical research to help children attain and
maintain optimal weight.
The Healthy Weight Center and the YMCA have partnered to create the N.E.W.M.E program.
By working together we can reduce childhood obesity and equip participants with tools for
lifelong healthy weight management and fitness. The Healthy Weight Center program and
N.E.W.M.E. sessions will also provide critical data for clinical research to improve pediatric
obesity care across the country.
The Healthy Weight Center and N.E.W.M.E. program components are directed by a
multidisciplinary team that includes:
• Pediatricians involved in medical education and clinical research
• Pediatric-trained exercise physiologist
• Weight management-certified registered dietician
• Licensed masters-level social worker
• Pediatric psychologist
• A PhD researcher specializing in pediatric obesity
Qualification and requirements:
- Applicants should be undergraduate upperclassmen (junior/ senior) or Masters-level health
science, kinesiology, or related discipline students.
- Experience with children (e.g., coaching, summer camps, Big Brothers-Big Sister, etc.) highly
recommended.
- Experience with leading a group of 15 or more without additional help
Internship Duration & Hours:
This internship will be a minimum of a semester in length. Either one intern will be hired to
work 40 hours per week or two interns will split responsibilities and work 20 hours each.
Fieldwork options are also available, but capacity is very limited.
Duties:
Assist with: anthropometric measurements, measurement of resting blood pressure, graded
exercise testing, pulmonary function testing, maintenance and preparation of equipment, data
entry, literature searches, and NEW ME exercise evening/weekend program (exercise leader).
Expected completed coursework:
(All classes must score ~3.0 or higher; 3.5 recommended)
-Anatomy
-Human Physiology
-Exercise physiology
-Exercise physiology lab and/or clinical exercise testing and prescription
Knowledge and skills:
- Anthropometric measurement, resting blood pressure, graded exercise testing, pulmonary
function testing
- Knowledge of Microsoft EXCEL (SPSS preferred)
Please email:
- 1 letter of recommendation from course faculty of one of above classes, or related class.
-Cover letter and resume