MSCHONY Clinical Connections Internship
Application 2011
Checklist:
□ Completed Application
□ Current Resume
□ Personal Essay
□ One Letter of Recommendation (In sealed and signed envelope)
□ Unofficial Transcript
Please mail all of the above items in a single, complete package to:
Attn: Rena Gordonson
New York Presbyterian Hospital-Volunteer Department
622 W. 168th Street, Energy Court 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10032
Please direct inquiries to:
Rena Gordonson
212.305.1197
Reg9028@nyp.org
Laura White
212.305.9345
Law9042@nyp.org
All applications must be received by March 11, 2011.
Clinical Connections – Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital
Description:
Patients and families often find the healthcare environment to be stressful and bewildering. This is
particularly true in a world class medical center, where new technologies and therapies always are being
introduced. We recognize that the best medical outcomes are built on excellent clinical care combined
with emotional, social and spiritual support.
Clinical Connections is an innovative volunteer program utilizing trained volunteers to partner with the
staff to work directly with patients in meaningful ways. Volunteers are trained to perform a variety of
tasks, including providing emotional support and therapeutic activities. The goal is to make the hospital
stay friendlier and increase patient satisfaction. Volunteers serve as liaisons for pediatric patients and
families and enhance their care by performing friendly visits and offering supportive listening to patients
and families.
Other tasks include:
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Patient companionship through play, communication, and social support.
Therapeutic activities to mentally and socially stimulate and engage patients—puzzles, games,
trivia, arts & crafts, etc
Mobility assistance
Extensive training will be provided in the above areas.
Clinical Connections offers exposure into three areas within the hospital – the Pediatric Emergency
Department, Pediatric Surgery and Child Life (inpatient units). By volunteering in these areas, interns will
gain insight into the team approach to patient care in a busy hospital environment and learn about the
patient experience, including the psychosocial stress of hospitalization.
Clinical Connections will also offer exploration into the growing field of the medical humanities.
Through assignments and group huddles, interns will foster skills of observation, analysis, empathy, and
self-reflection. The field of medical humanities centers on the idea that attention to literature and the arts
help to develop and nurture these skills which are essential for compassionate medical care. Interns will
share reflections and journal responses, engage in close reading of literature, and take part in other
activities that explore the connection between medicine and the humanities.
Duration of this internship is a full academic year, starting in September 2011 and commencing in June
2012. The intern will complete three 10-week rotations, consisting of a 4-hour weekly shift, among the
following three units: the Pediatric Emergency Room, Pediatric Surgery and Child Life (inpatients units).
Interns must be available for a 4 hour shift within the timeframe of Monday thru Friday 9-5pm. This
internship requires a serious time commitment and scheduling should be planned accordingly. In addition
to the weekly 4 hour shift, a 1-2 hour huddle will be held every 2 weeks on average with at home
preparation of reading and/or journaling. Additional time will be required to work on independent
departmental projects, which may include but are not limited to presentations and newsletter article
submission.
Expectations:
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Punctuality and attendance requirements are strictly enforced
Frequent check-ins with supervisor
Active participation in discussions on the topic of Narrative Medicine during scheduled group
huddles with other interns and volunteer department coordinators
Journal submission and completed shift documentation
Opportunity to present at a departmental staff meeting
Article submission to Volunteer Vistas, NewYork – Presbyterian Hospital’s Volunteer Department
Newsletter.
Failure to abide by the rules will result in participants’ termination from the program
Requirements:
All applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.30. A copy of an unofficial transcript is
required. Students may be pursuing any degree or major. College graduates and post- baccalaureate
students are welcome to apply. Applicants must have completed at least two years of college and should
be on track to apply to health professional school. Prior clinical experience is not required.
Application process:
We invite all highly motivated individuals with a serious interest in healthcare professions to apply.
Applicants must demonstrate strong interpersonal and communication skills.
Three individuals will be selected from the applicant pool to participate in the Clinical Connections
Internship. Applicants can only apply to either Clinical Connections at Cornell or Columbia/MSCHONY,
but not both.
Applicants must complete the Clinical Connections application including:
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Application form
Personal essay
Current resume or C.V.
One letter of recommendation
Unofficial transcript
Please be sure your letter writer is someone who can attest to your maturity and ability to interact with
others. Examples of acceptable recommenders include community leaders, advisors, supervisors, research
coordinators and principle investigators.
Applications must be received by March 11, 2011. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.
Strong applicants will be invited to interview in April 2011. Final decisions will be made the first week of
May 2011.
The dates for the internship are September 2011 through June 2012. The time commitment is 4-6 hours
per week for one academic year. The four hours on the inpatient unit must be completed in one shift.
Interns will also be expected to attend 1-2 hour group “huddles” throughout each rotation.
Accepted interns must complete the following hospital clearances before starting in September 2011:
o NYP Hospital Health Clearance: 2 PPD tests, blood draw, urine drug test, physical exam
o General Hospital Orientation
o Security Clearance and Background Check
This is an unpaid internship. However, interns will receive a $5.00 meal voucher to be used at hospital
dining facilities for each day worked.
Morgan Stanley
Children’s Hospital
Volunteer Department
622 W. 168th Street
Energy Court, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10032
nyp.org/volunteer
For Office Use Only:
Application Rec’d: _________
c/s___________________
Appt._________________
Time__________With_______
Clinical Connections Internship Application 2011
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Name
Address
Last
Street & No.
Home Telephone No.
First
Middle
Apt. #
City/Town
Work Telephone No.
Cell Phone No.
Social Security No.
State
(must include)
Zip
Email:
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF
IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, WHOM SHOULD WE CONTACT?
Name:
Relationship:
Phone (
)
Have you ever volunteered at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital?
When? What Department? Why did you leave?
YESNO
Do you speak another language?  YES
Who referred you to us?
______________________________________________________
NO
If yes, what language?
___________________________________
Have you ever been convicted of a crime (s), misdemeanor (s) or
felony?*  YES NO If yes please give date (s) and details:
Do you have any physical, mental or medical condition, which
would limit your ability to perform functions of a volunteer job?*
 YES NO If yes, please describe:
_______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
*Please note: Disclosure of a criminal record or disability will not
automatically disqualify you from volunteer consideration.
Additionally, falsification or omission of information on this
application may result in immediate dismissal.
______________________________________________________
Please state the name and title of the person who is writing your letter of recommendation:
Name: ______________________________________________________
Title:______________________________________________________
Your relationship to Letter Writer: ______________________________________________________
Please list one reference other than your letter writer whom we may contact (please see list of acceptable references):
Name:__________________________________________________ Your relationship to him/her: _____________________________
Phone Number:___________________________________
EDUCATION INFORMATION
What college or university do or did you attend?
Other schooling, certifications or licenses?
____________________________________________________________
School:___________________________________________
Major: ______________________________________________________
Certification, License or Degree:_______________________
School Location: ______________________________________________
_________________________________________________
Did you graduate? YESNO
School:___________________________________________
Graduation Date: ______________________GPA____________________
Certification, License or Degree_______________________
Degree completed: _____________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
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I have answered each question fully and correctly. I understand that any deliberate misstatement will disqualify me, or
will cause immediate termination of my volunteer assignment. I authorize NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital’s Volunteer
Services Department to fully investigate my references.
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I understand that in accordance with New York State law, if I am offered a volunteer position, I may be fingerprinted
and that such offer and continued volunteer placement are conditional upon satisfactory clearance by this institution’s
Occupational Health Service, which includes drug testing and satisfactory reference verification.
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I hereby agree that I will keep confidential all materials I may read or learn about during my work here as a volunteer.
In this regard, I will only discuss this information with appropriate staff and will never, under any circumstances, reveal
the name of a patient. If I keep a journal or write a term paper of my experiences, I agree to submit a copy of this
written material upon the request of my clinical supervisor or the of Volunteer Services Department in order to protect
the confidentiality and legal rights of the patients.
Signature: ______________________________________________ Date: _______________________________
If under 18, Parent/Guardian Signature required:
Parent Signature__________________________________________ Date: ______________________________
Essay: In 500 words or less, please answer the following questions:
What has led you to pursue a career in healthcare and why do you feel you are a good
candidate for Clinical Connections? What do you hope to gain from this experience?
Please attach the following documents:
o
o
o
o
Current Resume
Personal Essay
One Letter of Recommendation (In sealed and signed envelope)
Unofficial Transcript
*PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS APPLICATION MUST BE THOROUGHLY COMPLETED IN
ORDER TO BE PROCESSED.*